Even through devastation, they all looked out for each other.

“That’s why we didn’t call you, son. We need you and Janie safe at home. We needed all of you where you belong. We’re gonna figure this out, Max, I swear we will. Just hold your woman tonight, hug her for us, and tomorrow we’ll talk.”

“Okay, Dan. You do the same. Give our love to Julie. We’re in this with you, no matter what. Whatever you need, man.”

After they disconnected, Danny called the rest of the group. There was still no answer from Kyle, and Danny refused to leave a message with that kind of information, so he requested a call back and hung up. Talking to Ryan was difficult, because not only did the kid have to process the loss himself, he needed to share the news with Ashley. That wouldn’t be an easy task.

During each phone call, Julie sobbed, but as he spoke to their kids, he became stronger. Their reactions were all similar: shock, sadness, and complete support. Not one of them wavered or folded. They all promised to support Danny and Julie, and he truly believed they would.

“It’s gonna be okay, Jules. I swear it.” He knew that deep in his soul. “The bar is insured, no one got hurt. It’s just stuff, honey. That’s all. Just things.”

Sniffling, she nodded. “You’re not wrong. I think the tears are more from shock.” She wiped at her face, but the tears continued to fall. “We’ve had enough bad in our lives. I thought we were done. This was a reminder not to get too complacent, huh?”

Danny’s eyes narrowed. “No, baby, maybe it’s a sign that things needed to change.” Once the thought left his mouth, he found himself believing it. Was he currently happy? Certainly not. His business was destroyed, the building ruined, fifteen years of memorabilia gone, but his wife was snuggled into his side, his family was healthy, and they would be able to rebuild if that was what they chose to do.

It could have been worse. They’d both lived through worse. And survived it. They’d survive this as well.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Silver Lining

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER Hurricane Leo left Charistown, Danny and Julie walked around what was left of Danny’s on Main.

“This is painful,” Julie said, holding up the mangled picture frame that used to hang near the kitchen door. The image inside was water-logged under the cracked glass. “I’ll never forget the day Kevin Bacon walked through those doors. The best burger in Charistown, he said.” Tears stung Julie’s eyes as she stared at the ruined image. She swore if she looked hard enough, she could still see Kevin, one arm around Danny and the other holding a burger. She blinked, and only a shredded mess remained.

“It was a great day, honey.” Danny gently removed the broken frame from her hand and tossed it in the trashcan. “We’ll have more great days. Besides, I heard Bacon is a vegan now. Ironic, huh?”

She giggled at her husband and continued the walk-through.

Danny’s father called to check in, heartsick that he couldn’t fly up to help with the wreckage. With snow in the forecast, it was better for Allan’s arthritis if he stayed south until spring.

“Love you, Dad,” Julie shouted as Danny said his good-byes and disconnected the call.

“We’re here,” came a voice from the front of the bar.

Max, Janie, Lyla, Ashley, and Ryan walked through the hole that had once been the entranceway. Judging by the looks on their faces—grimaces on the men and tear-filled eyes on the women—the destruction hit them almost as badly as it did her and Danny. If she could have shielded them from seeing it, she would have, but there was no hiding what had become of Danny’s on Main.

The smell of pine, along with Danny’s strong arms and strong chest, surrounded her.

“I got you,” he whispered.

Like a freight train, Ashley threw herself against them, sobbing quietly as they enveloped her in their embrace. Before long, they were all hugging and crying, laughing and sighing. Never had anything felt more right.

“Where in the hell is Kyle?”

The question came from Ryan, but Julie and Danny had been worried about him for days. They’d been calling and texting with no response. The fire at Danny’s was all over the local news, so for him not to check in meant something had to be wrong. Really flipping wrong. As if on cue, Danny’s cell phone rang. Like a trained reaction, Julie’s stomach clenched. Once she heard it was Kyle’s brother, Nixon, on the phone, her lungs seized up as well.

“What happened?” they all asked in various ways when Danny hung up.

Twice in as many days, she saw that look in her husband’s eyes. No, no, no, nothing can happen to Kyle. Bile rushed up her esophagus. I can’t handle that. Please, let him be okay. Danny’s fingers threaded through hers and tightened, grabbing her attention and pulling her eyes to his before he spoke.

He explained that Kyle had been in a car accident the night before, during the hurricane. He was drunk and wrapped himself around a pole. While Danny listed the things broken and bruised, the surgeries Kyle’d gone through and what more he’d face, she was just thankful he was alive.

Before they left for the hospital, Julie looked from Ashley to Ryan. There was something different between them, in the way his arm draped over her shoulder, the protective way he held her close. In the midst of anguish and pain, a ray of sunlight bloomed. She cleared her throat in a purposeful fashion.

“Jules,” Danny grumbled, a smirk creeping across his handsome face, “you can’t possibly be thinking about our bet now, while all hell is breaking loose in our lives?”

She grinned, wiping away the last stray tear from her cheek. “Danny Marcus, you, my sweet husband, have always preached about finding the silver lining when the skies are at their darkest, and here it is, buddy. Now pay up. The rest of you too. Don’t think you can get away with stiffing the boss lady.”

When Ashley looked concerned and Ryan upset, Danny explained that everyone else had made a bet. Julie had said Ryan and Ashley would get back together during the storm if the power went out, and everyone bet against her.

“Pedicures on me, spicy girl.” Julie smiled before leaving the mess behind.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Welcome Home

WEEKS PASSED AND the group was busy, not just with spending time at Danny’s going through debris and saving anything salvageable but doing the same with Kyle. Danny and Julie took turns bringing Kyle and Nixon home-cooked meals and fresh laundry. When Nixon went to work, between the eight of them, they made certain Kyle was never alone.

As a group, a family, they worked together to restore health, happiness and normalcy into each other’s lives. Of course there were disagreements and disapproval, but as Danny sat in bed with his wife and thought about Christmas, he realized that each year, he assumed life couldn’t get better. Yet the following year, it always did. Even with losing the bar and the unspeakable fear of losing Kyle, Danny still saw the year for what it was—better than the previous one. Julie’s head lay on his chest, her soft hair wrapped around his knuckles.

“Christmas is almost here,” he said.

“Yep. I’m thinking we should have it at our house this year. I’d like to do something special for the kids.”

The woman had read his mind. “What were you thinking, beautiful?” His fingers massaged her neck.

“I’m thinking if you keep doing that, you’ll be having this conversation with a sleeping, drooling wife,” she teased.

A chuckle left his body, but he didn’t stop his massage. “Seriously, babe. I have an idea, but it’s big…huge. I’m not sure what you’ll think about it.”

She pulled the sheet around her breasts and sat up straight. “Dan, you’ve got me so curious now. When have I ever not liked one of your ideas?”