Page 57 of Marry Me Tomorrow
“Jenny!” I yell again. “I’m coming!” I run to my bedroom door, ready to throw it open when a deafening roar overpowers me. It sounds like a freight train barreling directly past me, making my ears ring. The books on my nightstand fly across the room, a drawer from my dresser hits the wall above my head, and my bed flips as if it were as light as a feather. I’ve heard people describe being hit directly by a tornado like this before, but nothing could prepare me for the all-consuming pressure and the primal fear that comes with it.
But as suddenly as the deafening roar began, so does it fade. I hope—pray—that the tornado is moving away, sparing what remains of my home and of the marina. My room is intact, the walls and ceiling holding firm, but the contents of it are strewn across the room.
When I finally pull open my door and step into the hallway, my knees give out as I take in the destruction.
The end of the hallway where Jenny’s room once stood is obliterated.
A massive pine tree lies sprawled across the ruins, its splintered branches jutting through what used to be the ceiling, now on the floor of the room and hallway. Rain pours through the gaping hole, carried by gusts of wind that swirl pine needles and debris into a chaotic dance.
My panic threatens to overtake me, but I can’t let it.
“Jenny,” I whisper, my voice cracking as tears blur my vision. My heart pounds painfully against my ribs.
I claw my way to my feet, weaving through the wreckage. I have to get to her. I have to know if she’s okay. Her scream echoes in my mind, an endless loop of terror and helplessness. She has to be okay. She just has to. I can’t lose her after I just got her.
Climbing over broken beams and shattered furniture, I finally reach a vantage point where I can see her room—or what’s left of it. My stomach twists.
Jenny lies at a weird angle in her bed, a massive tree branch looming over her like a predator over its prey. The jagged edges of the broken branch rest precariously, held aloft by her shattered dresser and the crumbling remains of the hallway wall. The branch hovers only inches above her.
Her face is pale, ghostly against the dim light filtering through the debris. Her eyes are closed, lashes resting delicately against her cheeks. She’s so still, too still, and a cold knot of fear twists in my stomach.
I strain to see from where I stand, but the shadows and wreckage block my view. I can’t tell if she’s breathing but can see blood in her hair. My pulse thunders in my ears along with the storm outside, drowning out all else.
“Jenny!” I scream, my voice hoarse and desperate. I attempt several times to get to her, but with all the wreckage, I know I’m wasting time. Time she may not have. I scramble back through the debris to my room, nearly tripping in my haste. My hands fumble for my phone, but the screen mocks me with the absence of signal bars.
Panic tightens its grip. The marina is so isolated that help won’t arrive for hours unless I act. I dig through the mess in my room and finally find the two-way radio—Grandfather’s emergency wisdom echoing in my mind. “Better to be always prepared and never need it, then not prepared when you need it most.”
I grab it and press the button. “Hello, is anyone there? This is Trent at the marina. We’ve been hit by a tornado. Over.”
Static fills the line for a moment before a familiar voice crackles through, sending a sliver of relief through me. “Trent? This is Niall. What’s the status over there?”
“It’s Jenny.” My voice breaks, and I take a shaky breath. “I can’t . . . she’s trapped in her room, and there’s a tree.”
“Don’t worry, mate. We’re on our way. Can you get to her?”
“No, the tree’s massive.”
“Hold tight. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Niall, she has to be okay.”
Jenny has to be okay. She just has to. I don’t know what I’ll do if she isn’t. I made a vow to protect her and care for her no matter what, and I intend to do just that.
Ending the call, I force myself into action. First, I make sure the breaker is off—no sense risking electrocution when the power inevitably comes back on. My thoughts briefly flit to the renters in the cabins, but I can’t bring myself to leave. Jenny needs me here.
I return to the debris that blocks my way to Jenny, determined to clear what I can before help arrives. My hands ache as I wrestle with splintered wood and branches, but it barely makes a dent. The rain continues to pour, soaking me to the bone as I work.
When the sound of sirens pierces the storm, relief surges through me.
Finally!
I race to the front door as Niall and the rest of the firefighters pull up. Moments later, the wail of an approaching ambulance joins the chaos.
The firefighters assess the damage quickly, their movements efficient despite the storm. They begin cutting the tree into manageable sections, their chainsaws roaring above the wind. Each cut feels like an eternity.
Jenny still hasn’t moved.
An EMT, Silvia, places a hand on my arm. “We’ll know more once we can reach her. Stay calm, okay? And let’s get you checked out.”
