Chapter 9: After the Storm
The first thing I see when I wake up in the morning is Gran’s quilt pulled up beneath my chin. For a moment, I focus on that, and the fact that I’m in Flagstaff on Christmas morning. I remember Ashley and me waking up early and forcing ourselves to wait until we smelled the coffee brewing to go downstairs to see what Santa left.
Next, I remember the weather and the power outage—my bedside light is still dark, so the electricity must still be out. Then I hear a rustling noise and a sigh from someone next to me. Lenore! The whole thing comes rushing back now: our talk, the blackout, kissing by the window—everything. Including the realization that I have now done something that could totally hurt my beloved Poppi!
I feel my body flush like I’m getting a panic att
