Dani shook her head. Her hands formed into fists at her side. “I’ve been through a lot. I’ve held a dying child in my arms—more than one. I’ve watched someone I loved walk out my door.”
She looked at her aunt, and she saw the years of age. She saw the wrinkles, but she saw them in a different way now. This was someone who’d seen her side of ditches, greed, and rejection standing in front of her. Dani knew this about Mae, but it never sunk in. Mae was the one who loved her. Mae was the one who showed her kindness growing up.
But this was different. It was that moment when a person ceased being someone idealized. Dani saw another human who did the impossible, and yet she was still human.
Dani whispered, “You’re meant for more. I’m meant for more. Our family—God—we’re just wrong. We’ve been split down the middle, and no one has questioned it. No one’s tried to close the gap.”
She remembered the delusional whisperings of her grandmother. Sandra O’Hara told her daughter to separate her babies to the remaining sisters.
Mae frowned and searched her niece’s face. “I’m—I did what I could. I don’t…”
“No,” Dani murmured. “You were given an olive branch.”
“I was given a life,” Mae spoke. “You were my reason I got right, Dani.”
Dani felt haunted again. It was the feeling she never was able to get rid of. It went away, for moments, but it always came back. It returned once again. There were too many who had passed away. She needed to hold on to those who were living. “When I left, I forgot you were here. You were there, but we were distant too at times. It was in one of those times. Jake became my life preserver. When he pulled away, I sank. I had to learn how to swim by myself, but I couldn’t do it here. That’s the real reason I left. I wasn’t leaving you. I wasn’t leaving Jake or Erica or anyone. I left to find myself.”
“I know.”
“I’m not going to apologize for leaving,” Dani stated. “I don’t think I can. I had to go.”
“You left a girl and came back a woman.” Mae stepped close and tucked a strand of hair behind Dani’s ear. Her touch was that of a mother’s. “You left hurting, but you came back stronger than ever.” Her hand lingered there. “Some day, I’d really love for you to tell me what happened to you.”
Dani smiled, and it felt right this time. She rested her forehead against Mae’s. “Some day, I will.”
The room was becoming packed.
Dani and Mae moved to the side as more people just kept coming. Mae was watching all the people pass by, heading to find their loved ones. A new tension settled over the room. “We haven’t flooded since ‘62. That flood wiped everyone out, but they built the dam since then. Folks are upset. A lot of homes weren’t touched by the flash floods. They’re coming to hear whatever reason why they have to uproot from their dry homes.”
“Because it’s still raining, and there are still flash floods going on. The water’s rising, Mae.”
“It’s farther north. It ain’t that bad around here anymore.”
“It’s flooding up north?”
“Round about near the dam, but I don’t think those folk are being forced out of their homes.”
Dani frowned.
Mae gripped the back of her neck, rubbing her lips tight together. “I just don’t like being forced from my home. I gotta think a lot of folk feel the same. I don’t think they’ll sit tight and wait for any announcement saying it’s okay to go home. They’ll come in, hear any reason that Jonah might have, and probably head back home.”
“Whatever reason Jonah has for this, it’s not some government controversy. Is that what people are thinking?”
“Folk don’t trust the government that well around here.”
“Why?”
Mae quieted.
“I want to know why.”
“I know that Jonah’s got reason, but a while back before Tenderfoot Rush brought a lot of tourists to this region, people were hurting for money. Craigstown was dying, and a lot of resorts tried coming in to help out the revenue. The government said no because of the land. It set a lot of seeds inside people and some of those seeds are still in bloom. Jonah was nearly crucified his first year here when he wouldn’t let a big company into town.”
“I thought that was actually good.”
“Those people aren’t thinking that right now. What sits with them is that Jonah didn’t let them get more money. They like the water around here, but with being flooded and forced out of their homes—they’re not too caring about its quality and such. A lot of resentment is resurfacing.”
Talk about doom and gloom.
Jonah didn’t speak to the group. Dani didn’t think he was even there, but the mayor took the podium and announced everyone needed to stay together in the center. Flooding had increased more and more farther north, and that water would travel south.
Mae’s prediction turned out accurate. People stopped listening. Half the people left, and the ones who remained were becoming restless. Dani was playing cards with Aiden and Bubba when Robbie pulled up a chair. Mae had moved to a card game with Barney and Jeffries. Dani could hear their chatter. It became nice background noise.
Robbie turned to her. “Where’s Jonah?”
Aiden and Bubba looked up from their card game (they had folded).