The Love Sucks Club(89)

“Just get everyone into the bathroom,” I yell. I look around for Frank, but Susannah already has him in her arms.

Trusting Roxanne to take care of everyone else, I grab Sam’s arm and pull her over toward the roof. Olivia, clutching Muffin, runs toward the bathroom.

“Do you think we should try to stabilize it?” I scream.

Jumping up on the counter, she reaches up toward the ceiling. “Hand me some plastic,” she yells.

I grab several bags and heft myself up onto the counter next to her. “You make it look so easy,” I yell.

Laughing, she shakes her head. “Must be all of those years of ballet lessons.”

She’s taller than I am, so I have to stand on my toes to hold the bags. The roof is shimmying as wildly as the window. “I think we should take cover,” I holler in her ear.

She shakes her head again. “Let’s get it taped up at least. We’ll feel it if it starts to give.”

“It’s starting to give now,” I yell.

“Just hold the fucking bags.”

Both of us are soaking wet. The rain is gushing in around the bags. Sam starts to plaster the bags and the ceiling with tape, but it isn’t sticking very well to the wet plaster. The crack between the roof and the wall widens and we’re blasted with a hard sheet of water. With water stinging my eyes, I can’t see anything for a second. The force of the wind coming in through the hole almost knocks me off the counter. A knot of anxiety starts to form in my stomach and I reach for Sam, though she suddenly seems far away. I can see the entire roof tearing away from the house and with it, I see Sam being sucked into the storm. Paralyzed, I stand on the counter being pelted by small rocks and driving rain. A leaf blows in on the wind and slashes against my face. Dimly, I’m aware that my entire kitchen is getting wet, but I can’t move to try to save anything. My vision darkens and then I’m looking at Sam, lying dead in the yard, thrown to the ground by the force of the wind. My heart stops and I drop to my knees on the counter. Swaying dangerously, I realize that I’m about to pass out. Suddenly, Sam’s face is in my line of vision. She yanks me off the counter into her arms and half-drags me down the hall to the bathroom. Crowding into the small space with nine other people, we fall through the door. Roxanne is sitting on the side of the tub next to Jackie and Mandy. Karen is sitting on the closed toilet. Olivia is on the floor with both Muffin and Frank curled up in her arms. Everyone else is standing. Sam lowers me to the floor next to Olivia and squats in front of me, scared.

“Hey, buddy.” Sam tries to smile. “Hey. Dana. Hi.”

Blinking at her, I try to return the smile. “I thought I saw you sucked out through the roof,” I whisper.

She leans forward, unable to hear me over the wind. “What did you say?”

“I said I guess I’m not as healed as I thought I was,” I answer, still whispering.

Grimly, she shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I still can’t hear you.”

“I said I think I’m fucked up,” I yell over the noise. Bursting into tears, I put both of my hands over my face, shaking with the effort of not losing it. Sam pats me awkwardly on the shoulder. I can feel everyone in the room looking at me, even though I can’t see them. The wind noise is screaming through the house and now, all I can see is a vision of Sam jumping off the same cliff that took Fran. I can hear Esmé yelling something, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. Shaking and crying, I press my hands tight against my face, trying to stem the tide. Suddenly, Roxanne is kneeling in front of me. She reaches around me and pulls me into her arms. Collapsing against her, I press my face into her chest, letting go of everything. Her hands feel warm on my body. I know she’s whispering things in my ear, but I can’t tell what she’s saying. It doesn’t really matter. It has the necessary effect. With my tears subsiding, I lean back against the wall and open my eyes. Sam is looking terrified. I give her a wink and she relaxes a bit. Roxanne turns around and sits between my legs, resting her back against my chest. My arms move naturally against her waist. I can’t help noticing a look from Esmé that I can’t quite decipher. I give her a quick smile, but she doesn’t smile back.

“I’m fine,” I yell. “I’m perfectly fine. Everyone can stop staring at me.”

“It’s not a problem,” Rick yells back. “We’ve all been there.”

“Really?” Karen is speaking loudly, but I can only just hear her over the noise of the wind. “I didn’t think you ever lose control.”