âWhat will you do if you have to give up Kasey?â
A chill settled around Nickiâs heart. âI donât know. I hope that Iâll rejoice because it means sheâll be reunited with her family.â
âBut the truth is?â Clay prompted.
Nicki smiled sadly. âThe truth isâit will break my heart into a million pieces.â
Glancing at Clay through suddenly tear-filled eyes, Nicki knew heâd heard the catch in her voice. She hoped he hadnât seen her eyes mist over at the thought of losing Kasey.
He said softly, âYou love her. You want whatâs best for herâeven if that isnât a life with you.â
Meeting his gaze, Nicki realized the brash, reckless boy sheâd known had changed in more ways than sheâd given him credit for. Heâd become an insightful man capable of understanding the feelings of others.
After the Storm:
A Kansas community unites to rebuild
Healing the Bossâs HeartâValerie Hansen
July 2009
Marrying Minister RightâAnnie Jones
August 2009
Rekindled HeartsâBrenda Minton
September 2009
The Matchmaking PactâCarolyne Aarsen
October 2009
A Family for ThanksgivingâPatricia Davids
November 2009
Jingle Bell BabiesâKathryn Springer
December 2009
July 10, 4:04 p.m.
âItâs only a thunderstorm. Itâll be over soon.â
Huddled in the basement of the High Plains Community Church with her preschool class and numerous townspeople, Nicki Appleton tried to maintain a brave front for her kids. The howling wind sounded as if it were trying to rip the building apart. The old wooden structure shuddered and groaned over their heads in protest.
The lights flickered. Some of the children around her whimpered with fear.
âDonât be scared.â One of Nickiâs students, three-year-old Layla Logan, was patting the shoulder of a little girl sitting beside her.
Nicki couldnât help but smile at the childâs motherly tone. Maya Logan would be proud of her brave little daughter.
Glancing at the small basement window near the top of the wall, all Nicki could see were the limbs of the nearby cedar trees thrashing wildly and the greenish-gray sky beyond. A flash followed by a deafening clap of thunder made her jump.
Suddenly, hail began pelting the roof and bouncing off the ground outside the window. In a matter of seconds, marble-size chunks of ice were filling the window well.
Even by Kansas standards, this was a wicked storm.
At least her car wasnât getting hammered in the parking lot outside. Nicki breathed a quick prayer of thanks that she had chosen to walk to work leaving her car safely under the carport at her apartment.
Then abruptly, the wind and hail stopped. Nicki tensed. Something wasnât right.
The thought had barely formed in her mind when a great roar began. Like a dozen jet engines bearing down on them, the sound filled the church basement, drowning out the frightened cries of the people sheltering there.
Tornado!
Nicki pulled the youngest children closer to her, sheltering them with her body. Her ears popped in the intense pressure change. Dust filled the air. The lights went out. People screamed.
The roar went on and on until Nicki thought she would scream, too. It seemed like forever but, in reality, it only lasted a few minutes. Finally, the noise died away, and the sounds of the childrenâs crying rose in volume.
âIâm scared.â
âTurn on the lights, Miss Appleton.â
âItâs okay.â Nicki used her calm teacher voice, although she felt anything but. Her heart was hammering hard enough to jump out of her body.
Close by in the darkness, Josie Cane added her reassurances to her daycare group. âItâs fine. Everyone sit quietly, please.â
Nicki fumbled, with shaking hands, for the flashlight in her emergency kit. Locating the plastic cylinder, she snapped it on.
The sudden bright circle of light showed her a dozen frightened, tear-streaked faces looking to her guidance. A sweep around the room revealed neighbors and friends taking stock of themselves and each other. Josie had her arms around her eight-year-old niece, Alyssa, planting a kiss on the girlâs cheek.