Chapter 15 - THE MAN WHO WENT BACK.
Frank did not want credit for going back.
That became obvious once people started giving it to him.
A church volunteer clapped him on the shoulder.
Frank stepped away.
Pastor Daniel called him brave.
Frank said, "I got wet."
Caleb told someone Frank had gone farther into the water than anyone else.
Frank corrected him.
"Emergency crew went farther."
When Carol tried to thank him for helping Emily and Sophie, Frank answered:
"They're my family."
No speech.
No performance.
Emily watched Ryan watch him.
That was painful.
Because Frank's refusal to perform goodness made Ryan's need to perform innocence more visible.
The water had gone down enough that emergency crews began escorting people to vehicles parked on higher ground.
Ryan's parents had arrived in a large SUV from the north road.
Frank's old pickup sat farther away on a side street.
No one had expected him to use it tonight.
It was safe.
Of course it was.
He had parked on the hill.
Ryan said nothing when Frank mentioned that.
Emily began gathering what little they had.
Diapers.
Her phone.
The grey blanket.
A small bottle.
Sophie.
That was all.
Ryan stood nearby.
"You don't have clothes."
"Dad has a washer."
"That's not what I mean."
"I know."
"You don't have the bassinet."
"She can sleep in the portable crib at Dad's."
"Does he have one?"
Frank answered from across the room.
"Borrowed one when she was born."
Ryan looked at him.
"From who?"
"My neighbor."
"Is it safe?"
Emily's head snapped up.
Frank stared.
Ryan realized immediately.
"I didn't mean—"
Frank held up one hand.
"Don't."
Ryan looked genuinely ashamed.
Frank continued.
"You don't trust it, buy another tomorrow."
Emily almost laughed.
Ryan did not.
Carol approached with a bag.
"I brought dry clothes for Ryan."
Emily looked at the bag.
Nothing for her.
Carol saw.
"Oh."
She flushed.
"I didn't know your size after the baby."
Emily nodded.
Reasonable.
Completely reasonable.
Still, the symbolism sat there.
Dry clothes for Ryan.
Nothing for Emily.
Carol seemed to understand.
"I'm sorry."
Emily surprised herself.
"It's okay."
And this time it was.
Because Carol had seen the imbalance and admitted it immediately.
No explanation.
No accusation.
No making Emily feel petty for noticing.
That mattered.
Ryan took the bag.
"Thanks, Mom."
Carol touched his arm.
"You should change."
Ryan looked at Emily.
"I'm not leaving you here."
"I'm not staying."
"I mean I'm coming with you."
Frank stepped in.
"No."
Emily looked at him.
"Dad."
Frank held up both hands.
"Sorry."
Ryan laughed bitterly.
"There."
Frank nodded.
"You're right."
That stopped him.
Frank looked at Emily.
"Your call."
Ryan stared.
Emily thought.
Did she want Ryan at Frank's house tonight?
No.
The answer came before guilt could reshape it.
"No."
Ryan's face fell.
Emily continued.
"I need one night."
"One?"
"I don't know."
He nodded.
"Okay."
Carol looked devastated.
Ryan's father remained quiet.
Frank picked up Sophie's diaper bag.
Ryan immediately took it from him.
"I'll carry it."
Frank let him.
That small act nearly broke Emily.
The men walked toward the north entrance.
Emily followed with Sophie.
Linda joined them.
The muddy car seat remained near the entrance.
Ryan stopped beside it.
"We should take that."
Frank looked at Emily.
She looked at the seat.
Mud clogged the buckle.
The fabric was soaked.
Water dripped beneath it.
"Why?"
Ryan frowned.
"It's ours."
"It's ruined."
"Insurance might need it."
Frank's jaw shifted.
Ryan saw.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, say it."
Frank looked at the seat.
"Take pictures."
Ryan stared.
Frank added, "Then leave it."
Emily looked at her father.
"Why do you want it left?"
Frank's face softened.
"I don't."
"What?"
"I don't want that damn thing anywhere near Sophie again."
Emily felt tears rise.
Frank continued.
"I carried it in because everybody kept talking like the car was the disaster."
He nodded toward Sophie.
"That wasn't the thing worth saving."
Ryan lowered his eyes.
For once, no one had to explain the sentence.
Carol started crying.
Quietly.
Ryan's father put a hand on her shoulder.
Ryan stared at the seat.
Then at his daughter.
Emily watched his throat move.
He lifted his phone.
Took three photographs.
Put it away.
"Leave it," he whispered.
Frank nodded.
Nobody touched the car seat.
Outside, the rain had weakened to a mist.
People gathered beneath the canopy waiting for clearance to cross toward vehicles.
Ryan changed clothes in a restroom and returned wearing dry pants and a sweatshirt from the bag his mother brought.
Frank remained soaked.
Emily stared at him.
"Dad, change."
"Clothes are in the truck."
"You'll freeze."
"I'll live."
Ryan looked at Frank.
"Take my jacket."
Everyone stopped.
Frank blinked.
Ryan held out the dry jacket his mother had brought.
"It's big enough."
Frank stared at it.
Then at Ryan.
"No."
Ryan's face closed.
Frank added:
"Thank you."
The face opened slightly.
Frank said, "Give it to Emily."
Ryan turned.
Emily shook her head.
"I'm warm with Sophie."
Linda looked at Frank.
"Then you're taking something from the church closet."
Frank sighed.
"Yes, ma'am."
Linda walked away.
Frank muttered, "Terrifying woman."
Emily smiled.
Ryan almost did.
For a minute, the room softened.
Then Mr. Harris approached.
He was the man who had been under the canopy when Ryan reached safety.
"Ryan."
Ryan turned.
"Yeah?"
Mr. Harris looked uncomfortable.
"I heard people talking about who asked what."
Emily's stomach tightened.
Ryan stiffened.
Mr. Harris continued.
"I don't want this getting twisted."
Frank stepped back.
Linda returned carrying a sweatshirt.
She stopped.
Mr. Harris looked at Ryan.
"When you came in, I asked if anyone else was out there."
Ryan nodded.
"We know."
"You said you didn't know."
Ryan closed his eyes.
"We know."
Mr. Harris rubbed his hands together.
"But then I asked you specifically."
Emily stepped closer.
"Specifically what?"
Mr. Harris looked at her.
"I asked where your wife was."
Emily froze.
Ryan stared at him.
Mr. Harris continued.
"And you said..."
He stopped.
Ryan whispered:
"Don't."
Mr. Harris looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
Then he looked at Emily.
"He said, 'She was behind me.'"
Emily stared.
Behind me.
Two words.
Not safe.
Not inside.
Behind.
Somewhere Ryan had left.
Frank's hands curled once.
Then relaxed.
Emily looked at her husband.
"Behind you?"
Ryan's mouth opened.
No sound came.
Mr. Harris walked away.
Nobody under the canopy spoke.
Emily held Sophie closer.
May you like
The dry blanket pressed beneath her chin.
And Frank, still dripping floodwater onto the concrete, looked at Ryan with a calm that was becoming more dangerous than anger.
