18 Chapter 18

The old man had a camera trained on the street. I didn’t even care, except I wondered where Steve was and prayed he was safe.

I gulped down the coffee. It was terrible. Then I realized it wasn’t just coffee. That was fine with me, and I wasn’t alone. Kitty woke, and Edgemore handed him a cupful of whatever it was. Soon the two of us couldn’t have cared less about earthquakes, tsunamis, or anything else. I found a first aid kit and decided I’d bandage up Kitty’s forehead. It was just too pretty to fuck up, though, and when a slender hand appeared and took the stitch tape from me, and a warm, soft voice said, “Let me do this. I’m a retired nurse,” I gladly sat back.

“It’s coming!” several voices called from the windows. “My God, there’s some broad on a stand-up paddle board riding the wave! I don’t believe this!”

I did. And so did everyone else when it appeared on the media several days later.