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Dare drove slowly so as not to make a wake. A few other vehicles were starting to move along the highway - sheriff’s vehicles, Park Service trucks, power company trucks, and some of the locals interested in checking out the surf at the motels or taking a few photos and videos to post as soon as the internet returned. It seemed to Jo that everything was moving in slow motion. She felt shock and fear in the pit of her stomach, but at the same time it was incredible to see the power of nature. Dare slowed even further and then turned into the parking lot of the Salty Seas restaurant. “I’m afraid it’s got to be on foot from here, Jo. I’ve heard through Mom the water is still pouring across the highway from the oceanfront. Don’t want to push this truck to its demise any sooner than necessary.”
They walked silently, listening to the sounds of the island trying to reawaken as if from a bad dream. The sound of chainsaws mixed with the cry of the gulls, and the ocean roared with a swell that was still powerful. Foam was flying around them and the smell of the saltwater and seaweed was overpowering. Crab pots, pieces of what had been sand fences, and unidentifiable trash floated along beside them and they had to be careful not to step on nails, if they could see them.
When they reached the edge of the motel property Jo tried to take it all in without panic. There was sand up to the porch decks, so that meant five feet of sand covering their two parking lots. She realized that was tons of sand. Bare places on the roof were testimony to the fury of the winds the motel experienced. They weren’t able to walk around to the oceanfront as the waves were still breaking under the buildings, but she expected that at least some of the porch railings would need to be repaired. And there was no way to know if sand and water had gotten into the lower floor guest rooms. Even though they too were on pilings above the beach level, the wind could push the sand right under the doors and through every little crack. Broken windows meant the rain could have gotten inside. The alarm for the septic system was blaring incessantly but at the moment there was nothing they could do to stop it. A cable line had been disconnected from the power pole and danced wildly in the air. Jo tried to process everything but it all became a blur in her mind. She wanted to have a plan, she wanted to know how to proceed, but all she felt was overwhelmingly sad and helpless. She hated when she didn’t feel in control.
“I… I don’t know what to think,” Jo stammered. “How will we very get this all back together again? Gran is going to be beside herself.”
“She’ll probably take it in stride,” Dare mused. “She’s used to storms and nor’easters and such. This one is bad, but the buildings didn’t float away, and believe it or not, she probably has sand removal guys on her speed dial on that old landline.” His hand was on her shoulder, giving her strength. Support. “I know it looks overwhelming, but trust me, from what I saw driving up here, you, Gran, my folks, and this motel are going to be OK.” Dare shook his head trying to be both reassuring but honest. “I’ve seen enough damage to know we’ll be limping along for a while getting everyone back together. It’s the roofing damage you need to be most concerned about.”
“Who’s going to do that?” Jo wondered aloud. “Getting stuff fixed around here is a nightmare even in normal times.”
“Oh, you wait, there’ll be people coming in as soon as the County gives the OK. Repair people of all kinds. Some are decent and some are rip-offs. But for sure we’ll need to use their services, the good ones, that is. Social media weeds out the bad ones pretty quickly. You’ll wanna keep up with the locals’ pages on Facebook.” Dare took Jo by the shoulders. “I’m not going to lie to you. We’re all in for a challenge. But most of the folks who come in on the early admission for work really want to help out.” Jo looked skeptical, but Dare continued. “ Yeah, they’ll make money but they do good work. Word travels on the island grapevine about the ones who are here just to take advantage of the situation. You’ll figure it out.” He looked at her seriously. “Just keep your eyes and ears open.”
Jo mulled over all that she’d be doing in the next days and weeks before she headed back to campus. She wondered if there would be a delay, that thought hadn’t occurred to her. Her dad said damage all up and down the coast. That probably included the campus in Wilmington.
“Boy, it’s a lot, Dare.” She looked at him. “But that’s not all. My parents are coming down as soon as they’ll allow non-resident property owners onto the island. You know how I feel about that. I guess when it rains, it pours.”
Dare glanced over and wondered if she realized the pun. But he also knew Jo and her parents had a tangled relationship. He felt for her. He reached over and gave her a hug. They watched a few more waves roll across the highway and then turned back to walk toward the truck.
