PREVIOUSLY ON WHEN THE WIND TURNED
Last week in Chapter Five, Jeremy Rosenfeld fought to save lives inside a darkening, flooding Charity Hospital as Hurricane Katrina swallowed New Orleans street by street. In Uptown, Frankie and the kids sheltered in the gym of St. Genevieve of the Sacred Heart as the storm intensified. When the National Guard finally reached their sector, Guardsman John D’Agostino pulled Frankie aside with news that would change everything: Charity Hospital was in crisis — and Jeremy was still inside.
CHAPTER SIX — THE BREAKING POINT
The Guard Arrives
The gym at St. Genevieve of the Sacred Heart feels smaller by the hour.
Sleeping bags are pressed shoulder to shoulder, families are clustered near outlets that no longer work, the air is thick with sweat and the quiet terror people try not to speak aloud. Maisie whines occasionally, head tucked into Eve’s lap, sensing what no one will name.
That is when the National Guard arrives.
D’Agostino — the young Guardsman with the polite voice and the eyes of someone who’d seen too much in twenty-four hours — pulls Frankie aside.
He lowers his voice so the children won’t hear.
“Ma’am… you need to know something before we move your family.”
Frankie’s pulse stutters.
Jacob steps closer. Noah holds Eve in place with a protective hand on her shoulder. Eve’s grip on the dog tightens.
Frankie keeps her tone steady.
“Tell me.”
The lieutenant exhales softly.
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