“Yeah, we’re having a great time,” Shelby says.“How about you guys?”We nod and smile, and that must be enough of an answer because she keeps talking.“Ollie, I’m sorry we weren’t there to welcome you, but we’re so glad you’re nearby now.I thought you were staying at Devil’s Den?”Her eyes widen, and she grabs Finn’s hand and places it on her belly.Dopey grins again.“The baby is kicking up a storm.Only a couple more months to go!”
“Ollie was staying at the casino, but something happened,” Phoebe says, handing me the phone so she can hold up her wrapped arm.She’s not wearing her sling.“I fell at work today and sprained my wrist, so he brought me home and is staying over to help with Marsha and everything.”At the sound of her name, the cat jumps on the back of the sofa and pushes her head between ours before making meowy chirpy sounds at the screen.
“Hey, baby!”my six-foot-six hulk of a brother croons to his cat.“Do you miss us?We miss you!”He makes kissy sounds, and Marsha bops the screen with her head while purring up a storm.Shelby is the most secure woman in the world to be okay with how much my brother loves his cat.She was a stray born out on the marshes near a seafood restaurant across the way, and he adopted her and named her Marsha because of the environment she came from.It’s adorable, and I can only imagine how he’ll be with his child if he’s like this with his cat.Hopefully Marsha adapts to sharing his attention.She’s been okay with Shelby, but I think she believes she’s still Finn’s number one.
Shelby shoots him an exasperated look and huffs out a sigh.“Finn, you can talk to Marsha later, Phoebe sprained her wrist!”She smiles and says, “Hi, Marsha.I love you too.But I’m worried about my sister.”
Marsha gives a brief, indignant mrrw and walks across my lap, whacking Phoebe in the face with her twitching tail as she curls into a ball next to me.I guess if she can’t have Finn, I’m good enough.She’s not the first female to think that.
“Saw on the news you’re getting hit by a nor’easter,” Finn says.“You should pack up and go stay at Phoebe’s place.Marsha’s crate is in the hall closet, and we have cardboard travel litter boxes.She travels okay.The house is sturdy, but I know it’s unnerving, being elevated when there could be flooding.Is it raining a lot?”Finn’s brow is creased in concern.
Phoebe and I share a glance, silently communicating how much we should share.We don’t want to ruin their trip by making them worry about us.
I meet his gaze on the screen.“The rain has stopped.We had some sleet and small hail, but now it’s snowing.A lot of wind.Possibly technically a blizzard.And it’s sticking.We’re staying here because your neighbor’s tree fell across the road, and we’re blocked in.I’ll cut them up when it stops tomorrow.”
My brother slaps his thigh and grimaces.“Damn summer people.I warned them that those trees were coming down on their own if they didn’t cut them down first.Are you going to be okay?Have candles, blankets?My tools are in the utility closet on the back deck.There are extra batteries from the tools you can charge up and a light with a plug built in.I can call my buddies from work to come help if you need it.”
I smile.He’s such an older brother.“We’re good.Gathered supplies, filled extra containers with water.Don’t worry.I can handle it.If I need your buddies, I’ll let you know.”
Shelby lets out a huge yawn and rests her head on Finn’s shoulder.He wraps his arm protectively around her.
“We’re fine, really,” Phoebe says.“Go rest or whatever.We’ll talk to you tomorrow.Don’t worry about us.”
Shelby slowly blinks her green eyes.We wish each other a good night and end the call.
Phoebe’s leg brushes mine as she shifts position to lift her feet to the couch and rest her back against the arm.She doesn’t look comfortable.
“Stretch out,” I say, patting my lap.“You’ve had a rough day, relax.”She takes me up on my offer, and I put my feet up on the ottoman and spread the blanket out to cover us both.
I grab the TV remote and turn it on.“What do you want to watch?”
We’re fans of a reality show calledBetraying the Packwhere people try to decide who is lying while staying at a castle, so we start one of the international versions.I ask Alexa to turn off the lights, and we settle in.We share a smile as I pull the blanket up under my chin and rest my arms across Phoebe’s shins.We’ve sat like this before to watch movies.It’s nothing new, but I’m more aware of Phoebe physically now than I’ve ever been before.The wind is still howling outside, but it’s not as unnerving now.It’s almost like we’re inside a snow globe…and it’s not a bad place to be.
8
PHOEBE
I don't knowif it was the cold or the absolute silence inside the house that woke me.Maybe both.I can hear the wind blowing still but none of the normal house noises, like the hum of the refrigerator or the heater.Damn it, I bet the electricity’s out.I reach out and gently shake Ollie's shoulder.How is he so warm?We’re on the couch, and his huge hands are resting on my legs draped over his lap.That simple connection makes me feel safe, even with whatever storm is raging outside.Being in the dark together feels so intimate, and with Ollie, I love it.
“Ollie?”
He snuggles under the blanket we’re sharing and rubs my legs.He’s still asleep.I try again.
“Ollie,” I say more insistently and shake his shoulder harder with my good hand.“Wake up.I think the electricity went out.”
He yawns and gives my calf a gentle squeeze, slowly waking up.“What's up?Did you turn the TV off?”
“No,” I say.“Did you?”
I hear him sigh.“No, I guess the electricity went out due to the storm.Let me grab a flashlight.”
I move my legs off his lap so he can rise from the couch.I don’t know how good his night vision is.There’s a click, then a flashlight beam sweeps around the room.He flips a switch on the wall and…nothing.
“Yeah, power’s out.Which means we don’t have heat either.”He runs a hand over his cheek and chin covered by his dark beard.The flashlight beam is powerful enough to show his face.His handsome, sweet face I hold so dear.He swings the beam over my way, keeping it toward the floor so it isn’t directly in my eyes.
“What are we going to do?”I ask.
He blows a breath that makes his cheeks puff out as he checks his watch.“It’s after midnight.I guess we could try to sleep?Can’t do anything until the snow stops and it’s light out.”
