The thought of it, just the thought of him invading her magical little world filled her with panic. She had to fight to keep it out of her voice. “Oh, Alan, there’s absolutely no need to worry. I’m fine. The storm was exciting, actually. And I have a generator, emergency lights.”

“I don’t like thinking of you up there alone, in some rustic little hut in the middle of nowhere. What if you hurt yourself, or fell ill, got a flat tire?”

Her mood began to deflate, degree by degree. She could actually feel the drop. He’d said the same words to her before, and so had her parents, with the exact same tone of bafflement mixed with concern.

“Alan, it’s a lovely, sturdy and very spacious cabin, not a hut. I’m only about five miles outside of a very nice little town, which makes this far from the middle of nowhere. If I hurt myself or get sick, I’ll go to a doctor. If I get a flat tire, I suppose I’ll figure out how to change it.”

“You’re still alone, Rowan, and as last night proved, easily cut off.”

“The phone’s working just fine now,” she said between clenched teeth. “And I have a cell phone in the Rover. Added to that, I believe I have a moderately intelligent mind, I’m in perfect health, I’m twenty-seven years old and the entire purpose of my coming here was to be alone.”

There was a moment’s silence, a moment just long enough to let her know she’d hurt his feelings. And more than long enough to bring her a swift wash of guilt. “Alan—”

“I’d hoped you’d be ready to come home, but that apparently isn’t the case. I miss you, Rowan. Your family misses you. I only wanted to let you know.”

“I’m sorry.” How many times in her life had she said those words? she wondered as she pressed her fingers to the dull ache forming in her temple. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, Alan. I suppose I feel a little defensive. No, I’m not ready to come back. If you speak to my parents, tell them I’ll call them later this evening, and that I’m fine.”

“I’ll be seeing your father later today.” His voice was stiff now, his way—she knew—of letting her know he was hurt. “I’ll tell him. Please keep in touch.”

“I will. Of course I will. It was nice of you to call. I’ll, ah, write you a long letter later this week.”

“I’d enjoy that. Good-bye, Rowan.”

Her cheerful mood totally evaporated, she hung up, turned and looked at the chaos of the kitchen. As penance, she cleaned every inch of it, then put the cookies in a plastic container, sealing them away.