Born into a completely dysfunctional family with a mentally challenged younger sister, Gale found life particularly hard. The Navy a good place to hide and to grow despite his guilt over leaving his sister unsupported by other family members.<br><br>Nine years later, he returns to civilian life to find the old home abandoned, his family gone, and his sister missing from the group home her special education teacher Dave had arranged for her. Dave was Abigail’s only constant during the time Gale was away.<br><br>Worse, a major storm is on the way, promising flash flooding and damaging winds. Gale reaches out to Dave only to discover he doesn’t know where Abigail is, either. The two team up to find her, and in weathering the storm, they find solace in one another. But what will happen when the storm is over?

Number Nine on the Beaufort Scale

Shit shit shit, this was an entire shit show, why in hell had I come here? What in hell did I think I’d find? I sighed and leaned back against the custom upholstery. I guess it was normal to go home after a long absence, hoping to find…well, I didn’t want to find what I’d had, relive my childhood, get hugs from dear old mom and dad. It wasn’t going to happen. I wanted to see my sister and my home and the beach and…I could have done without the next lightning bolt that hit a tree by the water’s edge, splitting it in half. Dave started the engine and we drove off toward my house. “My phone’s dead. Fuck.”


Chapter 4