I have to say, I’m impressed.
“That’s more like it,” he finally says, pressing the microphone to his mouth again. His natural voice is loud and authoritative, but with the howling winds outside and the branches tapping the metal roof, the extra volume boost is still needed.
He smiles and scans the room, and I can immediately tell he’s counting everyone and making mental notes. “Great job, everyone. Okay, here’s what I need you to do now.” Everyone leans toward him, breaths hitching on what words will come out of his mouth next. Talk about a captive audience!
“Now, please take out your cell phones and see if any of you have service.” The murmurs and whispers start up once again. “Quietly, please,” he adds. “No one has been able to get service as far as we know, but before we go any further, I just want to make sure.”
“Did anyone try their cell phones outside, closest to Fenwick? There’s a tower that way,” Drew’s father shouts out.
“I’ve tried over the whole peninsula,” Chris states. “But I just want to make sure someone doesn’t have a signal before we proceed.” He motions for me to join him behind the DJ booth, so I do. “Okay, folks, if you didn’t know, this is Dr. Brynne Miller. She’s a highly trained and respected emergency room doctor at Lewes Hospital. She’s been caring for a wedding guest who slipped in the restroom and sustained a few non-life-threatening injuries. But if anyone else requires medical attention, she’ll be happy to assist, and I’m also available in whatever capacity I’m needed. I’m sure most of you know, but in case you don’t, I’m Corporal Chris Everson with the Delaware State Police.
“Dr. Miller and I need everyone to remain calm, and there is absolutely no need to panic. It does appear that the bridge is inaccessible at this time, but once the tide goes out again in the morning, I’m sure we’ll be able to drive out. It’s just too dangerous right now in the dark to leave. So we’re all staying put.”
The noise level begins to rise again as people start to shout questions. He passes the microphone, turning the floor over to me.
“Hi, everyone. As Corporal Everson said, it’s important that we stay calm right now. We have plenty of food and water, thanks to our caterers, and right now we still have electricity, so that’s great. I believe there is a generator on the property, so the next thing we’re going to do is check that out. How many of you have chargers for your cell phones? I know we don’t have service at present, but hopefully it will be restored at some point tonight, and we’ll be able to call for help if the bridge is still flooded. We need to make sure our phones are charged up, so if you’re not using yours, I would suggest turning it off for now.”
“I have a charger in my car,” one of the wedding guests interjects.
“Me too!” someone else adds.
“Great. There are also a few in the cabin. If you have a charger and want to go get it from your car, that’s fine. If you have any bedding in your car: blankets, sheets, pillows, anything like that, feel free to get that as well. As far as we can tell, the flooding is mainly in the front, where the bridge is located, so I think everyone’s cars will be okay. But, if you have any medications or anything else of importance in your vehicles, I do recommend retrieving that now just in case the waters rise higher than expected. We have a limited number of flashlights, and if you need an escort to your car for any reason, let myself, Chris, or one of the groomsmen know. We’re all going to stick together and get through this just fine, alright? Does anyone have any questions?”
I hand the microphone back to Chris to let him field the questions. He nods at me, giving me a broad grin to thank me for my help. I still can’t believe this is happening, but I am truly grateful Chris is here. Just the way he was talking to everyone, with such hope and positivity in his voice, he had the immediate effect of calming everyone down, and that is exactly what we need right now.
A few people stand up and shout questions across the room to Chris, and he puts everyone’s concerns to rest. “No, it’s not safe to go out in the water when it’s dark. Yes, there are kayaks and canoes, but it’s too dark and too windy to use them, plus the tide is in. It’s almost 9 PM now, and I think by 5 AM when it starts getting light, most of this will be through the area.”
After a bit more murmuring, Chris adds, “I know it sucks to be stranded, folks, but really, being someplace warm and dry and having a ton of food, not to mention a pretty delicious wedding cake—well, I can think of a lot worse scenarios, that’s for sure!”
Everyone laughs. Jack, Meric, Sam and Luke appear with buckets of flashlights and start distributing them to the people who want to retrieve items from their cars. I make my way over to Sonnet’s parents, who are standing by the window.
“How’s my mother?” Olivia Jayne asks as though she’s just realized she’s obligated to do so.
“She’s resting in the cabin,” I answer. “I think you should probably go check on her and see if she needs anything.”
She gives me a look that seems to say, do I have to? Tom Jayne puts his arm around his wife as though he too is recognizing his own responsibility to his mother-in-law. “Let’s go, honey. I’ll come with you.”
They start to leave, but Olivia turns back and takes my hand into hers, which feels like she’s been in contact with an iceberg. “Thank you so much for taking care of her, Brynne. I know she can be difficult.”
Well, folks, that is certainly, without a doubt, the understatement of the century!
“It’s my job,” I answer back. “Hippocratic Oath and all that.”
“We appreciate it,” Tom adds.
“She will need medical attention as soon as we can get it, but I think she’ll be okay till tomorrow. Unfortunately, there’s not much else I can do for her at the moment. I know she’s in pain, but I hope she can fall asleep and stay that way till morning.”
