Molly
It doesn't take long for the house to come into view, well, what's left of it anyway. the closer we get to it the more heart-wrenching the sight becomes. The house is completely destroyed. Where there once stood a house is now a pile of jumble. The Tornado tore the whole thing apart and it's devastating to see.
Loud sobs drag my attention away from the house and to the sight of John holding a crying Ruby in his arms. Her sobs are gut-wrenching to hear and clearly, it's not just me feeling that way as all of the boys suddenly start swarming around her until they are all wrapped in one massive hug. She's not my mom nor is this my home and yet I feel devastated so I can't even begin to imagine what it feels like for those guys.
"It's ok my darling, we will rebuild." John is so gentle and sweet with Ruby. "I dont know if I can do it again John, this is the second time that we've had our entire home destroyed since we've lived here!" Her voice is rising but it's full of pure devastation and my heart hurts for her. "I know darling, I know." To think that this isn't the first time that they've had to go through something like this is heartbreaking and I just wish that I could stop it from happening again.
"It'll be ok Mom." I can hear the raw emotion in Jack's voice, he's always so happy and cheeky so seeing him like this even as someone standing on the outside of the family is hard. "But everything is gone, again! It's all ruined!" I've never seen Ruby like this, poor woman.
"It's just stuff Mom, everything in that house can be replaced. all of your precious memories are in your head and heart and your keepsake box is in the storm shelter so see, it's going to be ok." Hearing Tom's reassuring words to his Mom are heartwarming but they also give me an idea, something that I'll mention to him once we're alone.
"The animals. Lightening!" The words fly out of my mouth so quickly and loudly that I make myself jump. How could I only now think about them? "I'll head over to check on them, Molls." Jack gives me a nod before heading toward the barn. Callum hands a still-sleeping Katie to Christian then heads after Jack.
I look back toward what's left of the house and suddenly start to panic when Tom's words from just moments ago hit me. Everything in the house is ruined and while his Mom's keepsakes are tucked away safe in the storm shelter, mine aren't. All my stuff was in the house including everything that I had left from Archie, none of my stuff can be replaced, and it's all that I have left in the world from him.
"No, no no!" I take off running towards the house praying that by some miracle my stuff is ok. "Molly!" I hear Tom's voice but I dont stop to look I just keep running and praying for a miracle that I'm pretty sure isn't going to happen.
"Molly, what are you doing?" He comes to a stop at the side of me as I stare down at what I'm pretty sure are the discarded remains of my stuff. "Oh god. Oh, Molly, I'm so sorry. I didn't think about all of your stuff." I look at him and feel tears gather in my eyes at how sad and guilty he looks. Why does he look guilty? He didn't do this. I look down at the ground but I can't see any of my belongings and I'm not quite sure if that's good or not right now.
He doesn't say a word just wraps his arms around my shoulders. "Why are you sorry honey? You didn't do this." He places a kiss on my forehead before giving me a gentle squeeze "I know but... I don't know, I just know that I'm sorry."
"You never know. there may be some stuff still in one piece." Zack's voice comes from the opposite side of Tom and I soon realize that most of the family has gathered around us. Ruby comes to a stop beside me and takes hold of my hand "Hey sweet girl. I know that you have stuff in there that can't be replaced but you have thousands of precious memories deep in your heart that can never be destroyed. I know it's going to be hard losing the stuff that you do but I promise that you will be ok."
This woman is an absolute angel, how I wish she could have been my mom. I give her the best smile that I can while trying and failing to hold back more tears. "Oh, sweet girl!" She gives me a loving smile before wiping away the tears with her thumb and hugging me.
"Wait, where is George?" I thought he was in the storm shelter with John and Hunter and somehow It's only just registered with me that John is out here although I'm not sure where Hunter is. "His son Mitch came by and has taken him to the ER to get checked out, Hunter went with them to help him. I told him to let us know how he is." John answers me.
"Oh, that's good. Where is Sandy?" I can't see his dog anywhere. "I told George that we would keep him safe while they were at the ER, he's in the shelter for a moment as I didn't want him getting scared or hurt out here or even running off. I'll get him out once we know what's what." Bless John that man has a heart of gold.
I'm sure Mitch will be back for Sandy later, he said he wanted to talk to Molly." Zack looks highly amused but I'm confused. "Me? Why does he want to talk to me?" I've never met this Mitch guy, couldn't even tell you what he looks like. Why does he want to talk to me? "He asked me for your number and said something about him needing to thank you for looking after his dad. He may have also mentioned the fact that he thought your stunning more than once!"
Before I've even processed Zack's words Christian spits out his own "He fuckin what?" He looks pissed but I'm not sure why. "Why wouldn't he find our Molly hot?" Jack's cheeky tone cuts through the air as he and Callum return from the stable, neither of them looks upset so I'm hoping that's a good sign.
"ukle Jack, is Elsa oday?" Sophie's cute little voice pulls everyone away from this strange conversation regarding Mitch as she looks up at Jack with hopeful eyes. "Yes Princess, Elsa is fine and so is Nemo. In fact, all of the animals are fine, we didn't lose any." The relief I feel is strong, I love animals, like them more than most humans but there's something about Lightening that pulls me to him, and I'm going to miss him when I'm gone.
Loud whisper-shouting from Christian and Tom brings my attention to them, they look like they are arguing but I don't get time to hear anything they are saying as Christian gently hands Katie to John and then turns to face me with a shitty look on his face before storming off towards the fields. What the hell is his problem now?