“True, but nowadays, you never know.”
“I guess. Hey, so talking seriously, are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Worry laced her voice.
“Rosie—“
“I just mean, from what I’m reading, it sounds like this storm is a lot bigger than they first thought. I looked up the weather in Moonlit and?—”
“I’ll be fine. And you know Tabitha and Abby are totally okay. If, and that’s a HUGE if, this storm is bigger than they think, it’s going to be okay. Born and raised mountain girl, remember?”
“I know. I just… you’re all alone in a town where you know absolutely no one with a blizzard about to hit.”
“Rosie, why did I come here?”
“For a break,” she muttered.
“And what had I planned on doing in the first place?”
“Hunkering down and not moving a muscle until next week,” she mumbled.
“Exactly.” I grinned. “I’m okay. I promise. Totally prepared. I have more than enough food, and the cabin has two back-up generators and a lot of wood stocked and ready to go.”
“And you’re sure you’re safe?”
“Yes.” I looked around the place. “The cabin is even nicer than the pictures. It even has a security system,” I said. “I wish you had better connection, too, so we could FaceTime so you could see this place. It’s… perfect.”
“Me, too, but if you didn’t have a bad connection, I’d have a worse one,” she muttered.
“How’s London?” I asked.
“Rainy. I have one more shoot, and then I’m leaving to Dubai day after next.”
“And then?”
“Then I have a quick shoot in Turks and Caicos.”
“That will be nice. Bring me a magnet?” She chuckled softly
“Only you would ask for magnets.”
“Hey, don’t knock my collection. Thanks to you, I have some from almost all over the world. How about you bring me some chocolate from every place you go, too?”
“Deal!” I could hear the smile in her voice, so I wanted to make it brighter. This was the first time the four of us hadn’t spent all the holidays together, including New Year’s, for the first time since the first year of college for me.
“Speaking of deals, I saw a speed dating thing taking place mid-January at the resort,” I brought up.
“If you’re still single by the fourth, I’ll sign us both up,” she said, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “And if you’re not, you’re paying the fee for me to do it on my own.”
“Okay, deal, crazy girl! I love you. Be safe and text when you land?”
“I promise. You keep in touch and let me know you’re okay, too.”
“Promise.”
“Maybe the four of us can Zoom for New Year’s?” I could hear the loneliness in her voice. Part of me wished I had cancelled the reservation and headed off with her. At least that way, she’d have someone with her.But you needed a break, too.
“Maybe. Worst case, we can text.”
“Cool. Love you, Em.”
