Ninety Degrees Out

Arimina released the seat belt as her mother turned into the driveway. She wanted to go play with the dog. She wanted one exactly like Jazz. He tickled when gave her kisses and his fur was warm to snuggle in. She wanted him to sleep with her, but she didn’t think Mommy would let it happen.

“Chay, I mean Mr. Chay, Mommy’s asleep again.” Tears were threatening as Arimina stumbled toward up to his truck. He was already getting out, and he swung her up to carry her as he jogged back to their Jeep.

“Sit up here,” he put her on the roof above the door she left swinging open when she went to get him.

He reached inside and put his hand on her mother’s neck before he looked up at her and said, “She’s breathing. It’s the bump on her head from earlier. I’m going to put you down and we’re going to let Jazz out. Then I’m taking your mom into my living room, and we’re putting her on the couch there. Okay?”

Arimina got up on her knees and wriggled backward, and swung down into the Jeep, reaching with her toes for the seat. “I’ll get my bags. I can carry them. Then I can watch Mommy and see when she wakes up.”

“You bring your backpack, I’ll bring your suitcase, so it’s inside. We wouldn’t want the Teddy Bears to get stuck outside,” Chay told her as he eased Alicia’s head away from the steering wheel.

“Okay, thank you Mr. Chay.” She could hear him better now that the horn quit.

“Is Mommy, okay?” A small sob and a hiccup escaped as she asked.

Chay knelt so he could look at her face. He had a worried frown and she shivered, but he put his hands on her shoulders. He gave them a squeeze and she felt better.

“She’s going to be okay. That was a pretty bad bump, and she’s going to go to sleep every now and then. I should have taken you all in my truck, but I thought she would be all right to drive. I’m sorry I put you in danger like that.”

“It’s all right. We didn’t get hurt.” She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for taking care of us.” She kissed his cheek, and he hugged her back.

“You’re a smart girl, and we’re going to work together to make sure your mom gets better.” Chay stood up and went to let Jazz out. “Stay with Alicia, Jazz. We’ll be right back to get her.”

He picked up Arimina and she clamped her arm around his neck and clung like a leach. She squealed a little when he bent sideways, but he never let her slip, even though he picked up the suitcase from the back seat of the car.

“You stay right here, and I’ll go get your mom. Jazz will help you watch her, and you can send him to get me if anything happens. Got it?”

“Jazz is smart, he can find you for me, right?” Arimina asked.

“Of course. Now give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be back.”

Arimina stared at the door to the kitchen, and she heard Jazz’s claws clicking on the floor before he leaped through the door and slid across the hardwood floor. He stopped when he bumped into the couch right by her feet. He whined softly when he reached up to lick her face and leaned into her pushing her back into the cushions.

“Good doggy,” she whispered in his ear, patting his head, and pushing him back a bit. He sure was big but not as big as Grandma’s dog. Bear had more fur too.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“We’ve got a problem,” Hakan said. “I’m putting a conference call together with Dad.”

“I’m unloading my truck, so I’m on my headset. I’ve got Alicia out cold on my couch. She’s sleeping comfortably, but she has passed out twice from that fall in the aftershock,” Chay informed his brother as he made another trip out to the truck for the last box of groceries.

He started by storing the meat in his freezer first and proceeded into the canned goods and staples next. The veggies and fruits went into the fridge crisper last.

“Dad’s on the line now too,” Hakan said as Chay heard the distinctive beep of another caller joining them.

“What’s the problem son?” Dasan’s calm deep voice had Chay taking a deep breath and counting to ten. The habit went all the way back to his years in middle school when teasing bullies had him raging and wishing he could beat them up.

“You go first Hakan,” Chay said.

“Kanti is still not back. We need to start a search for her on Redoubt. Worse though, we’re trapped back here. I tried to get to Anchorage this afternoon, thinking I could take the Cub and go look for her, and the road is screwed. The bridge is out over Twig Creek down on the other end of my ranch.”

