Special thanks to my Editor, CallieJane8 for helping me on this one
Carrie sat there in silence and read the words on her computer screen. "If there is another hurricane, I don't want you to be scared. If you don't want to be alone, I hope you know that you can always stay with me. Signed, Rob". The message was dated months ago. It had been a quiet hurricane season, at least for them in this part of Florida. Last year was so bad, Carrie wanted to run away and never come back to where she could be affected by another hurricane. And that's when she had her husband. But he was gone now. They were still friends, but the love was gone.
"Hurricane Wanda is coming closer to Florida. It should make land fall by Monday afternoon. Expect it to hit Central Florida by morning on Tuesday," the local newscaster read off the TelePrompTer.
It sent shivers down Carrie's spine. She reread the email again, not sure why she saved it all this time. It made her smile that her friend cared that much about her. She looked out the window. It was a blue clear day, but Carrie knew better. Florida weather was always tricky, and then complicated more by an impending hurricane. She wasn't sure she could make it through the hurricane by herself. But she thought about it. And the more she thought about it, the more she didn't want to be alone. She picked up the phone and dialed the phone.
"Can I speak to Rob?" she said after someone picked up the phone on the other line.
"This is him. Hi, Carrie," he replied. Carrie felt something get caught in her throat.
"Hey. I don't know how to say this. So I'm just going to come out with it. I was going through my list of saved emails and I came across one you sent me a few months ago. ) I don't know if you were serious when you told me I could stay with you if there was another hurricane...," she started to say. She could feel the sweat on her brow as she talked.
"Of course I was serious. If you need a place to stay, you are always welcome here," he replied.
"Thank you so much. You're a good friend. I'm not sure though. I guess it all depends on the hurricane. I'm not saying I'll be over. I'm not saying I won't be, you know?" she replied.
"Of course. I just want you to know that offer still stands. I just don't want you to be scared."
"I'll be scared either way. But it's good to know that I have somewhere to go? You know?" she said as she sat at her kitchen table.
"Yeah, I know. So how have you been?" he replied.
Rob and Carrie talked over the phone for the next 20 minutes about mostly nothing. Every time he tried to turn the conversation to her, she dodged. Carrie wasn't much into talking about herself, especially now. She was afraid too many people would feel bad for her, being newly divorced. That was the last thing she wanted to feel. She knew Rob wasn't like that. It was more of a force of habit. As much as she denied it, she had all ready made up her mind. She knew she would wind up at Rob's for the hurricane. She didn't want to be alone. She knew that much. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid.
Days passed and all over the local news was stories about Hurricane Wanda heading right for them. Carrie couldn't sleep at night. She was scared. She didn't want to face another hurricane, especially now. It was the talk of work too. Everyone they worked with was getting ready for the storm. Carrie saw Rob in the break room.
"I just want to make sure that you are completely serious about this." she asked him.
"Of course I am serious. Why do you think I wouldn't be serious?" he replied.
"I just don't want to show up at your door and look like an ass, that's all," Carrie said with a smile. She knew in her heart that he was serious. She just wanted to hear him say it one more time before she told him the truth.
"I would never do that to you. I thought you knew me better then that."
"I do, of course I do. You are right. I am sorry, Rob," she felt embarrassed now. She turned away, afraid to look at him.
"There is nothing to sorry about. Does this mean that you will be coming?" he asked as he walked in front of her, almost forcing her to look at him.
"I just don't want to be an inconvenience for you, that's all." She forced herself to smile at him.
"You would never be an inconvenience to me. Especially since I was the one who brought this up to you. So explain to me, how you would then be an inconvenience to me? Huh?" he smiled at her. She laughed.
"I guess you have a point there". She shrugged. "So, should I bring anything?
"Does that mean that you are coming?" he smiled at her.