Southern Storm (Southern 3)

Five more people arrive at the same time. Peter, the electrician; Jake, the carpenter; Tyler, the masonry expert that we have in town; Kaylie, an architect; and Tracy, the town gardener. “Thank you, guys, for coming,” I tell them and walk into the conference room at the same time as them. “Please have a seat.”

I wait for everyone to be seated before starting my pitch. “I’m sure you are all wondering why I called this mandatory meeting.” I look around the table. “As you are all aware, the town bar was burned down to the ground.”

“It’s awful,” Kaylie says. “Poor Savannah.”

“It really is awful,” I tell them. “It’s awful, and it’s a shame that one of our own has been targeted like this.” I wait to see everyone’s reaction to that statement. “With that said, I want to rebuild it.”

Tony is the first one to speak up. “Where is Savannah in all this?” he asks, and I look at Jacob, not sure what to say.

“She went to visit her mother for a couple of days,” Jacob says, lying. “She said she would be back next week.” He tells me something that I didn’t even know. I didn’t even ask her how long she would be gone. I didn’t want to think about it.

“It’s a lot of work,” Tyler says. “It’ll take a day just to clear the mess.”

“It’s a big job, but,” I tell them, “if we get the town to pitch in, we can do it.”

“How long?” Jake asks, looking at me, slouching in his chair. “I’m assuming we are all here because this isn’t a job that you want to take your time doing.”

“I’d like to have it done by the time she comes back,” I tell the table, and a couple of them groan.

“I can have a crew come in,” Casey says. “To help with clearing the area.”

“I can ask at the station. I’m sure the boys will want to pitch in,” Jacob says.

“Like it or not, the bar was a meeting point in town. Many of you stopped by there on the way home from work or just to blow off some steam. It’s a shame if we don’t have that anymore.”

“I can start clearing it right away,” Tyler says, then looks at Casey. “Any extra help will be appreciated, but I’ll work through the night if I have to.”

“So will I,” Tony says, and twenty minutes later, when they walk out of the room, I sit down.

“That was some pitch,” Jacob says. “Does she know you’re doing this?”

“No,” I answer. “She told me she didn’t think she belonged here. She thinks this whole town hates her, and I want to show her that she’s wrong.”

“Well, if this isn’t the biggest grand gesture of life,” Casey says as he gets up, “I don’t know what is.” He looks at Jacob. “I’m going to head over there and see if I can help do anything now.”

I drive by the site an hour later and see that about forty people are working. Tyler has gotten an extra rig so they can pick up the pieces of what was her bar. I drive to the diner to get food for everybody. Tony is at the counter eating. “Hey, there.” I slip onto the stool beside him. “How are you?”

“Good,” he says as Mr. Lewis comes out of the back.

“Hey there, can I get about a hundred burgers?” He looks at me funny. “It’s for the cleanup crew at the bar.”

He nods his head. “I heard about that,” he says. “I’ll take care of it. I can’t help them, but it can be my contribution.” He turns and walks back into the kitchen, leaving me speechless.

“Hey, Beau.” I see some of the older men sitting at the table in the middle of the room. “We heard that you want to rebuild the bar in a week.”

“I’m going to try,” I tell them.

“We may be old, but we have some good times left in us,” one of them says. “We will be there tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you,” I tell them.

When I turn up the next day, the whole place is swarmed with people. I park as close as I can, but with all the activity going on, it’s hard. I stand at the edge and see about two hundred people ready to work. I look around, taking pictures for her. I won’t tell her, but I want her to see that she matters to this town.

Instead, I send her a text.

Me: Missing you. Hope you have a great day.

I put the phone away, my heart aching in my chest when I think of her not being here. I work until I can’t stand anymore, and when I go back home, all I can do is collapse in bed after my shower. I sleep on her pillow with her smell all around me, and when I wake up in the morning, I’m greeted with a text from her.