She shook her head. “No such luck. Dad never saw the need. The power doesn’t usually go out for long up here. We have a gas stove for cooking, a fireplace for heat and windows to open in the summer to stay cool.”

“Sounds like Rob’s logic.” He shone the flashlight along the tree trunk. “I hope you can cook breakfast on that stove, ’cuz I’m not going anywhere until that tree is moved, and that’s not happening until daylight.”

It took her a moment to realize what he was saying. The driveway was impassable, with no way to get around the tree, at least not in a vehicle. Mike was going to be spending the night. All night. With her. Well...not with her, but under the same roof. All. Night. Long.

She took a deep breath. “Uh...sure. No problem. You can use Dad’s old room.” Her mind was doing its best to avoid considering the opportunities this would present. Take your mind off Mike. Think about anything else. Like...

“Hazel.” She reached for her phone. “Oh, my God. I need to check on her. And Vickie. And...”

Mike took her arm and led her toward the back door. “I need to check on my family, too. Let’s get inside.” He held the door open. “I may have to charge my phone in the car later.”

“I always keep a couple of solar phone chargers in the kitchen window. They should take care of it if you want to keep your phone handy.”

Mike chuckled. “Why am I not surprised?”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. It’s just...” He turned off the flashlight and grabbed the spare lantern from the table. “You’re the type to be prepared for things. The lanterns. The flashlight. The chargers. Other than a generator, you’re ready for anything.” He headed out of the kitchen. “I’ll make my calls in the living room so we’re not talking over each other. Got any whiskey in the house?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course. Ready for anything, remember?”

He laughed as he headed down the hallway.

The only thing she wasn’t ready for was Mike McKinnon spending the night in her house.

MIKE PINCHED THE bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He should have just texted his twin sister instead of calling. She was having entirely too much fun on his behalf.

“So you’re saying you’re stuck at Zoey’s all night? How...convenient.”

“Mary, I doubt Zoey finds anything convenient about a giant tree across her driveway. She can’t get out, either, remember?”

“You said Hazel’s okay, right?”