ChapterFour
The days after the storm seemed to be as much of a whirlwind as the days of preparation ahead of it. It amazed Jo to see how quickly things seemed to bounce back, as bad as they were. Her grandmother had seen to it that the sand removal crew she always used was on the spot the day the tides stopped overwashing the parking lot. They moved literally tons of sand to the oceanfront and the soundside where it looked as though a new dune had been created. The wind was already softening some of that landscape, and the sun had dried up the water that lay in puddles not only in the motel lot, but also in most of the low spots all over the island.
The water that remained was bringing the mosquitoes, but even that problem wasn’t as bad as she had expected.
The power had been restored in two days, and again, Jo reflected on how wise Gran had been to install the generator a few years back. At least in the evenings when she went back home after a long day, she had cool air to greet her along with supportive smiles and questioning from Susan. Her foot was still a bit puffy and sore, and Jo insisted she not navigate the steep steps up and down to the house for a few more days. Surprisingly, Susan agreed. She had done all of the insurance work by phone or email, and seemed content to read and relax, and let Jo tell her what was happening with the clean-up.
The main issue now was getting visitors back on the island. Contractors were being allowed on as of today, she’d heard, along with any residents who had evacuated. Tomorrow non-resident property owners would be allowed. That meant visitors would be coming back shortly after that. SeaAnna had texted to let her know they’d be arriving around midday tomorrow and she’d hoped Jo would have a room ready. Her dad had also texted to say not to worry, that everything would be fine and they were looking forward to seeing her and Susan, and how was Susan by the way?
The two texts were a wonderful example of the ping-pong ball kind of relationship Jo had had with her parents for as long as she remembered. Her mom would be short, cold, and always very much to the point. Her dad was the one who would be there to soften the hard edges and remind her she was very much loved by both of them, even if it wasn’t always evident. She was sitting on the motel porch, taking a quick break from answering phones for people who were clamoring to get back to the island. She got lost in thought trying to think about how she might improve things with SeaAnna, and if she really wanted to, when she was interrupted by a text from Dare.
“What time r u off? Let’s go by Marcie’s for a drink. “
“I think I can manage 6. K?”she texted back.
“K CU”
She texted back a “thumbs up” emoji and went back inside to be sure everything was as it should be. Having the housekeepers clean the rooms before the storm was at her gran’s insistence and Jo would be forever grateful. Very little had to be done to get ready for her parents, or indeed anyone who wanted to stay at the motel. The big remaining issue was the roof, but the problems there did not preclude people from staying, at least in the short run. She’d have to talk to Gran about finding a roofer now that contractors were on the island.
She fielded a few more calls, checked in with her maintenance crew, and locked up behind her. Marcie’s Bar and Grille was just a mile or so away. Locally owned, it had always been the meeting place for locals, and once Marcie reopened after the storm, it was even more so. Everyone needed a place to just relax and try to unwind. Relief and recovery efforts were discussed and, in true island fashion, the latest news and gossip was always exchanged.
Jo walked in and Dare was already waiting at the end of the bar at their usual spaces.
“God, I am wiped out,” said Jo as she plopped onto the seat next to him. “It’s going well for us, but I just worry about everyone else. I guess I feel guilty we didn’t fare as badly as some people. We’re pretty much ready to open.”
“Be careful what you wish for, honey,” said Marcie as she placed the usual glass of lemonade in front of Jo. “A lot of people don’t want tourists back so quickly. Lots of gawkin’ and all. It’s a fine line between doin’ business and openin’ up the island to folks who don’t understand what we’ve been through.”
“Hmm,” Jo said. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. I’m sure Gran has thoughts on that.”
“I’m sure she does. How’s her ankle?” asked Marcie, as she wiped the sweat from her brow. “It’s been really busy today what with the contractors coming on the island and all. I miss seeing Susan.”
“She’s coming along,” Jo replied turning to Dare. “Hey you, sorry I haven’t even said hello. Have you ordered?”
Dare asked Marcie to bring him a Wild Whelk, one of the local beers. “You know,” he turned to Jo. “Marcie would probably give you a beer if you asked.”
“Yeah, I know. But she and Gran go back for forever, and if I did anything to screw up her license, Gran would never forgive me, and neither would anyone on this island. Gran lets me drink wine at the house, so I can really go crazy there. And for sure I’ll need a glass or two or three tonight. You remember my parents are coming tomorrow.”
Dare took a swig of beer. “You know, I have tried really hard since I was old enough to think about these things, to figure out why you and your mom are so distant with each other. How far back does all this go?”
