Obnoxiously, the phone continues ringing, the sound echoing throughout Tinley’s head until Marek’s voicemail picks up, “You’ve reached Marek’s phone, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” This can’t be happening. Tinley immediately hangs up and redials again. Her heart is racing and she starts to chuck her cell phone across the room when he doesn’t answer. Before the phone leaves her hand, she looks down the hallway to where Luna is currently sleeping, unaware of the events happening in the living room. Thinking better of it, she drops her phone onto the couch and focuses back on the horror playing out in front of her on the television screen. The worst thing she could do right now is wake up the little girl and make her aware of what’s going on.

Tara turns toward Tinley and says, “We have no idea what’s happening—we don’t even know if Marek is still there. You need to calm down and take a seat. We didn’t come over here to panic you. We thought you already knew.”

Tinley laughs cynically and says, “Oh yeah, my dear sister? And where is your husband? Where is Clark right now? Safe at home with your children? I’m sorry, but until you can understand what I’m currently going through, you don’t have the right to say anything right now.” She points toward the TV and continues, “The man I love could be dead right now. This isn’t like my dumb drama shit anymore. I legitimately don’t know whether or not Marek is going to walk back through that door and come home to me. That is terrifying and I’m sorry if me panicking about it is causing you issues.”

Rather than letting anyone say anything, she turns the volume up a little higher, but not enough to wake up Luna. Tara opens her mouth to speak but Tinley raises her hand and stops her from saying anything, focusing on the screen in front of her.

“…the storm was completely unexpected and there was no time for preparations for an event of this size. The winds suddenly changed, forcing what was supposed to be a typical rainstorm to become something else entirely. The rivers filled up faster than anticipated and the streets are turning into rivers themselves. We haven’t seen anything of this magnitude in over half a century, and as of right now, there are no signs of it letting up. The number of casualties can’t even be estimated at this point…”

The news anchor continues broadcasting, but Tinley can’t handle another second of it and mutes the volume. She knows cell towers could be down and that would explain why Marek isn’t answering his phone, but she can’t help her thoughts going to the worst—case scenario. The images of the flooded streets flash through her mind over and over again. What if Marek is one of those casualties the woman was speaking of? What if the little girl soundly sleeping down the hallway and the one currently growing in her belly are now without a father? The thought causes her gut to clench and she suddenly drops the remote in her hand then runs toward the kitchen. The contents of her stomach quickly come up and her dinner sprays into the sink. The acid coats her throat and she coughs, choking on her saliva.

Tears stream down her face as she slides down to the porcelain tile floor. The coldness underneath her transfers to her body and she shakes uncontrollably, partly from her sobs and partly from the sudden temperature change. Tara and Dakota both come running into the room and sit down on either side of her. Things might be on edge between Tinley and Dakota right now, but these two have always been her people, the two women she can always count on no matter what happens. They wrap their arms around her quaking form and tell her over and over again that everything is going to be okay. As the words fall from both of their mouths, she knows in reality, they can’t actually know that. They’re empty promises, and the only way to know for sure is if Marek were to walk into the house right this minute. She closes her eyes as if she could picture it and what it would feel like to leap into his arms and never let go.

Tinley almost jumps out of her skin when there’s a knock at the front door. Realistically she knows he wouldn’t be knocking at his own house, but it doesn’t stop her mind from traveling to that thought for a moment. She pushes herself up from the floor and wobbles slightly under the extra weight on her front side. She wraps her arms around her body as she starts walking back toward the front of the house.

Before she can take another step, she’s pulled back and Tara says, “Whatever happens, I hope you know I’ll be there with you every step of the way. You do know that, right?”

She hands her an opened bottle of water and Tinley takes a giant gulp, swishing the water around in her mouth before spitting the contents into the sink. She takes another drink, swallowing down a mouthful. She has an almost instant feeling of dehydration and when she finishes another drink, most of the water is gone. “I don’t know what you mean,” Tinley says as she studies the serious expression on her sister’s face. The sudden change in her reaction doesn’t make any sense. What else would her sister be here for other than what she already has been?

Tara takes a step toward her and wraps her arms around her in a tight hug. They stand there for longer than necessary, and with a last squeeze, she releases her. She points past the kitchen toward the hallway and adds, “There’s a little girl in that room and—”

So that’s where she’s going with this. “And nothing, Tara. I don’t want to think about the worst—case scenario.”

