Just Tonight

Chapter 1

Yes, Mom, I’m fine. We’re still about thirty miles out. Adrienne Thomas glanced in the rear view mirror at her granddaughter, who was sleeping soundly. She had conked out around Terre Haute and still hadn’t stirred. We should get there well before the storm starts. See you soon!

She flipped her cell phone closed and set it on the seat beside her. She rubbed her right temple, trying to get the pounding to stop. She was sure the threatening migraine was a result of the drop in barometric pressure. Just hold off another hour then you can get a headache. She sighed heavily, her thoughts turning to the last two months in her life and how completely upside down things were.

Adrienne shook her head trying to clear the haze that clouded her vision. She barely heard the reporter for Channel Six repeat the breaking news bulletin. "These are the details we have so far. TransAir Flight 354 en route from Ohare to the Indianapolis International Airport has crashed. We do not have any immediate details, but it is believed that there were no survivors.

Stay tuned to Channel Six for more on this developing story."

Adrienne knew that there were no conclusive reports thus far, but she had a bad feeling. She stood up and felt her stomach lurch. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to scream or vomit. A scream wouldn’t do, she would wake up Emma, her two—month old granddaughter. She was babysitting her while her son Josh and her daughter—in—law Megan flew to Indianapolis for Megan’s grandmother’s funeral. Both had decided it would be better if Emma didn’t fly with them. Fear hit Adrienne square in the face and she fought the urge to go grab a sleeping Emma from her bassinet and hug her tightly, afraid to let go. Instead she went into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.

She glanced at her watch. Her partner Pat would be in court for another hour so calling her was out of the question. She didn’t want to call her mom either—at least until she knew for sure. She held onto a glimmer of hope. People survived plane crashes all the time, didn’t they? She decided to call the airport while she waited for the teapot to get hot.

When she dialed the number, an automated system answered. She pressed zero to talk to an operator. She identified herself as the mother of Joshua and Megan Thomas, both on TransAir Flight 354 and asked for information concerning the flight. She was told that there was no immediate information available other than what she had already heard on the news. She hung up after being assured that she would be contacted as details became available.

She jumped when the teapot whistled loudly, and ran to get it off the stove before it woke Emma. She poured hot water over the tea bag and dunked it several times before she draped the string over the side of the cup and let it steep. She waited several minutes than took a small sip, the liquid still hot enough to burn her tongue. Ouch! Damn it! She swore softly then went back to the living room to see if there were any updates being reported.

This time there was footage of the crash. She took a deep breath knowing that it would have taken a miracle to survive. Again, it is confirmed that everyone on board has been killed. That includes four TransAir crew members and forty—four passengers. TransAir is not releasing the identities of the victims until their families have been notified. The report then switched over to a live feed from the crash.

Adrienne couldn’t look away from the fiery scene that was visible behind the reporter. She was explaining that Ohare had received distress calls from the captain five minutes before they

disappeared from the radar. There are reports that TransAir Flight 354 was having engine trouble. At this time, it is unsure what caused the malfunction…

Adrienne zoned out completely. Pictures of Josh flashed through her mind randomly. At twenty-four, he was in the prime of his life. He’d had trouble as a teenager and Adrienne had worried that he wouldn’t grow up. But then in his sophomore year at Ball State he’d met Megan and his life changed completely. She helped him find himself and after dating all through college, the two had gotten married right after graduation. Emma was a surprise thirteen months later.

Adrienne had worried about the two of them being able to take on a baby with a new house and two full time jobs, but they continued to surprise her. Josh and Megan were both excellent parents, and besides if they needed help, she and Pat were only a half an hour drive away. They were accustomed to watching her on occasional weekends so Josh and Megan could still have time alone.

Adrienne thought back to a conversation she had with Josh right after Emma was born. He had told her that he and Megan had decided that should anything ever happen to them they wanted her to take Emma. She had laughed sweetly and told them she would love to, but she was sure they would be alive long after she was gone. Shaking her head, she realized that she was now living every mother’s worst fear-outliving her child.

A soft cooing sound brought Adrienne back to the present. She looked in the mirror and smiled at Emma. Hi baby. Her heart jumped when Emma smiled at her voice. You’re a sleepy baby, yes you are. Did you have a nice nap? She knew at four months old Emma couldn’t understand what she was saying, but knew the reassuring sound of her grandmother’s voice. Are you Grandma’s baby? Yes, you are. You’re my sweet, precious Emma. The cooing continued softly, warming Adrienne’s heart even more.

