Before I could finish, the ground shook and the diners panicked.
“Earthquake?!” William’s face instantly changed.
I bent down to pick up Rena, ready to tell William to take her and leave first. When I looked up, he was gone. He had taken Regina and her child and left.
I held my child, pushed through the crowd, lost my balance and fell. I shielded Rena and someone stepped on my hand.
A sharp pain shot through me, but it didn’t match the chill in my heart. The ground shook violently.
Fifty seconds later, the tremors stopped. The empty streets were now full of people. After taking Regina and the child to safety, William went back for Isabella, but the restaurant had already been evacuated.
William sighed in relief, thinking everything was fine. He called Isabella, but she didn’t answer.
William’s heart sank for a moment. Usually, Isabella’s phone was always readily available for him; she would answer no matter when he called. What was wrong today?
He tried to stay calm and first took Regina and the child home. But the child was scared and kept crying for him. He had no choice but to text Isabella, telling her where he was.