Page 25 of Still Afraid

“Fair.” Gabe ruffled her hair then settled his hand on her shoulder. “If anything else happens, call it in, though, in case this wasn’t random.”

“Of course.” She fought with herself to ignore the rising dread in her gut. Her irrational anxiety needed to go away. “Let’s get some lunch. I’m hungry.”

They packed the boxes back into the hatch of her SUV, and they all left for her house where sandwich fixin’s were waiting.

As she waited to turn onto the street, Chloe turned the radio loud to drown out the anxiety screaming in her head. She gripped the steering wheel extra tight in an attempt to make her hands stop shaking.

Lord, calm me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

Josh followed Chloe in his RAV4. About the time they reached her neighborhood, his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but in case it was important he answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, is this Josh Schneider?”

“It is.”

“Hey, Josh. It’s Breana.”

The event coordinator from the chapel in the mountains? Why would she be calling him?

“Hi. What can I do for you?”

“For one, you can tell me you’re holding up after that terrifying tornado.”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh good. Is it true you went out and helped save other people after you got us out of what used to be my daddy’s little money maker?”

“I volunteer with a search-and-rescue ministry. We worked the disaster site.” He turned down Chloe’s street and wondered where this conversation was going.

“That’s amazing. I wish I could have seen you in action. Who did you save?”

“I can’t talk about that.” Doctor-patient confidentiality was drilled into him.

“But I’m sure you have some great stories to tell.”

“Perhaps, but not over the phone like this.”

“Then let’s get together. You can share only what you’re comfortable with.”

What on earth? “I’m sorry, Breana, but I’m not going to get together with you.” He pulled into Chloe’s driveway.

“Oh, come on. A cup of coffee? My treat?”

“I appreciate the offer, but no.”

Chloe walked back to his vehicle, so he rolled down the window.

“Josh, don’t be like that. Please? I want to hear more stories of how you’re a hero.”

Chloe’s face contorted in confusion.

He mouthed Breana.

The confusion morphed to astonishment.

He shrugged. “Breana, I have to go now.”