She loved Emma like she was her own and she made her a promise the day of the plane crash that she and Pat would do whatever it took to provide for her, love her and if there were anyway possible be around until they were both old and gray.

She cringed when she thought of Pat. They had been together fifteen years and Adrienne assumed they would be together forever, but when she inherited Emma, all that changed. Pat had never been a mother, although it seemed like she loved Josh as though he were her own.

So it came as a crushing blow to Adrienne when Pat told her she didn’t want to raise Emma together. Her plans for her golden years didn’t include a teenager, which Emma would be when they retired. Pat didn’t lay down an ultimatum, but it was implied—it’s me or Emma. Adrienne was heartbroken, but no matter how much she loved Pat, Emma was her blood and that bond trumped any other.

After breaking up with Pat, she made the tough choice to move back home to Southern Indiana. Leaving Chicago wouldn’t be hard. She liked it, but she never felt fully at home there. No, home was Newburgh, Indiana. Newburgh was right on the Ohio River and directly across from Kentucky. She couldn’t forget that since she’d been teased the entire time she lived in Chicago for her Southern accent. She thought it was infinitely better than the mix of Polish, Irish, and German accents that resulted in Chicagoans saying dem for them, or the long nasally aw sound that replaced the standard A in words.

Ain’t that right, baby girl? Adrienne laughed at the affected Southern twang that she used to annoy people who made fun of her.

Emma laughed softly at her grandmother then went back to chewing on her teething ring. Are you excited, Emma? This is a whole new experience for you. You’ve never been to Southern Indiana before. And you get to see Grandma Anna again. She’s excited to have us back. Although, I don’t know how long we will be able to live in the same house with Grandma. I’ll let you in on a secret, she’s kinda bossy. Not a pushover like me. She glanced up at Emma in the mirror again and smiled. But don’t you worry we’ll find a place of our very own soon.

She saw the sign for her exit and slowed down to get on the on ramp. I-64 Emma, we are getting close and from the look of the clouds, it’s a good thing. She hit the turn signal and sped up to join the highway traffic. Her drive down was mostly on Highway Forty—One, famous for being stoplight alley, and the switch to an interstate was welcome, even if it was only for a couple of miles.

She looked out the window at the dark clouds rolling in from the southwest and grimaced. We better hurry Emma. Those clouds don’t look so good. She pushed her foot down and watched the accelerator inch up to seventy—five, still an okay speed on the 164 bypass. She got more and more excited with each passing mile. A few minutes later she slowed down and took the Covert Avenue exit. She would follow that several miles till it turned into State Road 662.

Her mother still lived in the house she grew up in, right on top of a crest just before the road narrowed down to one lane each way and entered Newburgh’s small downtown. Driving along she could still see the twisted tops of trees and remembered the damage that happened when a category EF3 tornado ripped through parts of Evansville and Newburgh. Her mother had been lucky. The tornado’s path crossed her backyard, but remained far enough away that besides minor damage to the house and some down trees, she had remained safe.

Adrienne shook her head. The tornado had made national news as the deadliest tornado to hit the United States in 2005. She had wanted her mother to move off the hill after that happened to someplace safer, but Anna Thomas was as stubborn as she was and refused to be moved. It will take another tornado to get me out of this house. Her mother had stated loudly when Adrienne pressed the issue.

She looked at Emma, sucking contentedly on her ring. I think we’ll find something a little lower to the ground. I can’t have anything happen to my baby. She shivered, her thoughts turning to Josh. She smiled just as quickly, knowing that she did have him for twenty—four years before he died and now she had sweet little Emma, who she had to admit looked more and more like Josh everyday.

She was just pulling up the steep driveway when the first big raindrops started. Crap. She put the car in park, shut it off and turned around to look at Emma. Looks like we are making a mad dash for it. She tossed an umbrella into the back seat, and tried to open the door and get in the back seat without getting drenched.

She rolled her eyes when Emma laughed at her, oblivious to the soaking rain outside. She undid the car seat and pulled Emma close against her chest. Hold on tight. She eased the door open and let the umbrella open to block the rain. She slid out, one hand holding the umbrella and the other arm wrapped tightly around Emma. She flung the door closed with her hip and ran towards the back door. When she hit the back step she pulled on the sliding glass door and it didn’t budge. Shit! Sorry Emma, I know your Grandma has a mouth on her. Struggling to hold Emma and the umbrella, she kicked loudly on the door hoping her mother was somewhere close.

