SCARLETT
Mom hummed in the kitchen the next morning, arranging stuff like nothing had happened. Rain still drilled from the waves outside, the power was back and everything looked normal.
I sat at the dining, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee I hadn't sipped, across from me Simon watched the financial section of the news.
Mom glanced up, smiling brightly. “You two are quiet today. Long night with the storm?”
Simon didn't look up. “Generator issues, it took time to reset.”
“Well then, you're lucky it didn't last longer,” Mom said then she turned, her eyes landing on me. “Honey, you look tired, did you sleep okay?”
I forced a smile. “Fine, just the thunder.”
“Mm,” she said, but her gaze lingered a second too long. “Simon said you were in the hallway during the blackout. That must'
