Page 134 of Through the Storms

“You couldn’t find the right time in two years?”

“I was scared.” Oakley fidgeted with the box in her hand. “Ya know, this is a nice conversation and all, but…um…you’re kinda leaving me hanging.”

“Oh, god, sorry.” Lana threw herself into Oakley’s arms. “Yes. A million times yes, I’ll marry you.”

Oakley stood and lifted Lana off her feet. She swung her around as they both laughed.

Once Oakley set Lana down, Lana held out her hand. “Are you going to put it on me?”

“Oh, right.” Oakley fumbled with the box. Her hands were shaking as she slid the ring onto Lana’s finger.

“Wow.” Lana turned her hand in several directions. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Did you figure out the emerald part?” Oakley’s eyes lit up.

“My favorite color is green?”

“No.” Oakley put her hand on her hip. “The Emerald City.” When Lana continued to stare, Oakley continued. “Dorothy. Oz.”

“Duh, the Emerald City. Tornadoes.” Lana laughed. “Only you would get me a tornado-themed engagement ring.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.” And Lana meant it. She wrapped her arms around Oakley and hugged her tight.

Oakley kissed Lana’s neck. “Are we gonna consummate it?”

Lana chuckled. “One, it’s the marriage, not the engagement that gets consummated. And two, as much as I would love to spend the entire day in bed with you, we need to get to Summerton.”

“And that’s why you’re the responsible one.”

“Hey.” Lana playfully pushed Oakley’s shoulder. “Didn’t you say you wanted to start being responsible?”

Oakley groaned. “Fine.” She motioned toward Lana’s ring. “I suppose we should probably put that back in the box.”

Lana looked down at the beautiful stone and nodded. “Yes.” She slid the ring off her finger. “There’s too much pain right now for us to share our happy news.”

Oakley placed the ring in the box and started to shove the box back into her sock.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Lana took it from Oakley. “We’re putting this in the safe.”

“Sheesh, it’s been just fine in my sock drawer all this time.”

Lana chuckled. “But it’s mine now, so no more smelly socks.”

“They’re clean, for fuck’s sake.”

“Whatever.” Lana rolled her eyes and laughed.

CHAPTER 49

Chloe paced her livingroom and noticed the crooked throw pillow. She straightened it and stepped back.Slightly crooked.She turned it another inch.Perfect. No, maybe not.She nudged it a little to the left.

Seriously?She needed to get a grip. It had been a month since the tornado had ripped apart the town and lives of the people of Summerton. While she’d seen Riley several times since that terrible day, it would be the first time they’d be alone.

It had been a whirlwind. Riley had been around for several days after the tornado to help with the search and rescue. Later she’d returned to help with the cleanup, but she’d always stayed with the sheriff and his wife. Riley had joined Oakley and Lana for the series of heart-wrenching funerals. Too many people had lost their lives. Twenty-eight deaths, the majority unnecessary if they’d heeded the warnings.

Chloe had lost count of the number of injuries. The hardest, though, was the young people. Chloe shivered, thinking of howclose Mia came to being a statistic. She pushed the thought from her mind and hurried to the kitchen. It was stupid, but she’d put together a cheese and cracker tray for Riley’s visit. It seemed weird considering the circumstances, but she wanted to feel some semblance of normalcy. Forget the tornado for a bit.Right.She doubted she ever would.