each had a good-sized bag filled with clothes that should get them through the next two or three days, if necessary. Both women hoped it wouldn’t be that long, but of course, nobody knew for sure. The ride back to the Lions Club was quiet, Abby at the window this time, gazing out at the passing landscape. Erica tried to think of a conversation starter, but failed and opted for silence.
The Lions Club was abuzz upon their return, people excited for the next shuttle. Erica had to consciously keep from rolling her eyes over how easily entertained they’d all become after twenty-four hours stuck in one place. A bus ride to Walmart was going to be the highlight of the day for the majority.
Corinne was off to the side, talking with two men Abby vaguely recognized from the airport, though she had no idea where they’d been on the plane. When she glanced their way, Corinne smiled and gestured for Abby to join them. “Put your stuff down and come see me,” she instructed. “Bring Erica too.” Abby glanced at Erica and shrugged.
Corinne introduced the two men as Brian Caldwell and Michael Carr. Brian was around thirty with sandy hair and sad green eyes. He wore a Green Bay Packers baseball hat, jeans, and green sweatshirt. Light stubble decorated most of his face. Michael was in his fifties and dressed in a business suit, albeit a wrinkled one. His salt-and-pepper hair was slightly disheveled and he had dark circles under his brown eyes. His handshake was firm and his British accent charming as he shook hands with each woman.
“Okay,” Corinne said in a somewhat hushed tone, which made Erica furrow her brow and Abby look around in confusion. “My husband Tim and I live alone in a rather roomy house. I don’t know how long you poor people are going to be stuck, but we talked last night and we have room for four of you, if you’d like to get out of here.”
The four of them blinked at her, not quite registering the offer.
“We’ve got two empty bedrooms upstairs,” she went on, “and a sort of bedroom rec room in the basement with its own bath.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Abby asked, a wary tone in her voice.
“Showers and beds. I’m offering showers and beds.”
“For us,” Brian clarified.
“I only have room for four and I’ve spoken to the four of you the most.” She lowered her voice to a near-whisper. “But I need you to keep it kind of hush-hush because I really can’t take everybody, though I wish I could.” She looked genuinely saddened by this fact.
“You are the kindest woman I have ever met,” Abby said with a grin, and meant it.
“Oh, I’m sure others are offering the same thing.” She waved them off to get their belongings, telling them she’d let them know when Tim arrived to take them home.
“A real bed,” Abby said quietly. “Maybe I’ll actually get to sleep tonight.”
“I was hoping we’d be out of here today. I want to go home.”
Abby made a face. “We all do. But I think it’s going to be another day or two. Have you checked out the TV reports at all? Things at home are a mess.” They glanced over at the three dozen or more people who’d crowded around the televisions watching the coverage. “I still can’t believe it. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be nearby and actually see it happening. The TV coverage is horrific enough, but to actually be there? To witness up close the towers coming down? The people jumping out the windows? My god. I can’t believe somebody did this.” She swallowed hard.
“I can,” Erica said almost matter-of-factly as she sorted through her stuff. “I’m not surprised.”
Abby stopped in midaction and stared at her in disbelief. “You’re not surprised?”
Erica shook her head. “No. I’m not.”
Abby studied her for several seconds before she issued a dismissive scoff and continued getting her things together. “Well, I am. Are you saying we deserved this? As
The Lions Club was abuzz upon their return, people excited for the next shuttle. Erica had to consciously keep from rolling her eyes over how easily entertained they’d all become after twenty-four hours stuck in one place. A bus ride to Walmart was going to be the highlight of the day for the majority.
Corinne was off to the side, talking with two men Abby vaguely recognized from the airport, though she had no idea where they’d been on the plane. When she glanced their way, Corinne smiled and gestured for Abby to join them. “Put your stuff down and come see me,” she instructed. “Bring Erica too.” Abby glanced at Erica and shrugged.
Corinne introduced the two men as Brian Caldwell and Michael Carr. Brian was around thirty with sandy hair and sad green eyes. He wore a Green Bay Packers baseball hat, jeans, and green sweatshirt. Light stubble decorated most of his face. Michael was in his fifties and dressed in a business suit, albeit a wrinkled one. His salt-and-pepper hair was slightly disheveled and he had dark circles under his brown eyes. His handshake was firm and his British accent charming as he shook hands with each woman.
“Okay,” Corinne said in a somewhat hushed tone, which made Erica furrow her brow and Abby look around in confusion. “My husband Tim and I live alone in a rather roomy house. I don’t know how long you poor people are going to be stuck, but we talked last night and we have room for four of you, if you’d like to get out of here.”
The four of them blinked at her, not quite registering the offer.
“We’ve got two empty bedrooms upstairs,” she went on, “and a sort of bedroom rec room in the basement with its own bath.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Abby asked, a wary tone in her voice.
“Showers and beds. I’m offering showers and beds.”
“For us,” Brian clarified.
“I only have room for four and I’ve spoken to the four of you the most.” She lowered her voice to a near-whisper. “But I need you to keep it kind of hush-hush because I really can’t take everybody, though I wish I could.” She looked genuinely saddened by this fact.
“You are the kindest woman I have ever met,” Abby said with a grin, and meant it.
“Oh, I’m sure others are offering the same thing.” She waved them off to get their belongings, telling them she’d let them know when Tim arrived to take them home.
“A real bed,” Abby said quietly. “Maybe I’ll actually get to sleep tonight.”
“I was hoping we’d be out of here today. I want to go home.”
Abby made a face. “We all do. But I think it’s going to be another day or two. Have you checked out the TV reports at all? Things at home are a mess.” They glanced over at the three dozen or more people who’d crowded around the televisions watching the coverage. “I still can’t believe it. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be nearby and actually see it happening. The TV coverage is horrific enough, but to actually be there? To witness up close the towers coming down? The people jumping out the windows? My god. I can’t believe somebody did this.” She swallowed hard.
“I can,” Erica said almost matter-of-factly as she sorted through her stuff. “I’m not surprised.”
Abby stopped in midaction and stared at her in disbelief. “You’re not surprised?”
Erica shook her head. “No. I’m not.”
Abby studied her for several seconds before she issued a dismissive scoff and continued getting her things together. “Well, I am. Are you saying we deserved this? As
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