The Matchmaking Pact

“What?” Silas’s grip on her shoulders increased, his pale brown eyes drilling into her. “You’re supposed to be taking care of her. I heard the reports, I saw the cloud, the storm. I came as soon as I could.”

“They only left a few minutes ago. Lily and my niece. I’m pretty sure I know where they are.”

“Pretty sure? That’s not good enough.” His eyes narrowed and he gave her a shake, as if trying to force the information out of her. “This town, this place…” His gruff voice drifted away as his gaze shot around, as if trying to take in the havoc around them.

A burst of wind, a remnant of the raging storm, tossed her long blond hair about her face. And as she pushed it back, her arm hit his. “If you’ll let go of me, I’ll go with you to find the girls.”

“Let’s go, then,” he growled, dropping his hands.

Josie turned blindly, her own fear and concern mixing with the shame she felt at letting the girls slip out of her sight at such a time.

Irresponsible. Reckless. The words her grandmother often tossed her way now slithered through her mind, resurrecting a wild past that still accused her.

She shouldn’t be in charge of these children. She couldn’t take care of them.

Please, Lord, let them be okay. She prayed through her fear and through the voices from her past that told her she was no good. Worthless and nothing but trouble.

But in spite of her prayers, fear clenched her stomach as she navigated her way over a downed tree. Beyond that an empty car lay on its side, glass strewn over a street still wet from the rain. It had been half an hour since the tornado touched down. While she and Nicki had cowered with the children in the basement of the church, sirens had wailed and horns honked, followed by the roar of the storm filling their ears and minds.

Another tree lay across their path, and as she tried to go over it, as well, her foot got caught in the branches. She would have fallen but for Silas’s strong hands catching her from behind.

“I’m okay. Let go of me,” she snapped. Fear, anger with Alyssa and concern about her grandmother fought with each other as she struggled to free herself from the branches and the grip of his rough hands.

“Just a minute.” Silas snapped a few branches away, vaulted over the tree, then reached up to help her down, but she scrambled down on her own.

“Where are we going?” he asked as she caught her balance.

“If my guess is right, the girls went to my house. Go down Fourth to Logan Street. I live two houses down from the corner.”

Without another word Silas strode away from her. “Watch out for the downed power lines,” he called over his shoulder as his long legs covered ground. As Josie jogged to keep up, her gaze flew around the town taking stock. The Willekers house okay, but the stately maples destroyed. Roof off Klaas Steenbergen’s house. Windows smashed in the next house. The following house, no damage.

Then they turned onto Logan Street, and Josie’s steps faltered.

The capricious tornado had blasted out the windows of the homes on either side of her and snatched branches off the maples that had once lined the street.

And tossed them right into the front of her house.

Her roof was a bundle of sticks and shingles burying the front porch and lawn. One side of the house was ripped right out, exposing her living room and part of the kitchen, which now held only a kitchen chair and her new television tipped on its side.

The sound of sirens approaching broke into the silence that had held the town in thrall up to now. Emergency vehicles on their way.

Panic clawed up Josie’s throat as the demolition of her home dawned on her. Did the girls go inside that mess?

She ran toward the house, ignoring Silas’s warning shout. Please, Lord, was all she could pray.

“Josie. Stop. Now. There’s a line down.”

He snaked his arm around her waist to stop her forward momentum.

A power line sparked only inches away from her feet.

Fear made Josie sag against Silas. For a brief moment she welcomed the strength of his arm holding her up, the solid wall of his body behind her.

Then, above the sound of emergency sirens approaching, Josie heard Alyssa calling her name.

“Wait here,” Silas said, releasing her.

Josie hugged herself, praying frantically as Silas carefully made his way over the downed power line then through the debris on the lawn to the back of the house. He called the girls’ names as Josie prayed. Please, Lord, let those girls be safe.

After what seemed like an eternity, Silas came from behind the house, his daughter on his hip, his other hand holding Alyssa’s.

Alyssa was carrying a plastic bag, but Josie was too relieved to pay it much attention.

She ran toward her niece and swept her into her arms.

“You silly girl. I was so worried.” She dropped to her knees, her hands slipping over her niece’s dear face. “Are you okay? What were you thinking leaving like that?”

Alyssa glanced at Lily, then back at Josie. “I wanted to get something. From the house. For Lily.”

Fear and anger fought for dominance, but relief took the upper hand.

“Why didn’t you ask me? Why did you go without telling me? Do you know what just happened?”

Alyssa looked around and sighed. “The storm left a big mess.”

Her simple, matter-of-fact statement released some of Josie’s tension.

“It was very dangerous to go to the house without telling me.” Josie’s voice trembled.

“I’m sorry. But now I have my present for Lily. I had it ready in the kitchen but forgot it.” Alyssa glanced up at Silas. “Are we going to the church? I want to wrap it there. I have some pretty paper.”

Silas shifted his daughter on his hip, his tanned forearms holding her close as he shot a frown toward Josie. “No. I’m taking Lily home. Now.”

Lily pushed back on her father, her tiny hands dwarfed by her father’s broad shoulders. “I want my present.”

Silas’s angry gaze flicked around the wreckage strewn about the street, as if wondering how his daughter could be so caught up in something so trivial as a present when people’s lives had been upended so dramatically.

“Can you give it to her now?” Silas asked Alyssa.

Alyssa glanced at the plastic bag holding something square. Then as the emergency vehicles converged on their street, red and blue light strobing over the street, she handed the parcel to Lily.

“Happy birthday, Lily,” she said with a wide smile.

Josie saw Silas’s face go blank, then he closed his eyes and pulled his lower lip between his teeth.

The single father had forgotten his only daughter’s birthday.

“Thanks, Alyssa,” Lily said with a huge grin, seemingly unaware of her father’s mistake. Then she turned to Silas. “Can Alyssa and Miss Cane come over for a party?”