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Sure enough, the weather folks were predicting another storh it was expected to be less intense, albeit lasting longer Finishing up in the shower, I hopped out, flipped the phone over to some music, and dried off With another storo ahead and shore up so down there before the rush hit this time I dressed, put on a heavy coat, and checked the cooler for what I needed

Every s with snow and pack theone liquid and refilling the I had gone a little crazyheavy meals when Desiree had been here, and while I had plenty to survive on in the cellar, I’d rather have the things I liked in abundance so I could enjoy the h them

Putting on my hat and boots, I went out to the truck and started it up, doing one last look around the cabin before hopping in and heading into town As soon as I got close to the grocery store,up andme clenchlot, and as I pulled in, I could see a line of carts available That was good Fewer people meant less claustrophobia, less hurry, and fewer chances I would forget so important

I went in, grabbing a cart and heading to the bathroom supplies first Desiree had turned ould normally be a couple of weeks of shampoo into a couple of days left in short order On top of that, I wanted to make sure I stocked up on the other toiletries just to have thehanistan with one roll of cheap, rade toilet paper with you toout of it

As I entered the aisle,the other way, and I backed up iized at the same time, and the voicethere, as dumbfounded and embarrassed as I was

“Desiree, hey”

“Fancy running into you here,” she said “Stocking up for the next storm?”

“Yes, actually,” I said

“Oh, I was just kidding Is there another stor soon?”

“Next week,” I said “What are you up to?”

“Oh, just kind of filling out the house with stuff I need,” she said I glanced in the cart to see a cadre of household items one wouldn’t necessarily think of as essentials until they didn’t have theernail clippers, and emery boards, a couple of bottles of various pain relievers