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And I missed my parents

Despite how I’d tried to be nonchalant about it with Sa Christmas in New York

The tears ca into ht exhausted fro

3

Aiden

The storht it would What had been a forecast of a few inches of snow had turned into a full-blown blizzard warning In my short time in Ashford, everyone always seeet And they bla produced by the town itself, which ended up being outsourced to the next major city

My preparation for the cabin was only half-done, whichtape over the sills wasn’t the prettiest thing in the world, but this helped keep the s fro a draft to come in when the winds howled and bit The driveway all the way up to the truck was salted, and the gravel got a nice hit too The propane tank had been refilled just a feeeks ago, so I kneould probably be okay on power, but I had er was ready as well—in case, the truck battery froze

Inside, I pulled out all the extra blankets and sleeping bags so I could heat one room with the fireplace and conserve fuel and just sleep there Setting up cao when I needed it

There was still the issue of food supplies The horeat, but all of it wasn’t quite what I needed for a blizzard, at least not the kind that Brett talked about Getting soies that could be kept in the freezer, some meats that could also be frozen, and precut firewood just to shore up what I already had would be best Thatand noas dreading—going into town

Bundling up against the cold that had already settled in, I hopped in the truck and headed down the mountain No more than a few moments after I turned onto the one with Brett into town a few days before He knehat he was doing Clearly, I still had a lot to learn from him

The street was packed with cars fro area The entirety of Rook County seeather supplies, whichwhat I needed if I didn’t hurry The food was the most important, especially the meats, but I could probably make do hat venison I still had if they were low or out With the woodpile where it was and the gas put aside, I could probably make it a month without needed to restock But it would be a lean month

Dipping into the department store wascarts high with supplies, and the shelves were getting barren fast I had already gotten the groceries I needed and stuffed them in the cooler I kept in the truck when I went into town There was still enough in the butcher shop and the vegetable stand that I started to think of the only other person in town I knew Brett had been in town a few days before, and I knew he knehat he was doing, but I orking on creating a real friendship

After I got what I needed, I pulled upfor him

“Aiden, what’s up?” Brett said jovially

“Not a whole lot Just headed into town so I could pick up some last- if there was anything you forgot or needed while I was down here Save you a trip”

“No way,” he said “I was actually going to call you and ask the saured I’d stop at Dina’s diner to get a meal so I don’t have to cook before the storm sets in You want to join me?”

“Sure I’ to check out now Be there in a few minutes”

Dina’s was as old school a diner as I had ever seen, cozy and s the walls and small tables in the middle A bar ran across the back in front of the kitchen, and there was always a collection of locals sitting there, sipping coffee and chatting And as displayed by various newspaper clippings on the wall, the sa here now