Page 60 of The Wayward Son

They had a thermos of coffee and they took a few moments to drink a cup before continuing on. It took them two more hours to get to the road, which had been plowed earlier in the day, but already had a few inches of new snow on it.

Jake was behind the wheel and he turned the truck around, then headed down the newly plowed driveway, this time removing another three feet from the area they’d just cleared. The driveway was wide enough for two vehicles to pass, but the cleared space would be a wide single lane. It would have to do and it’d get them to the main road in an emergency.

When they were almost back to the house, Jake’s phone went off. He handed the phone to Sawyer. “It’s J.T.”

“Hey, it’s Sawyer. How are you guys doing over there?”

“Snowed in. How about you?”

“Dad and I just finished plowing the drive.” He looked at the falling snow. “Not sure how long it’ll last, though.”

“How’s the road look?”

“It’s been plowed, but they’ll need to do it again soon. It’s almost not drivable already.”

“Shit. Damn snow. I don’t suppose you’d like to bring the plow over here?”

“That’s the plan. But I need to eat something. We’ve been at it for three hours.”

“No rush. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Okay. Give me an hour or so.”

“See you then.”

Going back was much easier, and they got to the house a few minutes later. Sawyer went to the loft to change his wet clothes and put some more wood in the woodstove. He needed to keep it going until the power came back on, even though he wouldn’t be staying there. He changed his clothes, then walked along the newly cleared drive to the house.

When he went into the kitchen, Sage and Jade were making lunch of hot vegetable soup and roast beef sandwiches. He sat at the table and Jade brought him a cup of coffee.

He looked at her. “How about a beer instead?”

“Beer it is. You look exhausted.”

“I am. Where’s Dad?”

“He went up to see Ember. She’s not feeling too well.”

“Is she having the baby?”

Sage brought him a bowl of soup. “No. She’s not in labor. But this could be the beginning of something. Of course, I don’t know how all that works.” Her phone went off, and she looked at the number. “Aww. It’s Xander.”

“He has your number?”

“It’s my contact information.”

Sawyer cocked his head. “For a baking emergency?”

“Shush. I need to answer it.” She headed out of the kitchen while she answered the call.

Sawyer looked at Jade. “He has her number?”

“They’re friends.”

“Whatever.”

Jade sat next to him with her own bowl of soup. “You need to let her be about Xander. She really likes him. But she knows it can never go anywhere. Just let her enjoy her friendship with him.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it and took a bite of his sandwich.

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