The next evening, Shannon moved from room to room, rearranging things, flicking off imaginary dust, straightening table covers... "What is wrong with you?" she scolded herself. "He's coming to look at the construction of the house, not how you've decorated it!" Not that she'd done much to change it from the Nana's arrangements. She added a few touches of her own. More candles for light in the evenings, she preferred their softness to the lamps. She'd put her audio system in the living room where she spent most of her time reading.
CCRRAAACCCCKKK.......a boom of thunder echoed toward the distance . A bolt of lightening illuminated the darkening skies. Another storm was moving in. It had taken Shannon awhile to get used to how quickly they formed around here. If they were lucky this one would stay north of them. Seven o'clock came and no Allen. She opened the drapes to peer across the street to his house. No vehicle in the drive yet. At 5 minutes to nine, Shannon had figured he was a "no show" . It would have been nice if he had called to tell her. Just as she was starting to put out the candles the door bell rang and made her jump. As she walked to the foyer another bolt of lightening struck nearby....lighting the shape at the door. It was Allen, late but never the less he had shown up.
When she opened the door the first wave of rain hit with a blast of warm air blowing into the house. "Come on in," she called over her shoulder as she ran to the parlor to shut the open windows.