Page 107 of Buck & Mari

Missus Sakamoto looked at her from behind her screen door.

“I don’t want to go, Mari.”

Mari nodded and tried to give her an encouraging smile.

The sun had likely gone down, but she couldn’t really tell. The dark, stormy clouds covered the sky, and Mari tried to focus on her one aim, getting the older woman to her son who was likely going crazy waiting for word at the barricades.

“Shawn’s waiting for you near the highway. They won’t let him come any closer.”

Missus Sakamoto nodded. “Then, I’ll just wait in here and when the water goes down,” she wrung her hands together, “he can come and see me.”

Mari took hold of the door handle and opened it up. A deep rumble rolled through her. It felt like another roll of thunder or the shudder of the platform near a rollercoaster.

Missus Sakamoto didn’t look alarmed, but she didn’t move either.

Urged on by a strange feeling, Mari opened her mouth and started to beg. “I promised Shawn that I’d bring you out. He’s going to take you to his house, and you can get warm and stay dry.”

“No.”

The older woman had always been a source of comfort for her, especially when her parents had died, it was Missus Sakamoto who provided her with the warmth of a mother when she needed it.

“I’m not leaving my house.”

Mari had the feeling that she might have to make the older woman leave. It was a kind of pain she couldn’t name that was aching in her chest. The house and her belongings…

The memories there?

Weren’t worth more than her life.

She knew that for certain.

Instead of taking the elderly woman by the arm and risking her health and safety, Mari did the next best thing. She stepped to the carved Koa wood chair and picked up a box full of picture frames.

“Well, let’s start with this.”

Mari took out the box and walked it to the top step.

Heath didn’t argue or even look like he was questioning her.

He took hold of the box, smiled at Missus Sakamoto and moved down the steps.

Riptide and Kid took turns and when the boxes were gone, she saw something in Missus Sakamoto’s face.

Resignation.

“Okay,” she spoke in her soft voice. “I’ll… I’ll go.”

Mari grasped onto her arm, careful not to grip too hard.

She walked the widow to the top step.

Heath and Hoss were there and with one on each side of her, they started to walk her down the steps.

By the time they reached the bottom step the water was almost to her waist.

“Here.” Hoss gave the older woman a smile. “I’ll help you, ma’am.”

He swept her up in his arms and walked her toward the street.