Focus on his mother first

Dan hugged his mother tight. "We'll figure this out," he consoled. "I've got a little money saved. We can get a hotel for the night and figure something out in the morning."

Laura gave him a rib-cracking hug as she pulled Dan in close. "I'm just glad you're safe," she said with a smile as she pulled away from him a little.

Dan looked down to see what had been poking him in the chest. He looked away when he realized his mother wasn't wearing a bra. "I'm glad you are too. I hope we can get some things from the house soon," he muttered as he looked up.

Three paramedics wheeled a gurney toward the collapsed house next to theirs. The Parkers lived there for a number of years. He wondered if everyone was okay. "Should we stick around?" he asked.

"I don't know," Laura admitted. She took a deep breath took a step back. Her eyes swept over the milling group of people and news crews setting up near the barricade.

"We... could call your sister," Dan hedged.

"I would rather not," Laura answered after a moment.

"She might be able to help."

"Maybe," his mother replied with a sigh as he ran a hand through her hair. "I... need to think about that... option first."

"What will we do?" Dan mumbled to himself as his eyes fell on what remained of their home.

"We'll figure it out. We always have," Laura answered in a low voice. "Oh... dear," she gasped.

Dan looked around for what startled his mother. Two paramedics wheeled a black body bag, strapped to the gurney, between them as they moved away from the Parker house. The male paramedic looked nervous. "Someone didn't make it," he muttered aloud, just to voice his horror.

"Folks, we need you to clear out," Officer Thomas called out to them as he approached at a brisk walk. "One of our men thought the ground might have shifted," he continued as he reached into his pocket. "Ma'am," he said as he offered two cards to Laura. "The top card is my number if you need anything. The second card is a number for the Red Cross Emergency Line. They might be able to help you. Here, let me escort you out," he offered as he placed a light touch on Laura's arm.

Officer Thomas led them to the barricade as other officers ushered other groups toward the main street. "Thank you," Laura said as she clutched the two cards tightly in her hand.

"My pleasure, ma'am. Sir," he continued with a nod to Dan. He smiled again at Laura before walking over to a group of officers.

"We'll take my car," Laura said as she took one last look at their home.

"I could follow you," Dan offered.

"No, I want you with me. Sorry, but I don't want to be alone right now."

"No problem, mom," Dan answered with a smile.

Laura strode toward her car, parked in the opposite direction from where he parked. "We... might need to call her," she admitted after a minute of walking.

"I can make the call," Dan offered. Laura looked back at him before giving him the barest of nods. Dan got out his phone as his mother unlocked the door on the driver's side of her compact sedan. She got in and unlocked the door for him.

"Dan? It's been a while. What can your auntie do for you?" Patricia asked in a light tone.

Patricia and Laura had never seen eye to eye. A party girl at heart, Patricia became the black sheep of the family. Before their parents passed away, she and her sister were close. However, Patricia never came to their parent's funeral. Laura believed her sister was on a ****-induced bender and simply forgot to show up.

"Do you have a moment, auntie?" Dan asked with a glance at his mother. He caught a brief raise of her eyebrow but she didn't comment. In the background of the call, he thought he could hear several people taking and soft music playing.

"For you, always. Is everything okay? You sound a little off."

Dan, aware of his mother's eyes on him, took a deep breath before answering. "Auntie, our home partially collapsed. No, we weren't in the house when it happened. Yes, Laura and I are okay. No, that's why I'm calling." He answered her rapid-fire questions as he stared out the windshield. Laura turned on the engine and started to release the parking brake.

"What can I do to help?" Patricia asked in a soft voice.

"Do you... know of anywhere we can stay? I know, the last time we talked, that you said you were going to buy up some real estate," Dan hesitantly asked. He noticed his mother giving him a hard look.

Patricia took a deep breath. "Dan, I'm... not in a position to help that way," she admitted. It sounded genuine. "With the recent market... well... I'm not nearly as well off as I was, even three months ago. I'm, well you don't need to hear my troubles. I might know someone who can work with you on a flat. I'm sorry, I wish I could do more."

Dan pursed his lips. He'd already been thinking of how little money he had saved away. Any help from his aunt would have kept them in a hotel for at least a few days longer. "Anything you can do," he said. "I don't want to ask for anything, if possible... but, well."

"I understand," Patricia murmured. "I'm at a function at the moment. If you'd called a bit ago, I could have talked a bit longer, but I'm expected in a few minutes. Listen, I'll text you somewhere I was thinking of buying. It... well it isn't a great place, but it's cheap. It was meant to be a fixer'upper. Sorry to run on you, and I'm really, really sorry about what happened. Can you call me tonight? I'd love to talk to my sister too. I need to go, sorry," she rushed before the line went dead.

Dan stared down at his phone. "Well?" Laura asked, her tone light.

"She might have an idea for us, but... well... we're on our own."

"That's okay too, we have each other."