Cat squinted at the screen, stepped closer. “Crap,” she muttered. Right between New Haven and New London, directly in the path of the tropical bitch, was Merry.

She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found Kathy Hai.

“Kathy?” Cat said, as soon as she heard the woman’s voice.

“Cat? I can’t hear you very well. Reception’s spotty.”

“Are you guys okay? I just saw on the news that you’re in for some rain.”

Kathy’s laugh was forced. “Oh, just a little sprinkle. Nothing to worry about.”

Cat heard static, and then Kathy’s voice came through clearer. “Sorry. I had to come upstairs. I didn’t want April to hear me freak out over the phone.”

“Oh, geez. Are you guys okay?”

“Michael and I are debating whether or not we should go to the shelter.”

“Kathy, you live eye-level to a river that’s about to be raging. Get the hell out of there.”

“I know, but I’ll be worried about the house the whole time.”

“You can rebuild a house,” Cat reminded her.

“Yeah, but not as nice as you can,” Kathy gave a sad laugh. “This place is our home, and you made it that way for us.”

“I’ll be up with my tools and my brother if need be,” Cat promised.

“You’re a good person, Cat King,” Kathy told her.

“Yeah, well let’s just make sure you’re a safe, dry person. I’ll call you guys tomorrow and make sure you weren’t total idiots who decided to stay home.”

Kathy’s reply was cut off by static, and the line went dead.

Cat looked back at her computer, at the pile of work waiting for her, and then at the TV screen. The Hai family was one of her favorites from the show. A few years back, their car had been hit by a drunk driver. A hit and run. Between the medical bills and not working, the Hais had come within weeks of losing their home. Kings of Construction had swooped in, not only renovating the home but paying off the mortgage, and the town had chipped in with a generous donation to help with the family’s remaining medical bills. Since then, the Hais were back on their feet, and Cat stayed in touch with the family, even managing to get together once a year or so.

The town of Merry itself was postcard adorable. No box stores graced the town limits. The downtown was all mom and pop shops, kids walking home from school, and waving neighbors. Merry’s fame came from its Christmas Festival. The entire town decked its halls to the nines and hosted late shopper nights. Every year, they transformed the park into a winter wonderland with three acres of Christmas lights viewed from the country club’s borrowed fleet of golf carts.