Free The Glory of Green by Judy Christie Page A

the roof of the building next door.
    It seemed as though a week had passed since my wedding, but I hadn't even made it through one full day.
    "Good news. Good news. Good news. Lord, bring us some good news," I said out loud.
    "Amen," a voice said behind me. I jumped and turned sheepishly to see Pastor Jean, in one of her trademark souvenir sweatshirts, this one from San Antonio.
    "A miracle!" I said with a laugh, trying to act as though I had not been standing at the window talking to myself. "How'd you know I needed you right this very minute?"
    "I could tell you it was a heavenly hunch," she said, "but I ran into your new husband out on Route Two. He mentioned you could use a visit."
    Chris. Now there was a miracle, for sure. I reached down to touch my wedding band.
    "He's on chain-saw duty with his brothers and hopes to see you in time for supper," Jean said. "They've cleared a sizable number of fallen trees, which sure makes driving a lot easier."
    "If there's a silver lining to this storm, it's the right to use power tools with abandon," I said. "I've never seen a group of men more eager to get out and cut something up."
    "Chris did have another message for you," Jean said with a smile. "He leaned in my car window and said, 'Tell my wife I love her.' I think he was afraid the other guys would hear him.He practically scampered back to work."
    "Now that's the kind of news I like." I smiled at the idea of Chris scampering anywhere. "I hoped he'd get back here in time to drive me around town. I left my car at the church and I've been so busy with the paper that I haven't gotten out for a good look."
    "I was also supposed to tell you that Chris loaned your car to Mr. Marcus," Jean said. "His truck was smashed by a tree, which also clobbered their house. He needs it to make arrangements for Levi and to help the people in his neighborhood association."
    "Do you have time to take a tour?" I asked. "I need to get out of this building."
    "I can check on church members while we're at it. Let's go."
    "Can we drive to the hospital and see Kevin?" I asked. "And Anna Grace? Maybe by the courthouse for an update?"
    "I'm at your disposal," Jean said.
    I stuck my head in the newsroom where Molly sat at the computer at Tom's desk, Holly Beth chewing on her shoe while the girl concentrated on the screen. "I'm practicing headlines," she said, "and working on suggestions for tomorrow's front page. Everyone else is out."
    "Don't you need to go home?" I asked.
    "Linda and I are going back to Shreveport to do the production work," she said. "It's easier that way. That hotel room was super nice, but we're going to Walt's tonight. He says we can set up a newsroom on his dining table."
    "I thought we were going to use the computer over at the command center."
    "All those other reporters keep shoving us away." Molly frowned. "We are now in a sort of 'pool,' whatever that means, and we have to take turns."
    "A pool? How many people are over there?"
    "At least fifty," she said. "There are TV crews, reporters, and photographers from New Orleans and Baton Rouge and Shreveport and Alexandria, even Dallas and Houston. You've never seen such a zoo."
    "Where's Linda?"
    "She went to check on her parents," Molly said. "Everything's under control."
    "Right." I bent to pet Holly Beth. "Can you keep the puppy till I get back?"
    "Sure, if you'll buy me a new pair of shoes." Molly smiled and scooped up my dog.
    Jean and I got in her car, squeezed next to the curb. My lot was filled with an assortment of vehicles I didn't recognize. As we drove off, a handsome young reporter interviewed Katy, who gestured wildly with her hands and smiled as though she were a broadcast veteran.
    "Don't they know she's only seventeen?" I snapped. "They need her parents' permission to talk to her like that."
    "And that young woman you left running the newsroom is how old?" Jean asked, shooting me her preacher look.
    "OK, so I've got a double standard. You knew that when you invited me