On the way to work, she passed children building snowmen and guys out with snowblowers and orange DPW trucks clearing streets. Not until she was down near the pier did Christina realize that in the few minutes she’d been out, the wind had picked up. When she was settled in her shop, she’d phone Jacob for a forecast. With all his equipment and knowledge, he was better than the Weather Channel for the faraway island of Nantucket.

Other shops along Main Street were open. Their lights cheered her immensely. It could feel lonely out on the wharf. And as she walked to her shed, she realized she’d be really lonely because the Hy-Line ferry wasn’t running. That predicted a massive, long-term blizzard. Mimi’s shop was open, and so were Jacob’s and Harriet’s, and someone had shoveled paths from the street down the wharf and right up to each shop door.

A path to her door had also been cleared. Probably Jacob had done it; he was so helpful that way. Inside, she turned on the lights and set her small electric heater to high. She kept her coat and hat on while she set up the cash register for the day. She doubted that she’d have much foot traffic, but she set about tidying up her display cases.

Her phone buzzed. “Do you think anyone will actually shop today?” Harriet asked. “I’m freezing in here.”

“I’m cold, too, but my heater will warm me up. You should put on one of your cashmere caps and wrap a shawl around you. You’ll survive. By the way, Andy took me to a party at the Bishops’ house last night. I told several women they really should check out your shop.”

“That’s so nice. Thanks, Christina! Oh! Must go!”

Through her window, Christina watched two women in fur coats and hats make their way through the snow to Nantucket Couture.

Several times that morning, people came by the toy shop. Business wasn’t brisk, but it was good enough. It was only three days until Christmas so Christina and the other Shedders stayed in their shops through lunch, not wanting to risk losing a single customer.

The wind was rising. It drove the falling snow into fanciful arabesques, and it whistled through the cracks in the wooden walls of the sheds. Christina knew it would be a struggle to make it through this cold day.

She assumed Oscar wouldn’t show, but when she saw a hunched male figure wearing a camel overcoat come stomping through the snow, she smiled and hurried to open the door for him.

“Oscar! You made it!”

Oscar powered through the door into the relative warmth of the shop. “What, you thought a little snow would keep me away?”

“Well, it’s kind of wild out there. I’m impressed. Why don’t you take that stool over there by the heater—”