Page 17 of A Brambleberry Summer

“I should go,” she said. “Thank you for your help with the door and with this.”

She raised her hand and, as if she had waved a magic wand, another bolt of lightning lit up the kitchen and an instant later the lights flickered and went out.

“Oh, dear,” she exclaimed. “I was afraid of this happening.”

“It would not be a storm along the coast without some kind of power outage.”

He went to the window of the living area that faced out to the street. “I don’t see any lights on in the whole neighborhood. It looks like the power is out everywhere.”

Rosa knew that was not unusual. Electricity often went out during big storms in the area.

She knew there was nothing to fear. Still, she could feel herself begin to panic. Full darkness always did that to her. It reminded her too much of hiding in the back of a pickup truck, afraid she would not see another day.

“Where is my flashlight? Did I leave it in your sunroom?” She looked around the dark kitchen, as if she could summon it with her will, and tried not to panic.

He must have sensed some of her unease. Wyatt reached out a comforting hand and rested it briefly on her arm. Heat radiated from where he touched her and she wanted to lean into his warmth and solid strength.

“I’ll find it. Stay here. I don’t want you to hurt yourself again.”

She leaned against the kitchen sink, breathing deeply and ordering herself to be calm.

A moment later, he returned with her flashlight on, pointed to the ground so he didn’t shine it in her eyes.

“Here you are.”

“Thank you.”

She felt silly at her overreaction, wishing for a different past that wasn’t filled with moments of fear and pain.

“Thank you again for your help. Good night.”

She turned to leave and somehow wasn’t surprised when he followed closely behind her.

“I’ll walk you up the stairs to your place.”

She shook her head slightly. “That is really not necessary. I can find my way. I am up and down these stairs all the time.”

“Maybe so. But not in the dark. I would hate for you to fall on my watch.”

She didn’t want to argue with him. Not when he was being so helpful. She gave an inward sigh as she headed for the apartment door and out to the main foyer.

Wyatt followed her up one flight of stairs. When she saw Jen’s door, Rosa immediately felt guilty. She had been so busy trying not to become stupid over Wyatt Townsend, she had not given a thought to her friend and how nervous Jen and Addie might be in the dark.

She was a terrible friend. The worst.

She paused outside the door and turned to face him. “I should probably check on Jen and Addie.”

“They might be asleep.”

“I do not believe so. I saw lights on inside earlier, when we were out by the shed. She might be nervous with the power outage.”

“Good idea.”

She knocked softly on the door. “Jen? This is Rosa. Are you all right?”

A moment later the door opened. Jen held a candle in one hand and a flashlight in the other.

Rosa couldn’t see her face well, but her blue eyes seemed huge in the dim light.

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