I sighed and led her back toward the couch, and I might have been a little pouty about it.
She followed me, and then laid her head down on the pillow on the couch as she yawned. “Good night, Adam.”
I kneeled beside her and brushed her hair away from her face. “Good night, Faith.” I leaned in and kissed her. I took a fortifying breath, and it took every ounce of willpower I had, but I forced myself to stand and go to my room alone.
“DAD DAD DAD!!”
I woke up with a start as Danny pulled on my arm. I felt like I had just gone to sleep. It took longer than I wanted to admit to fall asleep knowing how close Faith was. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and lay back down.
“DAAAAD!”
I sat up, and instantly the cold pressed against my skin. “I’m up, I’m up.” I yawned. “What’s up, bud?”
“Come see! There is enough snow now for a thousand snowmen!” He grabbed my arm and tugged. “Hurry!” I wiped the sleep from my eyes as he pulled me through the hallway and into the living room where Faith was standing at the window, wrapped tight in a blanket. My heart leapt at the sight of her. I wanted to rush to her and pull her into my arms.
Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she moved her feet back and forth on the cold ground. I stood beside her and placed my arm around her shoulder. If Danny asks, I will tell him it’s because she was cold. She leaned against my chest, but her gaze stayed focused on the window.
I should have brushed my teeth. What if I had terrible morning breath?
“See!” Danny gestured at the window, drawing my attention to it.
“Holy…” There was a lot of snow.
Where there was a foot of snow the night before, the world was now covered in what looked like a three- to four-foot blanket of white. The road, the trees, everything. I couldn’t even make out our vehicles in the driveway. They were white blobs. The wind caused the whole world to see white. The wind would make it even more dangerous.
So much snow.
I blew out a whistle, going over all the worst-case scenarios in my head. It was obvious from the cold that the power was still out.
What if the power didn’t come back on?
What if Mom or one of the older neighbors didn’t have enough heat?
Could everyone’s barns and outbuildings hold up under that much weight of snow?
How long would it take them to plow the roads all the way out here?
“Okay…” I pinched my lips in thought, trying to hide my initial panic. “Looks like we might stay home today.”
Faith’s wide eyes met mine.
“Wahoo! Snowman day!” Danny ran toward his boots.
Faith leaned close. “The plows will start with town, and it will be a while before they can get this far out. Right?” Her brow furrowed. She glanced at Danny to see that he was occupied. “Is everyone going to be okay? What if someone’s car is stuck out there?”
I pulled her toward me in a hug, and her presence instantly calmed my racing heart. I placed my chin on top of her head. “I certainly hope that’s not the case. Storms like this can cause all sorts of problems. Roofs could collapse, people and animals could freeze, pipes could break.”
“I could have been stuck out in this storm.” She whispered, barely audible, and I think it was more for her than me.
But the result of her statement was like ice being poured down my veins. I imagined Faith stuck out there in this blizzard and pulled her tighter to me. I had to know she was still here, to feel her heartbeat against mine.
“Well, I’m very glad you weren’t.” The words didn’t come close to expressing my relief.
Her eyes met mine, and she gave me a small smile. “Me too.” She looked back at the window. “But what about everyone else?” She chewed on her bottom lip, and I instantly wanted her mouthon mine. I shook my head, trying to remind myself we were in a bit of a crisis and to focus. “Do you need to call anyone?”
She shrugged. “My phone’s dead, but I assume everyone went home and is fine.”
A thump sounded beside me as Danny stumbled in his boots and coat as he rushed to the front door.
