Page 19 of Dead Calm (Cold Case Psychic #38)

Four days later…

The kitchen was lit with several battery-powered lanterns, giving it a warm glow. Ronan stood at the island making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone. He cut Everly’s diagonally and Ezra’s into four triangles, after he’d removed the crusts. “Okay, kids!”

Everly and Ezra ran into the kitchen and sat at the table. “I’m starving,” Everly said.

“Me ‘oo,” Ezra agreed.

Ronan set the plates in front of the kids before returning to the counter for his and Ten’s lunches. “Ten? You coming?” He grabbed a new bag of chips and opened them, giving a handful to each of the kids.

“Here I am. I was just listening to the weather on the radio. The storm is starting to move off the coast. The worst is over. Without the internet, I can’t tell when the electric company estimates the lights will be back on.”

“We’ve got plenty of food and drinks to get by.” Ronan sighed and bit into his sandwich. Eating PB Snickers, Twix, and his favorite, peanut butter cups.

Fitz had called Friday night to let Ronan know he’d heard from one of the officers who’d arrested Kurt that morning.

Lainie had gone to the police station after she was released from the emergency room, sporting two black eyes, and paid his bail.

She also informed the police she wasn’t pressing charges.

According to what the officer had overheard, they planned to go back to the hotel and pack their bags.

Ten and Ronan had a chance to finish reading Murder on the Orient Express on Saturday, while the kids watched movies. Jace was hosting a book club meeting next week to discuss what they’d read.

Hurricane Sophie hit Salem on Sunday morning with the power going out around noon.

They’d been in the dark for twenty-four hours.

Surprisingly, Ronan didn’t care. His family was safe, warm, and well fed.

They’d colored pictures, played games, told funny stories, and looked at photo albums from when Ten and Ronan were kids and pics on Ronan’s phone from when Everly and Ezra were first born.

In all that time, Ronan hadn’t missed the internet or cable television. He’d loved every single second of spending time with his family. With his husband and kids by his side, Ronan knew they could weather any storm.

THE END