“Everything okay?” Jenna asked, walking into the room.
Allie shrugged. “I guess.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t find your backpack, but it just wasn’t there.” Allie didn’t respond. “Look, the bad news is that the storm is getting worse.”
“I hate good news/bad news jokes,” Allie grumbled.
Jenna pressed on. “The good news is that school will probably be cancelled and you won’t have to turn in your homework anyway. Maybe you’ll get lucky.” She winked at her daughter. “How ’bout that?”
Allie managed a little grin and held up crossed fingers. “That would be waaay good.”
“I thought so. Good night, honey.”
“Night, Mom.”
Jenna paused again at the bathroom door, where the shower and radio were still audible, then decided not to interrupt Cassie and slipped down the half-flight of stairs to her bedroom. The room where he’d been. She felt the same sick, crawly sensation she always did when she considered the creep walking through her house, touching her things, opening her drawer. Her eyes were drawn to the bedside table and she wondered…no, it wouldn’t be possible…but her heart thudded in dread at an inner vision of her stalker having left another missive in her room.
That’s crazy. You know better.
Swallowing back her fear, she finished her wine in one gulp, walked to the nightstand, and slowly opened the drawer. Her breath was tight in her lungs as she peered inside.
Empty.
Thank God! She let out a breath and the lights blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
“Damn.”
From the upper floor, Cassie squawked and the sound of music and running water stopped simultaneously.
Quick little footsteps pounded down the half-flight. Paws clicked against the hardwood floors. “Mom?” Allie asked, her voice tremulous, opening the door. “My television blinked.”
“I know. Come on in.”
The invitation was too late. Allie was already through the door. Not to be left out, Critter scrambled into the room and flew onto the bed.
Another set of flat, wet footsteps slapped against the floor. “What the hell’s going on?” Cassie, wearing a hastily donned nightgown, her wet hair wrapped turbanlike in a towel, appeared on the landing just outside Jenna’s open bedroom door. Her eyes were smudged with mascara and bits of shampoo clung to her forehead and cheeks.
“I’m afraid we might lose our electricity.”
“Oh, great. You’ve got to be kidding!” Cassie was angry, her arms crossed over her chest, the towel starting to list to one side. “Living up here is a nightmare, Mom. Beyond a nightmare.”
“So you’ve said.” The lights flickered again, Cassie swore under her breath, and Jenna’s tight nerves b
egan to unravel. She forced a smile. “Everyone calm down.” For once she didn’t take Cassie to task on her foul language. They had bigger problems. “Okay, we’ve got the fire going and we all have warm pajamas, down quilts, flashlights, and candles. Jake is outside, so we’re fine.”
“You call this fine?” Cassie asked, righting her turban.
“Think of it as an adventure.”
“Yeah, right,” Cassie mocked, but left the room. “Oh, Mom, you are sooo pathetic. An adventure!”
“Watch it, Cass,” Jenna warned her retreating daughter’s backside. “I’m in no mood for this.”
Cassie closed the door to her room.
Give me strength, Jenna thought.
“She’s a pain!” Allie observed.