Sonnet’s mother looks like she’s about to say something else, but her husband tugs at her arm, and the two of them make their way toward the back of the room and out the exit closest to the cabin. As they leave, I spot Lindy, Claire, Karen and Sophie making their way over to me. Claire doesn’t waste any time throwing her arms around me. I know I’ve mentioned I’m not the hugging type, but I’m so hyped up on adrenaline and who knows what other chemicals that I don’t even so much as flinch.
“You and Chris are doing an absolutely amazing job,” she whispers in my ear. “You make a great team!”
I chuckle and pull back. “Thanks. Just doing what we’re trained to do.”
“I know, but I can’t imagine what we’d be doing if you two weren’t here. I mean, I could probably help keep people calm, but I wouldn’t know the first thing about taking care of wounds or injuries or getting a generator working.”
“Yeah, I don’t know jack shit about generators either,” I admit, laughing. “I think the guys just headed out to see what they could find. If we lose power, it’s not going to be pretty. But I can’t imagine my brother doesn’t have a generator—”
“Oh, you don’t know if there’s a generator?” Karen questions, the panic clear in her voice.
“This place is pretty new. This is only the second season it’s been open, but I can’t imagine he’d try to have overnight camps here without a generator. I mean, we can get some nasty storms in this area. Case in point,” I joke, pointing to the windows, which are beaded with rain.
“Why don’t you sit down for a bit?” Lindy suggests, looking at me. “You’ve been running around all night. Why don’t I get you some cake? Maybe a drink?” She smiles at me sweetly. “We can’t have our doctor running out of gas. I have a feeling your work here is not done.”
I want to hug her, she’s so thoughtful. “You know what? I think that’s the best thing I’ve heard so far tonight!”
I saunter over carrying a plate piled high with cake shortly after Lindy sets a much daintier-sized piece of cake down in front of Brynne along with a cocktail of some sort.
“Wow, save some for everyone else
!” she teases me, eyeing my delicious stack of sugary goodness. “What would Sammy the Sea Turtle say about hogging all the cake for yourself?”
I shoot her a pretend glare as I take the chair next to her and stab at a piece of cake with my plastic fork. “I think he’d say shove it!” I hold the fork out toward her like I’m threatening to smear it all over her face.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she fake-seethes between clenched teeth as I turn the fork toward my own mouth at the last second.
“Wouldn’t I?” I flash her a wicked smile, then swallow my mouthful of cake. “How’s Hurricane Victoria doing? Love that nickname, by the way. Might have to make her the antagonist in one of my books. What’s the most evil animal you can think of?”
Brynne ignores my joke, transitioning back to work mode in the span of a heartbeat. “She’s stable for now. I should probably go check in on her in a few minutes, but I just sent Sonnet’s parents in there. They did manage to thank me for putting up with her.”
“You don’t only deserve thanks,” I argue, swallowing another bite down. “You deserve some sort of medal for dealing with that woman. She is truly a wretched, hateful old beast, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, I can definitely see her as a cartoon character in a book. Like an evil witch sort of character.” She starts to take a bite of cake, then pauses. “Oh, I was also told we have two diabetics who didn’t bring any insulin—I mean, no one thought we’d be here more than a few hours, so I can’t say I blame them. Anyway, I’ll need to keep an eye on them.”
“Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you tonight, Dr. Miller,” I observe.
She nods, then takes her own bite of cake, thoughtfully chewing it as she looks down at her plate. I wish she’d look back at me again. Every time our eyes meet, it feels like magic. I swallow another bite as I try to calm my racing mind. It’s hard not to worry about the other fifty or so people who are with us on what is currently an island. But, on the other hand, looking into the glittering dark eyes across from me, I have the sudden urge for complete and utter privacy. Obviously we’re not going to get that tonight. It’s a shame—I think she’s finally warming up to me.
“So what happened when I came in just now? Why did Ken have the microphone?” she questions.
The DJ has returned to his booth and started the music back up, though he’s turned down the volume a bit. I’m still angry at Ken for coming in here like a wrecking ball and riling everyone the hell up. What in the world was he thinking? But it’s too late now. My efforts at damage control seem to have helped.
“I guess Winston walked down by the bridge and saw it was flooded. He came in and told Ken, then Ken took matters into his own hands. I was in the kitchen trying to explain what was going on to Sonnet and Drew before making an official announcement. Needless to say, he hijacked my plans.”
“Gotcha,” she says. “I figured it was something like that. At least I was hoping for a logical explanation when I walked in and saw the place in sheer chaos. I was thinking ‘wow, I hope Dr. Seuss didn’t have anything to do with this!’” She winks at me.
“Will you quit calling me that?” I roll my eyes at her. “Seriously. Someone is going to overhear you.”
“Lighten up, Corporal Everson,” she tells me with a soft smile curling her lovely plump lips. “Don’t you hear the song?”
I tune her out for just a second to figure out what song the DJ just started. “’Don’t Worry, Be Happy’? Are you freakin’ kidding me?”
She laughs. “I know, right? Come on, it’s pretty funny if you think about it.”
“Yeah, yeah. You know what? We never did get that dance together…”
She lifts her eyes from her plate again and presses her gaze into me. I swear she bats her eyelashes at me as she answers, “Well, I hope you want to wait for a better song than this.”
