“If all we had was a blown out window and a mess, I’m thankful.” Keely stood in the doorway.
“I need to try to reach Natalie.” Hunt pulled out his cell and called his sister. He let it ring until the answering message came on. “Nat. Call me. The boys are safe. Where are you?”
He clicked off the phone.
“I would stay here and help clean up, but I’ve got to go find Natalie. Make sure she’s okay.”
“Why don’t you leave the boys here with us?”
“You sure?”
“I think it would be better than dragging them around in the mess out there.”
“Let me go back and tell them I’m leaving.” Hunt and Keely headed back to the pantry.
“Boys, it’s all over now. You can come out, but I need you to stay with Katherine and Keely for a little while. I’m going to go find your mother.”
He pushed Katherine’s chair out into the main part of the cafe, crunching glass as the chair rolled along. The boys followed him.
“Wow.” Jesse looked around the cafe.
“You boys be careful of the glass, okay?”
“I want to come with you.” Jackson stepped up and grabbed his arm.
“Jackson, I need you to help watch over your brothers. Could you do that for me?”
“Okay. I’ll stay and watch ‘em.” Jackson nodded.
Hunt looked down at the boy and all he could see was Kevin’s eyes looking back up at him.
I hear you Kevin. Loud and clear, buddy. I’ll go find her and make sure she’s safe.
~ * ~
Owen pushed through the door of the carriage house. It had taken him what seemed like hours to get here because the streets were covered in limbs. He’d finally abandoned his car and ran the rest of the way.
“Bella?”
He stood in the room looking around, willing Bella to appear in front of him.
Jeremy came out of Bella’s bedroom with his hand firmly holding Timmy’s.
“Owen?” Timmy raced over and threw himself into Owen’s arms.
Owen stumbled back but caught the boy firmly in a hug. “You okay?”
“We’re fine. But Mom’s not here.” Timmy looked up at him, his eyes wide. Tracks ran down his cheeks from recent tears.
The sitter came up behind Jeremy. “We’re all fine. I took the boys into the closet when we heard the sirens.”
“Smart thinking. I’m sure Bella was glad she could count on you.”
Jeremy walked up to him. “Mr. Campbell, do you think you can find my mom?”
“I sure will, Jeremy. I sure will. You two stay here with your sitter, and I’ll bring your mom back here as quickly as I can, okay?”
Owen looked at the two boys and his heart swelled. They were safe. He’d been so worried about them and Bella. All of this was so new to him. He’d always only had to take care of himself, worry about himself or at the most his employees. Nothing like the feelings that were coursing through him now at the thought of anything happening to Bella or the boys.
“Jeremy, you think you can find a piece of paper and write down my phone number? Then you call if you hear anything at all about your mother, okay?”
“I can do that.” Jeremy went over to the counter, grabbed a pen and paper, and wrote down the number.
“I’m going to go now and find her. I’ll bring her back, safe and sound.” Owen walked away from the carriage house and saw both boys’ faces pressed against the window, watching him leave. He hoped he’d just made a promise he could keep.
He decided to try the cafe first and hurried down the street.
~ * ~
Owen rushed through the open door of the cafe. “I can’t find Bella. Does anyone know where she is? She isn’t at her house or her shop. Her boys are at her house with a babysitter and they’re okay, but Bella’s not there. I’ve tried calling and she’s not picking up.”
“She was here earlier, but she left.” Keely walked over to him.
Tension swept through Owen and settled in his stomach. He was not used to feeling so helpless. He was the man in control. Making decisions. Making things happen. But now, he couldn’t even find the woman he loved. “I can’t find her anywhere.”
“I’m sure she’s okay. She probably ducked in somewhere to stay safe,” Keely assured him.
“Right. I’m sure you’re right. But where is she? I’d think she would have raced home to check on the boys. I told the sitter to call me immediately if Bella showed up.”
Becky Lee walked up behind him. “I came to see how you fared, Keely.”
“Have you seen Bella?” Owen knew he should stay calm, but he couldn’t help himself, he was beginning to panic. Where was she?