stood and dusted crumbs from my lap. “I hope we’ll see you on the river.”
“If Nico decides not to go-- which is doubtful since you’re going-- call me if you need someone to go with.”
I smiled down at him. “I’m sure that would go over well with Susie.”
“Actually, it would be good for her to spend some time around you.”
“If you say so. I’ll let you know. Keep us up to date on Cindy.”
Chapter 13
Nico had had to tow the broken boat down the hill, so we hadn’t met for lunch. Then thunder clouds rolled in and he had to stay late and put covers on all the boats. Mom had gone to Aunt Sadie’s for the evening to help her with some of the household chores she’d been unable to complete with a bad back. I looked forward to an evening alone with a book and microwave popcorn.
Admittedly, the unfamiliar creaks and moans of the cabin unsettled me some, but I figured I was safe from bears and other forest critters. I put on my sweats and fuzzy slippers and curled up on the couch to read.
I had not seen Nico all day, and it had left me feeling sort of hollow inside. Now that I was back I wondered how I’d ever survived leaving him. I’d undeniably spent some long nights crying myself to sleep after we’d left Pinecliff, and for the longest time, I felt that I had no one to talk to or share secrets with. I’d lost both best friends at once. I know, at times, Mom had felt remorseful about it, but it’d never stopped her from pursuing her own happiness.
Two chapters into the book, Nico called me. “Hey.”
“Hey, Duchess. It’s raining down here already, and I’m trying not to get killed by lightning. My father is up in his dry, warm office watching me dart around the dock trying to avoid painful death by electrocution.”
“I wish you hadn’t told me. Now I’m going to be worried.”
“You’re worried about me, Jessa?”
“Shit, you jerk, I’ve been worried about since the first day I met you.”
There was a long pause. “I missed you today.”
“I missed you too.”
“I guess I’ll finish before the boats get too wet.”
“Uh, don’t boats usually get wet even without rain?”
“Yeah, but my dad is nuts.” Another pause. “Love you, Jessa.”
“Love you, Nico.” We hung up and I stared at the same page for ten minutes. It was the first time we’d ever said love to each other, and it felt completely right as if the words had always been there—they just needed to be spoken aloud . . . and often.
Mom called next, and I closed my book. I figured chapter two was about as far as I was going to get tonight.
“Hi, Sweetie, is everything all right there?”
“Yep. I’m wearing my fuzzy slippers, and I’ve got a bowl of popcorn. Couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“Good. I’m going to be here for a bit. The house really needs some work. Poor Sadie hasn’t been able to do much.”
“Jeez, Mom, don’t wear yourself out. That’s a lot of work. Why don’t you wait and I’ll help you tomorrow.”
“No, I feel great getting so much accomplished. Just stay inside and don’t open the door.”
“I wasn’t really planning on opening it, Mom. Text me when you leave Sadie’s so I know when to expect you.”
“I will.”
I ate a few handfuls of popcorn and decided I needed a drink. A bright streak of lightning lit the night sky outside, and a loud clap of thunder followed. It shook the walls and windows of the cabin. Wind gusts whistled through the giant pines surrounding, and rain clattered loudly on the metal roof. From the short length of time between thunder and lightning, it seemed the storm was directly overhead.
I poured a glass of milk and was headed back to the couch as a second streak of lightning cracked the blackness outside. The lights in the cabin went out, and the refrigerator and wall heater fell silent. I stood frozen to the spot hoping that the electricity would be restored right away. Mom and I had not prepared for a blackout. Suffocating
“If Nico decides not to go-- which is doubtful since you’re going-- call me if you need someone to go with.”
I smiled down at him. “I’m sure that would go over well with Susie.”
“Actually, it would be good for her to spend some time around you.”
“If you say so. I’ll let you know. Keep us up to date on Cindy.”
Chapter 13
Nico had had to tow the broken boat down the hill, so we hadn’t met for lunch. Then thunder clouds rolled in and he had to stay late and put covers on all the boats. Mom had gone to Aunt Sadie’s for the evening to help her with some of the household chores she’d been unable to complete with a bad back. I looked forward to an evening alone with a book and microwave popcorn.
Admittedly, the unfamiliar creaks and moans of the cabin unsettled me some, but I figured I was safe from bears and other forest critters. I put on my sweats and fuzzy slippers and curled up on the couch to read.
I had not seen Nico all day, and it had left me feeling sort of hollow inside. Now that I was back I wondered how I’d ever survived leaving him. I’d undeniably spent some long nights crying myself to sleep after we’d left Pinecliff, and for the longest time, I felt that I had no one to talk to or share secrets with. I’d lost both best friends at once. I know, at times, Mom had felt remorseful about it, but it’d never stopped her from pursuing her own happiness.
Two chapters into the book, Nico called me. “Hey.”
“Hey, Duchess. It’s raining down here already, and I’m trying not to get killed by lightning. My father is up in his dry, warm office watching me dart around the dock trying to avoid painful death by electrocution.”
“I wish you hadn’t told me. Now I’m going to be worried.”
“You’re worried about me, Jessa?”
“Shit, you jerk, I’ve been worried about since the first day I met you.”
There was a long pause. “I missed you today.”
“I missed you too.”
“I guess I’ll finish before the boats get too wet.”
“Uh, don’t boats usually get wet even without rain?”
“Yeah, but my dad is nuts.” Another pause. “Love you, Jessa.”
“Love you, Nico.” We hung up and I stared at the same page for ten minutes. It was the first time we’d ever said love to each other, and it felt completely right as if the words had always been there—they just needed to be spoken aloud . . . and often.
Mom called next, and I closed my book. I figured chapter two was about as far as I was going to get tonight.
“Hi, Sweetie, is everything all right there?”
“Yep. I’m wearing my fuzzy slippers, and I’ve got a bowl of popcorn. Couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“Good. I’m going to be here for a bit. The house really needs some work. Poor Sadie hasn’t been able to do much.”
“Jeez, Mom, don’t wear yourself out. That’s a lot of work. Why don’t you wait and I’ll help you tomorrow.”
“No, I feel great getting so much accomplished. Just stay inside and don’t open the door.”
“I wasn’t really planning on opening it, Mom. Text me when you leave Sadie’s so I know when to expect you.”
“I will.”
I ate a few handfuls of popcorn and decided I needed a drink. A bright streak of lightning lit the night sky outside, and a loud clap of thunder followed. It shook the walls and windows of the cabin. Wind gusts whistled through the giant pines surrounding, and rain clattered loudly on the metal roof. From the short length of time between thunder and lightning, it seemed the storm was directly overhead.
I poured a glass of milk and was headed back to the couch as a second streak of lightning cracked the blackness outside. The lights in the cabin went out, and the refrigerator and wall heater fell silent. I stood frozen to the spot hoping that the electricity would be restored right away. Mom and I had not prepared for a blackout. Suffocating
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