Forked lightning flashed across the blackened sky, illuminating a face at the window. Carla froze, soapy washcloth in one hand, half-cleaned pot in the other, and considered she might have listened to one too many true crime podcasts, but then, it moved. The pan clattered back into the sink, splashing the floor with water as Carla screamed and scrambled to drag the blind closed before she scurried towards safety. Heavy footsteps on the stairs told her Marvin had heard the…
An air-raid siren echoed through the night, growing louder with every second until it was impossible to ignore. Pete scrubbed sleep from his face as the girls screamed. The tornado siren was a familiar cry, but as the howling wind yanked and tore at the house, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Hail pinged off the windows. Pete didn’t need to check the sky this time. He scrambled out of bed and towards his panicked…
Peg nearly fell out of her chair when the thunder rolled down the mountains and echoed through the valley, rattling the windows. She checked the sky and frowned. Full dark clouds were moving in, blocking out the sun and carrying the scent of rain. Great, what was she supposed to do with the pile of neon eggs she filled with treats for the kids and grandkids? She shook her head. “Sounds like a storm’s brewing.” Jock ambled into the kitchen…
Gareth left the kids in the tub as he went to round up pajamas and towels. All he had to do now was convince the boys to get out of the bath. He never could relate to parents who said bath time was a challenge because their kids hated the water. If they’d said it was because they couldn’t convince their child to get out, he’d have nodded along, listed a half-dozen different excuses his kids always used despite the pruning of their…