She finally saw her mother walking across the kitchen towards the door. When she undid the lock and slid the door open, Adrienne jumped inside quickly. "Ugh, this weather is horrible. I

really thought we would beat the rain. She laid the umbrella down on the mat and handed Emma to her mother. Can you take her for a minute while I get the rest of the stuff?"

Anna pulled Emma into her arms and kissed her cheek softly. How’s my granddaughter? She laughed at Emma’s wide—eyed expression. She didn’t recognize this stranger holding her and her lip jutted out, and her expression was priceless as she gave her great—grandmother a once over trying to decide if she liked her or not.

It’s okay baby. Adrienne’s voice was reassuringly sweet, letting Emma know that Anna was okay to like. She laughed when Emma reached out her hand and grabbed a fistful of her damp hair, her eyes pleading with her to rescue her.

It’s all right Adrienne. You get the rest of the stuff and Emma and I will get re— acquainted. I’m sure Grandma Anna has something in the basement that will amuse Emma. She turned and walked out of the kitchen leaving Adrienne to brave the storm again. And make sure you clean up that water when you are done. Dripping all over my clean… Her voice faded the further she got from Adrienne.

Adrienne shook her head and put her hand on the door. Great, it will be just like old times. She slid the door open and headed back out into the downpour, wondering if she had made the right choice in coming back home.

Chapter 2

Dylan Montgomery ran a hand through her hair and swore silently. She leaned against the wall lazily, watching the storm from the breezeway of the Audubon Park Nature Center. The rain was coming down in sheets now and she knew even with the unseasonably warm April they were experiencing in Kentucky and Indiana, it would take days for the trails to dry out. She hated when heavy rains came because it didn’t keep some hikers out and the trails usually suffered when they were trampled on after a good rain. Deep ruts and uneven trails meant more accidents in the spring and summer, and as the park ranger it meant she would be the one dealing with them, and she thought she was old enough she deserved a break.

At forty—five, Dylan wasn’t exactly old but some days she felt like it. This was no exception. She’d spent last night at her favorite lesbian bar, the Brickhouse and was paying for it today. You aren’t thirty anymore Montgomery. When are you going to learn to slow down? She laughed, accepting the truth. Yeah, not until I die.

Speaking of, Dylan thought about her Harley tucked discreetly against the back of the building. When she had ridden in this morning, the weather was beautiful, hinting of the summer that was just around the corner. Now she knew if the rain didn’t stop, it was going to be a miserable ride home. Shaking her head, she shoved off the wall and went inside to get her keys. She was dreading going out, but she needed to do her hourly check of the park. She grabbed the keys, pulled on her parka and ran to the truck that belonged to the rangers.

She pulled around the building and headed out of the parking lot to the main road. She drove up around the campsites near the entrance of the park. Thankfully, no one was camping this week, so she gave the area a cursory glance and drove towards the tennis courts and the parking area near the public swimming beach at the back of the park. She drove past the picnic areas and the empty park cottages towards the golf course.

The course had been open since the middle of March and she’d only been able to get three rounds in. At this rate, Dylan would never be ready by July for the Women’s City Tournament in Evansville. She cringed when she thought about her finish last year. Sixth in the Championship Flight wasn’t exactly something to brag about. However, hooking up with the winner of the Championship Flight the night before the final round was worth every bad shot. She smirked, acknowledging that there was just something about a good round of golf that got her really worked up, and Barb Fox knew very well how to take care of that potentially uncomfortable state.

She had caught Barb’s eye early on in the two day tourney, and a sly invitation for drinks after day one had led to a night of wild and crazy sex. She had almost missed her tee time the following morning, but had nothing but a shit eating grin to show for it. It hadn’t hurt her game any either. She’d made up four strokes from the day before to finish in sixth place, not her best finish, but respectable considering she’d had no sleep the night before.

Wonder who it will be this year? Dylan chuckled, catching herself talking out loud again. This job had a tendency to do that. As much work as her job required, there wasn’t a whole lot of interaction with other people aside from idle chit—chat about the weather, directions to the trails, etcetera, so she spent a lot of time by herself. And she spent a lot of time talking to herself.

She drove past the museum and parked in front of a locked gate. Braving the rain, she hopped out and undid the lock so she could make a quick check of Warbler Rd. There had been several strong gusts of wind and she hoped that there weren’t any large limbs down. Some of the

trees in the park were several hundred years old and it wasn’t a surprise for storms to knock down branches along the road and trails.

She inched along slowly, her eyes scanning both sides of the road. So far the only trees down were ones that had fallen before and were left there to preserve the natural ecosystem. Only ones that posed a potential danger to hikers were removed. Satisfied