“But Tinley—”

Tinley raises her hand and stops her sister from spewing out whatever rant she has planned. If there’s one thing Tara does well, it’s making sure her voice is heard and her opinions are known. “Just stop, Tara. I’m not letting myself go there and think something has happened to Marek. But, if he isn’t coming back, I will fight for that little girl in there. She’s already lost her mother, and I refuse to believe she’s lost her father too, but if that’s the case, I will do anything and everything in my power to make sure I’m the best mother I can be.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for something like that? Tinley, you’re the same girl who had a funeral for your thirtieth birthday and likes to tell me ‘adulting is hard’, so excuse for me questioning whether or not you’ve thought this through.”

She doesn’t blame her sister for questioning her loyalty and dedication to not only her newish title, but also the idea that she’s going to be responsible for not one but two tiny humans. “I know you’re my sister and you only have my best interest at heart, but I’m pregnant and I’m already going to be a mom.” She places her hand on her very swollen belly and also looks toward where her favorite toddler is currently tucked in bed, fast asleep, none the wiser to the horrors of the world. “Marek might not have proposed yet, but I’m practically living here already. Luna might not legally be my daughter, but she is mine in every other sense of the word.”

Tara’s mouth spreads into the largest smile and she steps forward, wrapping her arms around Tinley in the warmest hug. Tinley’s emotions are running haywire and she doesn’t know whether to laugh, scream, or cry. Her sister whispers into her ear, “I knew you had it in you. It was only a matter of time, and I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you’re becoming. I love you so much, Tinley, but you have to—”

There’s another knock on the door and she moves toward it, not able to focus clearly, but Dakota swiftly moves past her and says, “I’ll get it.”

With that out of the way, Tinley decides to keep the moment a happy one rather than cause any sort of drama. “Tara, I know you mean well and I’m happy that you’re proud of me, but no, I’m sorry. No buts. Thank you, I really appreciate it. You’re a fantastic mom and I can only hope to be half as good of a mother as you are.”

“Tinley—”

She shakes her head and starts to walk away from her sister. “I’m sorry, there’s someone at the door. I can’t just stand here talking with you about this right now. I need to go greet whoever is out there. Lord knows Dakota isn’t the sweetest girl in the universe.”

“That’s for damn sure.”

Tinley starts to laugh but it feels forced and she drops the act. She can’t be happy now. She shouldn’t be laughing about anything, not with so much uncertainty surrounding Marek, whether or not he’s safe…or worse. She shrugs and turns away from her sister, continuing on through the house to see who’s waiting for her.

When she reaches the front door, she’s completely shocked to see Giselle standing there. The minute Tinley reaches them, they stop arguing and Dakota walks back into the other room. Normally Giselle is so put together, so it’s startling that she’s dressed down in sweatpants and her face is completely makeup—free. What’s even worse is that there are tears pouring down her face. Without a word, Giselle pushes past Tinley and walks into Marek’s living room, where Tara and Dakota are waiting for them.

The tension is palpable as she walks back in and finds both women sitting on the couch, grief written all over their faces. Tinley paces, unaware of what is currently going on, and looks from one woman to the next. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you here, Giselle? We don’t exactly know each other all that well. All I am is your brother’s girlfriend, his baby mama, potentially more, but we don’t really know that at this point in time. I have nothing against you, but don’t you have friends or family you’re closer with? I promise I’m not being a bitch, I just didn’t think you even liked me.”

Giselle is a complete wreck and incapable of saying anything as her silent tears turn into full—blown sobs. Snot comes dripping down her nose and her whole body shakes uncontrollably.

Tara envelops her in a hug and stares daggers at Tinley. “Way to go, sis. Want to go shoot a helpless puppy too? Maybe steal candy from a little kid? I’m sure that’ll make you feel better.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. It came out completely wrong. Of course I don’t care if she’s here. This is her brother’s house—she has more right to be here than me. I simply meant she must have someone she knows better who she’d rather be with right now. Ugh, I can’t even think straight myself right now. How the fuck do you expect for me to function properly?” With that she holds up her phone and dials Marek’s number again. His voicemail picks up for the zillionth time and she fast—pitches it across the room where it shatters against the wall.

She falls to the floor in her own fit of sobs, finally letting the full force of her emotions break free. Why isn’t he answering? Where is he? She refuses to allow herself to go there, because if she does—if she thinks about the potential of the worst possibility—she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to return from the dark place of her life without Marek.