chapter 9

back to mobile, the aftermath

CHAPTER 9

I cried when I left, and cried through the first hundred miles. When I stopped for gas around Pensacola, I called Seth to see if he had made it back to Mobile yet.

“Hey stranger!” he greeted me.

“Hey, Seth. Have you and Jared made it back to Mobile yet?”

            “We are on the way. We left Jared’s house about an hour ago. Where are you?”

            “I’m coming through Pensacola, so we should be there around the same time.”

            “How was Tallahassee with lover boy?”

            “We had a good time. Our friends, Hillary and Madison, flew in from ECU for a weekend and we caught up with them. Mostly we just hung out, though. I didn’t want to leave this morning and I cried like a damn baby for the first half of my trip. I don’t know what has gotten into me.”

            “You’re in love, Harleigh, and you’re a woman. That’s how it goes.”

            “Gee, thanks, Seth. I will let you go, I’ll see y’all when I get home. Be careful!”

            “Will do. Later Harleigh.”

            The phone call with Seth made me feel much better. I missed my friends. I hadn’t seen them since we were all bunkered down in Montgomery almost a month ago. We were long overdue for a beer on the balcony night.

            As I drove through the coastal towns between Pensacola and Mobile, I saw the leftover wreckage Katrina left in her midst everywhere I turned. Most of the water had finally seceded, making the roads navigable. Large branches and entire trees were uprooted all over and many of the houses were taken down to nothing but the frame, with pieces of the outer shell everywhere. The only homes still standing were brick, and many of those didn’t have roofs and had hurricane shutters torn off. Cars and trucks were lying overturned here and there. It would take the Gulf communities years to overcome such destruction. Through it all, I saw homeowners out working, trying to salvage what they could from what was left of their homes; I saw neighbors helping neighbors. I saw families gathering around what had once been their homesteads, holding one another and crying. Many would clean up and rebuild stronger, sturdier homes, while others would leave the Gulf, never to return. Seeing all this tore a hole through my heart and I cried for them, for their losses and prayed that they would be able to come back from this.

            As I crossed Mobile Bay, I saw oil workers cleaning up from the spill that Katrina caused, and I knew my precious bay beach would be closed for some time. I saw my apartment complex, many parts of it still under construction, but it was coming back to life. There were several moving trucks loaded up with belongings from people replacing the items they lost.

            I pulled up to my building and parked in my designated spot and grabbed my bags and headed up. Right away, I found that I had a new door and that my keys wouldn’t work for it. As I was turning to go to the office, I saw Hannah, the girl who works in the office, coming up the stairs.

            “Hello, Harleigh. I saw you pull in and thought I would bring your new keys over to you.”

            “Thank you, Hannah. How are you? Did you evacuate? Is your house alright?”

            “My parents live in Baton Rouge, so I went over there, and I was there for a couple weeks. I live in the first building here, so I have been homeless for a little while, too. I was able to move back in last week. It has been pure hell around here. Where have you been?”

            “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I went up to Montgomery and stayed until the storm was over and then went on to Tallahassee and stayed with my boyfriend in his dorm room at Florida State for the past three weeks. I’m glad to finally be back in Mobile.”

            “I am, too. The Gulf calls to me, and as much as I love Baton Rouge, Mobile is home to me now. I’m glad to have you back, Harleigh. I’ll leave you to get reacquainted with your apartment,” Hannah said, handing me my new set of keys.

            “Thank you, Hannah,” I said, turning to unlock my door.

            I walked into my apartment, and if I thought it was beautiful before, it was even more so, now. I no longer had just a galley kitchen; I now had an open kitchen and living areas, with a huge island separating the areas, antique white cabinets, new stainless steel appliances and a lighter granite countertop than before. The walls had been repainted the same light gray as before, and I had brand new dark hardwoods through out. The living room furniture was also new, charcoal suede, and I prayed it had been scotch guarded. I went into my bedroom and found a king size sleigh style bed in cherry, with matching nightstands and dresser. The master bathroom had heated tiles and I still had both my shower and jetted tub. I put my suitcases down on my bed and wandered off into the guest bedroom and saw that the furniture matched the master, except the bed was a queen. I could only imagine how much the owners of my apartment paid to renovate this place. It was absolutely gorgeous!

            I hated to have to do it after I just got home, but I needed to go to the grocery store and restock my cabinets and refrigerator. I penned a note and taped my extra key to it and slipped it under Seth and Jared’s door, telling them that I was going to the store and they were more than welcome to go up and wait on me, but to make sure they had some beer, because I was ready to drink a few and catch up with them.

            I got into the Tahoe and made my way to the grocery store. An hour and a buggy-full of food later, I was heading back to my apartment. When I pulled into my spot, I saw Seth’s Civic and Jared’s Toyota Tacoma parked in the two spots beside mine, and I smiled. I was ecstatic to finally be able to hang out with my friends. I filled my arms with grocery bags and started up the stairs. I was getting ready to unlock my door when it opened from the inside. There stood Seth and Jared looking at me with huge grins on their faces.

            “Hey y’all!” I said, sitting my groceries on the island. I gave them each a hug. “I’ve missed you!”

            “We’ve missed you, Harleigh,” Jared said.

            “I take it you have more groceries to bring in,” Seth said, smiling. He handed me a Michelob Ultra.

            “You know it. I had to stock back up. Whatever was here when I left got thrown out during renovations.”

            “We will go get the rest of them, you just go ahead and start getting it put up,” Jared said.

            They came back up a few minutes later with the rest of my groceries, sitting them on the island.

            “Well, y’all. I think it is time to move this party to the balcony,” I said, after I put up the last of my groceries.

            “Let’s do that,” Seth agreed, following me outside. “So, tell us about Tallahassee. Did you give it up yet?”

            “SETH!” I exclaimed, throwing my lighter at him.

            “Hey, now! I had to ask. You have been with Colt for the past month, I figured it had to happen by now,” Seth laughed, tossing my lighter back to me, after he lit up a Marlboro Light.

            “When did you start smoking?” I asked,

            “A couple weeks ago, I think you have rubbed off on me. Now, stop trying to change the subject, did you do it?”

            “Damn, Seth, don’t make her kiss and tell,” Jared said, laughing.

            “Thank you, Jared,” I said, lighting up a cigarette of my own. “If you MUST know, we did and it was wonderful, even though we woke up his roommate and had pillows thrown at us. I was so damn embarrassed I couldn’t look at Jon for days after that first time.”

            “Its about damn time you got laid, Harleigh,” Seth said, turning up his Miller Lite. “What are we doing for supper?”

            “I don’t know. I got stuff to make tacos?” I suggested.

            “Sounds good to me, lets go cook,” Jared agreed, getting up from his chair.

            A half an hour later, we sat at the kitchen island, eating homemade tacos, drinking cold beer and catching up. I had missed Seth and Jared, but I didn’t realize just how much until we got back together. I was thankful that they rescued me my first day here in Mobile, and have become great friends.