Ren stood on the front veranda looking out at the heavy storm clouds that had massed in the west. He turned his head as he heard footsteps beside him and he saw Brad stop and look out at the sky as well.
"I'm glad we insisted Janey take Nicky home when we saw the storm clouds building up. It's blowing a gale out there now," Ren said indicating the trees that were tossing wildly in the strong wind.
"Yes, I'm glad they're both back home safe and sound," Brad agreed.
"So you get to see your son on your birthday," Ren said with a grin.
"I'm really looking forward to it - a real first for me." Brad said happily, he paused for a moment before asking "So what's going on between you and Janey? I thought you were just about to kiss her when you put her seatbelt on for her when she was leaving."
Ren smiled as he remembered how Janey had watched his mouth as he had lent over her to fasten her seatbelt when she had struggled with it. He had watched her eyes darken and her lips part softly before he had pressed a quick kiss to her forehead and then straightened out of the car. He could still hear her soft gasp of shock from when he had shut the driver's side door for her.
"She thought I was about to kiss her as well," Ren said sounding pleased with himself.
"Well tell all," Brad encouraged him.
"Janey asked me to back off, that she's with the boyfriend. I told her I wouldn't do anything she didn't want," Ren said with a tight expression.
"So you have to wait for her to want you to do something?" Brad asked.
"Something like that," Ren said sounding more than slightly strained.
" 'Tanaya has got supper nearly cooked. You'd better come inside if you're hungry," Brad said before turning and heading inside.
Ren hesitated for several more moments looking out towards the heavy storm clouds before heading inside to wash up for the meal.
"Does it still look like we might get a storm?" 'Tanaya asked as Ren sat down at the table.
"I'd say definitely, and I'd guess a nasty one at that by the colour of the clouds," Ren said as he reached for the plate of food 'Tanaya was holding out towards him. "Thanks for that, it looks good."
"I do like to be able to cook once in a while in my own kitchen," 'Tanaya said in reference to the fact that Ren had taken to doing a lot of the cooking when 'Tanaya had to work.
"Just doing what I can to help out," Ren said before tasting the mashed potato covered in gravy.
There was silence around the table while the three of them took the edge off their hunger; the only noises the clinking of cutlery on plates and the occasional rattle of cups in saucers as they took a drink.
By the time they had finished their meal, thunder could be heard rumbling in the not far distance and the bright flashes of lightening illuminated the late evening gloom. The sound of the wind told them it had picked up strength and speed.
Brad got out of his chair and turned the radio on to the local station; as they sat enjoying leisurely cups of coffee they listened to the latest popular songs playing. As the clock pointed to the hour the radio station started the news with a severe storm warning for several areas.
"Sounds like I'd better do a quick check that everything is secure outside," Brad said getting to his feet.
"I'll give you a hand," Ren said putting his nearly empty cup aside as he too got to his feet.
"Check to see if Mr Brinkley needs a hand next door. He might appreciate the help," 'Tanaya said as she began stacking dirty dishes in the sink.
"Will do, " Ren said and paused to look back at 'Tanaya. "Just stack the dishes in the sink, I'll do 'em later."
'Tanaya watched as both men disappeared out the back way before hurriedly finishing what she was doing. With the table cleared she made her way around the house checking that all the windows were shut and secured properly.
Pausing on the western side of the house 'Tanaya peered out a window at the storm clouds and flinched as several vicious streaks of lightening flashed from the clouds to the ground some distance from town. She was relieved when she heard the two men return to the house and when to the lounge room to meet them as they came in from the backyard.
"Gerald said it'll be a bad storm for sure. We put some heavy timbers on a pile of iron for him so he didn't have to strain himself." Brad said as he shook dust and leaves from his hair and shoulders.
They stood and watched through a window in one of the front rooms as the storm raced towards them. Vivid streaks of lightening danced between clouds before cascading to the ground in breathtaking displays of power.
Rain soon appeared as a grey haze that quickly approached the town swept before the strong winds that snapped small branches from trees and shrubs in its path. The rain sounded loud on the roof overhead and drummed incessantly against the western side of the house.
"Shit - hail!" Brad exclaimed as he saw the first of the marble sized white balls hit the window and bounce off.
Ren moved to where he could look out over the rear yard and winced as the hailstones became the size of tennis balls.
The combined sound of the rain and hail was nearly deafening as it pelted down mercilessly. Lightening illuminated the rooms with windows as the full fury of the storm passed overhead; thunder rumbled and the vibrations of the sound could be felt throughout the house.
Within twenty minutes the storm had passed the town leaving only heavy rain bucketing down.
Brad started with surprise as his mobile phone gave its shrill call and he picked it up off the kitchen cupboard where he had placed it. He answered it curtly and listened with a frown as his boss spoke quickly. He answered affirmatively before hanging up and looking at 'Tanaya.
"That was Hank. He's a member of the State Emergency Service. The SES is getting a lot of calls and expects more. Houses have lost their roofs, trees down across roads. I'll check everything is okay outside and then I'm going to lend a hand to the SES volunteers," Brad told her seriously.
"I'll lend a hand as well," Ren said as he headed towards his room for a waterproof jacket.
'Tanaya stood on the front veranda looking out into the hail covered street as both men walked around the exterior of the house checking for damage before heading over next door to check for damage then knock on the Brinkley's door.
'Tanaya's attention was diverted when Brent and Matty hurried across the street looking wet and ragged. They hurried up onto the veranda out of the rain.
"The flats have lost the roof all along the building," Brent said without preamble. "Wall has poured in through the ceiling, everything's wet."
"Go get your good clothes and a couple of changes of work clothes, I'll put them through a wash and dry some in the dryer and hang some on the back veranda. Has Hank called you?" 'Tanaya asked.
"Yes, he's bringing tarps for the flats and then we go on to other buildings," Matty supplied.
"How'd you guys go over there?" Brad asked as he climbed the front steps to the veranda with Ren close behind him.
* * * * *
Janey put the phone receiver back on the phone and frowned as she headed for the kitchen picking her son up out of the doorway as she went.
The morning had dawned cold and damp with misty rain in the aftermath of the storms; there had been two separate storms that had left unroofed houses in their wake before uniting to leave a trail of roofless houses and uprooted trees.
Only her mother and sister were in the kitchen as Janey let Nicky down to play with his pots and pans.
