Free Hearts Under Construction by Diann Hunt

into the men’s restroom for privacy to talk.
    “So you want to tell me why you’re especially afraid of tornadoes?” Cole probed.
    “Oh, it’s nothing.”
    “Come on, Ellie. Something happened to you as a kid.” His voice was soft and kind, seeming to offer just the encouragement she needed.
    “We were at church. Dad was leading the music when someone ran into the church and screamed, ‘Tornado!’ I was about six at the time.”
    Cole nodded.
    “A loud sound, like a train, blared outside just before a huge wind pushed inside and forced my dad to the floor. In an instant, I screamed and Mom yanked me down under a pew with her. I closed my eyes, and held my hands hard against my ears. Mom held me tight while I wailed. I thought we were going to die.”
    Cole watched her relive the past. He wanted to reach over and pull her into his arms, shield her from the memory.
    “I don’t know how long we stayed there. I just remember when we finally got up, everything was deathly quiet. When Mom helped me from under the pew, I heard her gasp. Wallboard, plaster, debris everywhere. Fortunately, all the people had gathered under pews, so it didn’t look as though anyone was hurt. But then we looked on the platform where Dad had been standing. It was destroyed.” Ellie took a deep breath. Cole reached over and rubbed her hand.
    “It’s okay, Ellie, you don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to.”
    “No, it’s all right. I heard Mom scream his name. Everyone started searching and there he was at the end of the church, rolled up in the carpet! He later told us when the tornado hit, it uprooted the carpet, causing him to fall right into it. The carpet rolled down the aisle with Dad inside.” She laughed. “It’s funny now, but at the time, I was terrified.” She grew serious. “They told us the carpet saved his life.” Reaching over, she grabbed some tissue and wiped her eyes. “We knew God had spared him.”
    “Wow. That’s some story, Ellie.” Cole squeezed her hand. “No wonder tornadoes frighten you. I’m sorry.”
    She shrugged. “I can’t hear about tornadoes without thinking of that night. Truly, it turned out to be a night of thankfulness. Miraculously, no one was hurt. Of course, our church was ruined.”
    Amy stepped back into the room. “It was my mom checking on us. She said the tornado has moved on, so it looks like the worst is past. We just have to be careful going home. Don’t go near the power lines.”
    “Good advice, Amy. Thank you. Do you get to close shop now?”
    She nodded. “My boss said when the threat was over, I could close the store.”
    “Is your mom picking you up?”
    “No, I drove.”
    Cole looked surprised.
    “I know, everyone thinks I’m twelve, but I’m really twenty-two.”
    Ellie coughed.
    “We’ll stick around till you get everything done, and see you out to your car.”
    “Thanks.”
    “What do we owe for these frappes?” Cole asked.
    “They’re on the house,” she called over her shoulder, already preparing things to leave.
    “You want me to follow you home, Ellie, just to make sure you get there safely?”
    “That’s not necessary, Cole.”
    He shrugged. Knowing how independent she was, he didn’t want to push the matter. They threw away the coffee cups, gathered their things and headed toward their cars.
    After saying goodbye, Cole climbed into his SUV and started the engine. Only after pulling into traffic did he realize he actually had a “date at the theater” with the elusive Ellie Williams.

Chapter Seven
     
    G rabbing her Monday-morning coffee, Ellie headed for her desk.
    “I guess you heard the news?” Cole said with a bit of a bark to his voice.
    “Good morning to you, too, Cole.” Ellie tossed a half smile and settled into her chair. She thought the least he could have said was that he’d had a nice time at the coffee shop Saturday night.
    “Well?” He raised his hands, palms up.
    “Well, what?” she asked, only