The Trouble with Andrew by Heather Graham

lost will be replaced,” he said, and she sensed an undercurrent of anger in his voice once again.
    Perhaps he had thought she was complaining, when so many others were in worse shape, when she had heard so many tragic stories during the day. The death toll from the storm was rising, from heart attacks suffered by the elderly to the heart-wrenching instance of the unborn child that had died with its mother when she had a cerebral hemorrhage, unable to get medical attention.
    She had nothing to complain about. She had Jordan, she had herself.
    â€œI didn’t mean to sound—”
    â€œYou didn’t sound anything, Katie,” he said, still angry.
    She fell silent.
    Jordan picked up his dish. “Anyone want to play Scrabble?” he asked hopefully.
    Katie stayed silent.
    Drew turned around, leaning against the counter. “If your mom is willing, so am I,” Drew told him, looking at Katie. It was an apology of some kind.
    â€œYou don’t have to play,” Katie told him.
    â€œI love Scrabble. I’ll beat the pants off you both,” he assured her.
    She found herself grinning.
    He did win, but only by a few points. When they finished the game, Jordan was yawning.
    â€œYou’d better get to bed,” Katie told him.
    â€œWhy? Do I have to get up early?” he asked.
    â€œIf you want to come on a photo expedition, you do,” Drew told him.
    Jordan leaped right up. “You really want to take Mom around?”
    â€œYeah. I have to go by work, too, and I need to see to a few more things around here, but at least I can start out with you all. And show you what I know would make for good photos. Some things that shouldn’t be forgotten.”
    â€œGreat!” Jordan started from the living room for the stairs. Then he came back. He shook Drew’s hand and kissed Katie’s cheek.
    A moment later, Jordan was gone. Katie studied Drew in the candlelight where he sat across the coffee table from her. “You really don’t have to take me around—”
    â€œI want to.”
    â€œBut it seems as if you feel that you’re responsible for me. I really am very capable—”
    â€œI know that. But I can’t tell you just how bad things are. I stood in line for an hour and half today for ice and they ran out before they got to me. There aren’t any stores left in this area—I had to ride along north just to find places that had managed to open.”
    â€œBut this is when I need to take pictures,” Katie said. “Before things are back to normal.”
    He leaned toward her. “Katie, things may never be back to normal,” he told her softly.
    â€œI need to get out now.”
    â€œThen you’ll get out now,” he told her. “It’s not that people aren’t going out—it’s just that they aren’t going out more than is necessary.”
    â€œIs there anyone helping with traffic?”
    â€œOh, yes, the police are out full force and the National Guard is doing a fantastic job. But the scope of the destruction…” His voice trailed away. “It’s amazing.” He was quiet for a moment. “Want to play another game of Scrabble?” he asked her.
    She shook her head. “No, you beat me. Fair and square. I’m not in a thinking mode at the moment.”
    â€œWant to see a movie?”
    â€œIs this an imagination test?”
    He shook his head. “No, that little television has a tape player, as well.”
    â€œWhat have you got?” she asked him.
    â€œTake a flashlight up to Jordan’s room. I’ll watch anything you find up there,” he told her.
    She went upstairs. She thought Jordan was sleeping, but he moved on the bed, then sat up.
    â€œSorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
    â€œMom? What are you doing?”
    â€œLooking for a movie.”
    â€œA movie?”
    â€œThe television is a tape player, too.”
    â€œOh.