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The cop shook his head. “It’s hairy. Everyone is without power and there are a lot of trees down.”

“Were there any tornadoes?” I asked.

“There was wind and hail. Think it was a microburst. No one has seen anything touch down,” the cop said.

“I’m trying to get to my daughter. I cannot reach her,” I said. “I cannot get ahold of her. I’m worried. We already lost everything in the Sycamore Tornado.”

“I’m sorry about that,” the cop said. “I hope you didn’t get hit again. The good news is that it looks like most the damage is due to wind and she’s probably just fine. If she is a smart kid, she hit the basement. Just go around and take a right.”

As I followed his directions, I prayed she hid in Chloe’s basement—safe and sound.

For what seemed like an eternity, I drove through streets and subdivisions like a pinball, avoiding trees and power lines. What should have taken no more than ten minutes took an hour. Finally, I arrived outside the gate to Chloe’s place but couldn’t get in because no power. I parked on the street and walked around, using the key to open the back gate.

The scene was a mess. Chloe’s next-door neighbors had been hit hard. A big maple in their yard was mostly on their house. Branches and debris were flung all over. I did a visual appraisal of the carriage house. We had lost the living room window, but apart from roof debris, it looked okay. I sighed relief and unlocked the door.

“Piper!”

No response.

“Piper!” I shouted louder.

Still no response. I entered the house, avoiding all the glass. Upstairs, in her room, a speaker played low. Her phone was on the bed. It must have happened fast because a teen never parted with their devices. I turned the music off and pocketed it.

In the pitch black, I crossed the pool deck, heading to Chloe’s kitchen. At first, I thought she’d fared better until I stepped in and spotted a limb in the sink. The window was gone.

“Well, fuck,” I murmured.

Who did we piss off, universe?

“Piper? Chloe?” I shouted. “Are you in here?”

“Daaaaaad!” I heard Piper’s voice and footsteps.

“Don’t come in here. There’s glass everywhere!” I called.

“I know.” Piper appeared in the dining room. “I told Chloe to put on shoes.”

“Good girl. Thank God you’re safe.”

I crossed the threshold and kicked my boots off so as not to track any glass into the house. I pulled Piper close, my heart rate finally slowing. She was safe and in good spirits. Even in the dark house, I couldn’t ignore her self-assured smile. I kissed Piper’s forehead.

“You scared me.”

“I didn’t have time to text you,” Piper said.

I handed her the phone. “It’s okay. I would much rather you hide in the basement than waste time worrying about me.”

As soon as we entered the living room, we found Chloe on the couch.

“I panicked when I couldn’t reach either of you,” I said.

“Sorry, I turned my phone off when we lost power,” Chloe said. “She was with me.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re both safe.”

“Chloe rushed to get me,” Piper said. “And then I made her put on shoes and a helmet.”

“She said that’s how you survived the big one,” Chloe said.