I felt a bit self-conscious, Mom had convinced me to buy a two-piece suit for this summer.
"But Camilla, look, its a tank-ini, not even a bikini. You have the body to fill it out."
I had turned bright red there in the store, and now I was wearing it for the first time. I felt eyes on me as I lay on the lounge chair, dried off from my long swim. I still breathed hard, had raced out my frustrations, raced against no one.
"Afternoon Cammie. Lemonade?"
I shielded my eyes from the bright sun, saw Mr Patterson standing there, a pitcher of ice cold lemonade in his hand.
"I'd love some."
I stood, followed him to the shaded area of the patio. He poured two tall glasses, set one in front of each chair at the smaller table. I sipped at the sweetly-sour drink, cooled me off just a bit more.
"Thank you Mr Patterson."
"No problem. I saw you swimming out here, it's a warm day."
"It sure is. But, look over there."
I pointed to the valley beyond our development, storm clouds were fast approaching.
"That looks a bit ominous doesn't it."
I watched as he pulled out his phone, read me the weather alert, with damaging winds and hail. I grabbed my belongings, my house was at the other end of the development, and too far for even a jog.
"Come with me, Cammie. My house is closer than yours."
He grabbed my hand, we dashed through the beginning rain drops, his house was diagonally across from the rec center. His garage door was open, we made it to the end of his SUV as the first crashes of thunder echoed. I trembled, watched as the lightning struck the sky, lighting what had been just a sunny day only minutes ago.
"Come on, let's go in."
He ushered me up the two steps and into his 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. Most of them similar in our neighborhood, only a few had extra bedrooms and baths. I waited, still dripped a little wet, Mr Patterson came back out in dry clothes. He handed me a shirt and pants, directed me into his hall bath.
"Change, get dry."
I took his direction, trembled again as a rip of thunder shook the house. I wrung out my hair, dried as best I could with the towel he'd given me. I left my suit hanging over the tub, and used a comb to brush out my long hair. I found a hairdryer under the sink, used that for a few minutes just to make my hair not so wet. I washed the comb, let it dry on the side of the sink. Mr Patterson was busy in the living area, I watched as he set the table with candles, his flashlights and the wind-up radio just in case.
He turned to me and smiled, a warning came over the radio station he'd turned on. A tornado warning for our area until 9:15 pm. He gathered the candles, I took a few from him and followed him into the small-basement that everyone had, just for these reasons. He left me down in the basement, a small couch and rug, a few lamps lit the quaint space. He came back, a small cooler with ice and his tornado preparedness kit on his back.
"No worries, I'm stocked."
He gestured to the side wall, shelves of water, canned goods, non-perishables were stocked full.
"Use the bathroom?"
He asked, I nodded, still frightened. He placed his hand on my low back, directed me to sit down.
"Cammie, are you frightened? Of me?"
I looked at the kind older man, shook my head.
"No, not of you Mr Patterson. I have never gotten used to these storms, even after living here for five years."
He laughed gently, smiled at me.
"I've lived here my entire life, I'm still here. That's 37 years mind you."
I smiled at him, nodded.
"Just thankful we still have power."
And as if by magic, the lights flickered and then went dark, a crash of thunder shook the house above us. I helped hold the flashlight still as Mr Patterson lit the candles on the small tables that surrounded us, a few on the bookshelves behind us. I shivered, but began to breathe a bit easier as the room began to brighten again, in the soft candle light.
"Cammie? Can I call you Cam?"
"Most people do Mr Patterson."
"Call me Nate, please Cam."
"Okay then, Nate. Are you worried about your wife?"
He smiled.
"No, her husband is probably taking good care of his wife. We divorced more than three years ago.."
"Oh, oh I'm sorry."