37

We were all working the event at the small flea market is being held today, when the main owner comes rushing out with one of those major white megaphone things. He announced that all the vendors to close down and if need be leave items there and to get home immediately due to the hurricane approaching so much faster than anyone could have guested.

Not only that but it bumped up from a level one to a level three. Valan and I are just swiping the food into the trash can behind us and throwing the platters into the box. Right now, we are not the least bit worried about them being cleaned properly. That can wait until a later time.

Kelvin comes up and starts throwing the boxes into my car since it would give Naida more room in the van with Kelvin, and Valan had her car today too. Kelvin and Naida rode in the van.

"You guys need to take the van and just go to your house. I will throw the rest of this in the back of my car." I call out to Kelvin over the chaos currently going on around us.

"No Kelsie. We need to help." Naida swipes food into the trash with Valan.

"No Naida. The first thing is to make sure Kelvin gets you and that precious nephew of mine safe in your home." I hug her and then push Kelvin to the van with Naida.

"Be careful sis. Get home quickly. Aiden called and I told him that we would be out of here within ten minutes." Kelvin rushes out.

I nod and throw more platters into the back of my car as I wave them off to leave.

"Val, you're next. Time to go home you live a little further out than I do." I take the platter with one hand and push her with the other.

"I can't leave you to do this alone." She tears up, with her hands shaking.

"Yes you can and Laken will panic. Go home and be safe driving. If you can't make it to your house then go to mine and give Laken a call."

Val hugs me and then runs to her car.

Within just six more minutes, I have the platters in the back of my car. Along with our three fold up tables broke down and put in the back.

The owner runs up and places the check in my hands.

"Thank you for coming. I am sorry this has happened. Be safe." He rushes.

"Thank you. I wasn't expecting to get paid."

"I will always pay the vendors and companies. Your's was the last check to hand out. Now drive safe, I don't have a shelter area here for anyone sadly. I must get home to my wife and kids." The older man smiles and takes off.

I get in my car and get out onto the road quickly. My phone rings and I hit the hands free device to put it on speaker.

'Hello?'

'Kelsie. Where are you?' Aiden's voice rings out through the speakers.

'I just got on the road and sent the others home before I did. Should be another thirty minutes before I get home, but traffic is almost at a stand still.' I slowly talk and try to keep my breathing calm, because panicking will get me nowhere.

'Where are you?' I ask Aiden.

'At the company currently. The roads are blocked according to the news, so there is no way I can get out. It went from people could leave to five minutes later the roads are blocked and just stay where we are at in the city.' Aiden huffs and I can tell it is something he hates.

'Well, I am fixing to turn onto this back road I know the way around to get to my house and miss this traffic on the main roads.' I let him know, as I turn onto the street.

'Could you stay on the phone with me until you are home?'

'I would even if I am home.' I smile to myself as I drive.

Aiden and I talk lightly on random things. He says that way I can keep my main focus on the road, but I enjoy us talking because it helps keep me calm.

One thing I have been dieing to tell him is that I love him. I just don't want to freak Aiden out because it is something he doesn't understand when we first got together as a couple and everything we have talked about. I think his feelings are there too for me like I have for him, but I rather wait to hear if he expresses it before I do.

It is just something I want to be genuine and not just because I said it so he does too.

The wind is picking up already and I had to slow down on the speed I was driving. My house is about five miles away from where I have made it too and I am already longer than thirty minutes due to having to go a different way and the weather conditions setting in.

Why can't the weather just do what the weather people say just once? It would make things so much easier.

A squeal comes from me, as I hit the brakes and swerve the car to the left. Thank God, no one was coming from the other directions because it would have been a wreck.

'What happened?'

"A tree just fell over in the road in front of me. I am okay, about five miles from my house.'

It is clear when Aiden releases the breath he was holding.

Finally making it home, I left everything in my car other than grabbing my purse. Taking my phone, I hold it up to my ear as I run to the back door and unlock it.

Once inside, I lock the door back and then put Aiden on speaker phone.

'I am home, inside with the door locked back.'

'Good. Do you have a place to shelter down?'

'Yeah, I am grabbing my comforter off my bed and going into my large bath tub.'

'Cookie, that is not the best shelter.' Aiden sighs.

'It is all I got though for a safe zone. My pantry would be dangerous with the high shelves and food on them.' I softly speak as I walk into the bathroom after grabbing my comforter off the bed.

Sitting down in the bath tub. I place the comforter around me to where I can pull it up and over should I need it. With Aiden on speaker phone, I am able to send quick texts to Valan, my parents, and Kelvin.

They all reply back that they are home and safe too. I am glad that Mom is home and not at the daycare with all those little kids who no doubt would be scared, but at least their parents were able to get them just hope they all stay safe also.

'Do you have a source of light in there?' Aiden speaks back up.

'Yes, those electric candles are in here from our last session here.' I smile at them as they still line the tub on the wall surrounding me.

'That is good at least there is something they are also good for.'

'Are you in the shelter with the others?' I ask Aiden again.

'Yes. I am here in the shelter but on the opposite end of the large room.'

Even though I normally can't hear anything when I am in my own home, I can actually hear as the wind starts to pick up.

'It is here Aiden. I can hear the wind blowing harder than when I was coming in.' I sigh, guess I made it home just in time. It is still faster than they predicted.

Nerves starts to creep up, but I push them down.

'If we loose signal then know I will meet you at your house as soon as I can. So, please just stay there and I will come to you.' Aiden gets out right as the phone line goes dead.