“I’ll take what I can get,” I tell her with a huge grin on my face.
The strains of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” die out, and another track begins to wind its way through the speakers. It takes me a moment to recognize it as it’s so deeply embedded in my memory, but it’s “You Are So Beautiful to Me.”
“Wow, haven’t heard this one in a while.” Chris turns his attention back to me. I seem to have slipped into space momentarily, but his smooth voice jolts me back again.
“I love this song,” I murmur, my words barely audible over the swelling strains of the music.
“Shall we? Seems the perfect choice to me…” His voice trails off as his eyes meet mine, and he extends his hand toward me.
I can now admit I’ve been too hard on Chris this whole time I’ve known him. The way he sprang into action tonight is nothing short of commendable. He let me do my job, and at the same time, he used his own strengths to manage people. Claire is right: we do make a good team. I smile at him and take his hand. He pulls me from my seat, taking my breath away as he twirls me into his embrace.
Wow. Just simply wow.
So, yeah, the guy’s a cop. But he is an artist, a writer…and apparently a damn fine dancer too judging by the way he moves me around the room. I would say every eye in the room is on us, and they may very well be, but I’ve tuned everyone out. All I can concentrate on is the feel of his warm hand holding mine and the firm touch of his other hand against the small of my back. My left hand rests on his broad shoulder, and though there is a formal dance-appropriate width of space between our bodies, all I want to do is lay my head on that shoulder and wrap both of my arms around his neck.
I wonder what he would do if I moved closer to him…if the space between our bodies slowly evaporated, melted away by the beauty of the melody and the joy of the occasion on which we’ve found ourselves joined in this endeavor.
I don’t get a chance to find out as he takes matters into his own hands, pulling me so close to him that our chests touch. My heart is beating so fast, I’m sure he can feel it throbbing through the material on his shirt. I suddenly wish I was back in my beautiful bridesmaid’s gown instead of the Metallica t-shirt. It doesn’t seem half as romantic—
My distracted thoughts are chased away when he uses a single finger to tilt my chin toward his face. My eyes snap to his, and they’ve taken on a whole new look, smoldering and desirous as he searches mine for something…permission?
“I want to kiss you, Brynne.” His words slide out like butter, so smooth it’s like he’s been wanting to say them for days, weeks, months.
“What’s stopping you?” I question, my lock on his gaze never wavering.
No more words are needed as he closes the distance between us and cups my jaw in his strong, manly hand until his lips brush against mine. A quiver of shock bolts through my body just before a sweetness like honey reaches my tongue. We’re still swaying to the beat of the dying song, and I’d be falling, falling, falling if he weren’t holding me up in his powerful arms.
Seventeen
When the last strains of “You Are So Beautiful” die out, and I’m still holding Brynne in my arms, I pray for another slow song to start up in its place, but alas, it’s not meant to be. Either that, or I should have slipped the DJ some cash. I don’t want to stop dancing, but the next song is some horrible pop crap, and I can’t stoop to that level. Worse yet, it’s some sort of line dance, as the throngs of stranded guests groove their way onto the dance floor to participate. Nope, I’m out.
“What, you don’t line dance?” she questions, flashing me a smirk capped off with arched brows.
“Uh, that’s a hard no from me,” I fire back. “Here, follow me…”
I take her hand and pull her through the gyrating crowd, trying to avoid seeing some movements I never wanted to see Drew’s mom make, for one. There are definitely some other eye bleach-worthy actions going on as well.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s go see how the generator thing is coming,” I shout over the horrible racket.
The look on her face is clearly one of disappointment—li
ke she was hoping I had another activity in mind. Oh, I do, but my sense of duty is competing with all my other primal urges. We make it to the hallway and out the back door into the howling storm. The rain has let up, and it’s barely drizzling, but the wind is nearly enough to blow us right back inside where we came from. Holy crap, this is crazy!
“Let’s go see the beach,” she suggests, tugging on my arm to lead me left of the cabin.
It’s pitch black once we get past the cabin. A huge pole barn stores all the kayaks, canoes, and other equipment her brother rents out for his business, but no lights are illuminated in or on that building. The trees are creaking in the wind, tall pines with their boughs bristling against each other and scraping against the metal roof, creating a horrible grinding racket before the screaming wind swallows it up like a ravenous beast.
“We should have grabbed a flashlight.” I pull out my phone, shaking it to turn on the meager light it emits.
The beam jets out in front of us, shining on tree trunks and more puddles. The ground is so saturated, I’m sure I’ve ruined my dress shoes by now. Oh, well. We come to a clearing, and I am sure the beach is just beyond, but then I realize my feet are in ankle deep water—and it’s not just another puddle.
“Oh no!” Brynne shouts, and I quickly shift the light to her feet. She’s a few yards in front of me, and the water is up to the middle of her shins. I move the beam of light along the ground toward where the beach would be, but it’s gone. The rest of the land is covered in standing water, and when the flashlight beam reaches the area where the beach would be, I can see the current rippling in around the trees, which are covered probably six or seven feet up their trunks.
Badge Bunny Page 16