“Bad news, but I can take our Caravan and fly up there, I’ve got quite a few barrels of fuel on the homestead. I’m good to go from here. I’ll leave at dawn tomorrow. Since we’re on the equator now, sunset and sunrise should be around 6:30. Now what’s your problem Chay?” Dasan’s voice of reason brought another calming breath.

“I’ve got Alicia Stroman and her daughter Arimina staying with me. The quake destroyed the windows at the Markham place where she was renting. I turned the water and electricity off before we left, and the guys were there with tarps to keep the weather out.”

“Okay, so what’s worrying you?” His father asked.

“She’s got a concussion. She’s passed out twice from it now, and she’s sleeping right now. I’ll have to wake her every couple of hours to make sure nothing more serious is going on. I’m not sure how to get her to help with the bridge out.”

“You get her out once we figure out what happened to Kanti,” Haka said.

“Jazz is whining. I’ve got to go. Something’s changed with Alicia.” Chay ended his connection. He pulled his odds and ends drawer open, grabbing a small flashlight.

Jazz grabbed his hand in gentle teeth and dragged him into the great room. Alicia was sitting up rubbing her eyes.

“Well now, how’s your head?” Chay asked as his Malawolf tugged him over to the couch.

Arimina was curled up in the recliner by the fireplace watching. Jazz flopped down in front of her chair, his tail thumping the floor as he stretched out.

“Throbbing. And I can’t seem to keep my eyes open.” Alicia shook her head and then winced. “Light hurts, and noise is a no go too. It feels like I’ve had a migraine, but I don’t get them. I’ve only heard people complain about them. I’m a bit nauseated too.”

“At least you’re waking up easily. Your pupils are equal, and they do react to light, so not a devastating brain injury. But bad enough. I think the best thing for you is to get upstairs and rest. I’ll bring you some ginger ale once you’re settled.”

“Mommy are you okay?” Arimina came over to stand by Alicia.

“I’ve got a headache, baby. But it will go away if I rest. Will you be good for Chay? He’s going to take care of you while I get over this.”

“I will. Can I read more of the shark book?”

“Sure, and we’ll go over to see if we can get your books in a couple of days.” Chay promised her.

“Thank you, Mr. Chay.”

“You have really good manners, Arimina. I like that about you,” Chay complemented the child. She was a quirky mix of intelligence and innocence.

“Thank you, Mr. Chay. Can Jazz sleep with me?”

“I don’t think I can keep him from doing it. We might have to ask him to sleep on the floor though,” Chay said as he saw Alicia shake her head.

“Let’s get you upstairs,” Chay helped Alicia to her feet and over to the staircase running up to the bedrooms.

“Do you have room for us?” Alicia said as she hauled herself up hanging onto the handrail for dear life.

“Three rooms up here. I use one for an office, but there’s a Murphy bed in there. I’ll put you in there. Arimina will go right across from you. There’s a bathroom up here just down from her room. Mine is at the end of the hall.” He let Alicia take the office chair while he pulled on the drop-down bed until it settled on the floor.

“Can you handle getting yourself ready for bed?” Chay asked.

“It’s too early to go to sleep,” Arimina pouted.

“Not you, baby. Me. And yes, I can handle it. You’ve got my bags up here already, so no problem.” Alicia said.

“I’ll be up to check on you in about thirty minutes. I’ll bring some of the stew up. We kind of forgot about eating with everything going on.”

“Just a small bowl or maybe you can put it in a mug? I don’t know if I can keep it down or not.” Alicia suggested.

“We eat our soup in mugs, it’s easier to drink the broth after the noodles are gone, and I can hold onto it, so I don’t spill as much too.” Arimina explained their customary habit.

“The stew is hot in the crock pot. I’ll go give it a stir and see about putting a couple of rolls into the toaster oven. If you like we can all eat up here and keep you company.” Chay said.

“That would be nice. Now shoo, so I can get myself ready,” Alicia waved them out of the room.