I check it. Frown.
The system is moving faster than predicted. Six to eight hours of heavy snow are expected.
Holly appears from the bedroom. Her hair is damp. “Everything okay?”
“The new front will be worse than they thought.”
Her face falls. “How bad?”
“Roads will be buried again by morning.” I set the phone down. “You’ll be stuck another day or two, depending on how fast they can plow.”
“Oh.” She wraps her arms around herself. “I should text Sophie. Let her know I might not make it back in time for the senior center event.”
“Smart.”
Holly pulls out her phone and types, then pauses, her thumb hovering over the screen. She looks up at me, biting her lip.
“What?” I ask.
“I know you said no photos. But Sophie is worried. She knows I was driving up here. If I just text her that I’m stuck, she’ll panic, thinking I’m in a ditch.”
Unsure what she’s asking, I rub my chin.
“Could I please send her one quick photo so she can see I’m safe and warm? I won’t post it anywhere, I promise. It’s just for her.”
Damn. I’d rather she not, but she seems concerned about Sophie. Still…
“Cole?”
Reluctantly, I nod, hoping I don’t regret this. “One photo. To her. That’s it.”
“Thank you. I promise.” Holly turns the phone and snaps a selfie, then sends it. She sets down her phone. “There’s one more thing. I left a duffel bag in my car. My grandmother’s recipes and her journals are inside. I meant to grab it when we went for our walk, but I forgot. If it gets buried under three feet of snow?—”
“I’ll get it first thing in the morning. Before the storm gets too bad.”
“Really?”
“Holly.” I move to her. “Those recipes matter to you. I’ll get them. Promise.”
She nods, her eyes bright. “Thank you.”
“Go to bed. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you before I head out.”
She hesitates, then rises on her toes and kisses my cheek. “Goodnight, Cole.”
My skin burns at the point of contact. “Night.”
She disappears into the bedroom, and the door clicks shut.
I bank the fire and check the weather one more time.
I’ll go out at first light. Three-thirty. Before the worst of it hits.
Get the bag. Get back. Keep her safe.
Simple.
Except nothing about Holly feels simple anymore.
