Damn it was cold! For the past few days, temperatures had been in the low 20's, a dash of frozen snow covered the ground from a week ago. Now the weatherman was predicting temperatures would rise a little and we might have a blizzard tonight. I was shivering in my wool sweater, and fleece lined jeans, as I walked around my one bedroom apartment making sure I had things ready just in case the power would go out like it had a dozen times already this month. 'Well that took 30 seconds' I thought to myself with a giggle.
My small fluorescent lantern sat on the table in front of the couch, my feet resting next to it, the glow of the TV filling the otherwise darkened room. Some stupid movie was on, but not holding my attention at all. Almost drifting off to sleep, the phone rang, and startled me back into reality.
"Hello?"
"Amy? This is your cousin Jan Johnston, your Mom's sister's daughter."
"Oh my God. Jan! Long time no hear from. How are you doing?"
Growing up Jan and I had been close until we moved away when I was 14 or 15. Maybe 'close' didn't quite capture it very well, for me, I hope for her too. Then after my Mom died about 20 years ago, I pretty much lost touch with all my relatives, what few I'd not already lost touch with. Dad had been in a car wreck and died a long time ago and I had never liked any of the relatives on that side of the family, don't think they much liked me either. Don't know why that was.
"Freezing my ass off right now."
"Where are you?"
"I was on my way to California, moving, everything I have is inside the car, and had some car trouble. Thought I remembered you living here, sure hoping so, actually one of the reasons I took a detour. Looked in the phone book, and found your name. Aren't you the lucky one?"
"What? As the winner of a house guest tonight?" I laughed just in case she missed the joke.
"If you don't mind? The car is fixed, but all the motels, all 3 of them, are filled because of the chance of a blizzard. Everyone is pulling off the Interstate early."
"Just a one bedroom place, but I'd love to see you again. Would be like old times. I have a big bed, promise not to bite."
"Feels like at least a 'one dog night'.
"Glad to be your dog tonight."
I gave her directions and she promised to call if she got lost.
There was a knock on the door and I flipped on the ceiling light. I opened the door, standing a little behind it to shield myself from the cold. I didn't even take time to look at her, the wind was howling, filling the place up with icy cold air.
"Get your sweet little frozen ass in...." I didn't finish before the lights went out. A quick glance and I saw the whole neighborhood was dark, I mean really dark.
I reached out and touched her. "Take my hand and I'll lead you." We walked, slowly, hand in hand, through the dark the 10 feet or so to the couch. "Stop. Let me turn on my lantern."
"No, wait. I want to hug you in the dark so I can remember what it was like as kids when the lights would go out. Remember how scared I used to get and you would 'protect me'? Keep me safe from the monsters that were under the bed?"