Page 27 of A Not So Merry Ex-Mas

“I hate to interrupt your and Mel’s party,” I say with mock ire while the corner of my mouth lifts. “But can you tell me where the tree decorations are? I probably should’ve asked last night but didn’t think about it.”

“Hmm. I think they’re in the shed where the tree stand was.” Mike’s voice is still filled with humor. “Did you see it there?”

“Honestly, I didn’t.” I rub my hand up and down my face as I imagine what the task of getting the decorations from the shed will look like now. “Guess I’ll be shoveling to get the shed door open. Speaking of, where is the shovel?”

“The shovel is in the closet on the porch. I’m pretty sure it won’t run from you.”

I groan as Mike starts laughing hysterically all over again. I rest my head on the back of the couch and smirk as his laughter rings in my ears, quietly waiting for him to collect himself.

“Still there?”

“Yup. Just waiting for you to stop laughing.” I grin.

“Sorry. So how are things? Power still on?” He asks.

“So far so good. We probably already have close to a foot of snow, and the wind is picking up, but for the time being, we have power.”

“Good news.” I nod in response and glance at the fire as a loud pop grabs my attention.

One of the first things you learn as a firefighter is to see a fire in a new light. You see it as a living, breathing entity that, when controlled, is entrancing, but when running free, terrifying. Regardless of the situation, it’s never fully under your power.

“Cole?” Mike’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Nope. I was trying to tune out your laughing at my expense.” Mike chuckles on the other end.

“Yeah, that will never get old, Catman,” he chuckles. I roll my eyes and smirk. “I was just saying that it looks like the storm is shifting west again.”

I put Mike on speaker and pull the phone away from my ear to open the weather app. “I see that. Looks like we’re still in for a bit of a wild ride, though, especially when the wind picks up.”

“Yeah, that’s why I was calling.” Finally! The point of his phone call. “Make sure you bring some extra wood inside. The drifts may be rough.”

“I stacked a bunch on the porch so that it would be easy for Noelle or me to grab if we started running low. I’ll make sure to restock the pile inside, though.”

“How are things with Noelle?” Mike’s voice rings out through the cabin, and I whip my head toward the kitchen just as I take the phone off speaker.

I relax when I’m positive Noelle didn’t hear that and isn’t coming. “I think good.” A smile spreads across my face as I think about breakfast.

I noticed a few moments where she withdrew, but there were also moments when the air was electric.

“Yeah, good,” I say more confidently. I look at the time. It’s only eleven. We still have a lot of hours left in the day, and I need to make sure that I use them wisely. Behind me, I hear footsteps, and then a door closes. My shoulders slump. “But it’s early. We’ll see how the rest of the day goes.”

I push open thedoor and rest the storage bin full of decorations on the floor next to the entrance. I grab the door to keep it from slamming just as a gust of wind tries to push it open.

The wind makes a howling, swooshing sound as the storm rages on.

I leave the door open and head back to the pile of logs. I place as many as possible and then head back into the house. The door slams open before I can grab it.

“Cole!” I hear Noelle yell from down the hall, and the tension in my shoulders releases. She’s been MIA since right after breakfast, and I wasn’t sure if I’d see her again today. “Are you okay?”

I’m still following Mel’s words of wisdom, but letting Noelle dictate the pace is killing me inside, and I’m barely restraining myself.

“Yes,” I yell back. “Just trying to bring in some more wood, and the storm is picking up.”

I put the logs down next to the ornaments just as she appears in the living room, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.

“How can I help?”

I look over her face and notice her guarded expression. My stomach drops.

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