Page 86 of A Moment In Time

She turned toward him. “On Wednesday, you were in a panic over Thursday’s edition. And here it is Saturday and we’re ahead for Tuesday.”

“That’s because I have my Lois Lane back.” He took a drink of beer. “And I wasn’t in a panic. I just needed some help.”

“I will rephrase. You were feeling overwhelmed?”

“Slightly overwhelmed.”

“Okay.” She closed the laptop and set it on the pine table. “How was that pie?”

“Great. But I’m still hungry.”

“Ready for lunch?”

He thought about it. “I think so.”

She took his empty pie plate, thought about kissing him and decided against it, then got to her feet. He took her hand.

“Why did you just stop yourself?”

“From what?”

“Kissing me.”

She smiled. “I don’t want to rush you.”

He pulled on her hand, and she bent down and kissed him. “I want you to do what you feel like doing. If I feel rushed, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.”

While she was in the kitchen making lunch, Cooper knocked on the door, then opened it. “Can we come in?”

“Yes. Get in here.”

He and Cabe came through the door in just their socks. Cabe wiggled his toes. “We got a bit muddy.”

“Thanks for taking off your boots.”

He took Gage’s phone from his pants pocket. “Found this buried in a few inches of snow.”

“Thanks. I suppose the rice trick won’t work after three days.”

“Probably not.” Cabe set it on a table by the door.

Cooper went to the chair and sat down. “The tree is gone. We stacked the rounds in your woodshed. Come fall, we’ll come help you split it, and you’ll have wood all winter.”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah. Probably good we got it done before the storm hits.”

“Storm? Not more snow?”

“Rain, actually. Wind, lightning, thunder, and a lot of rain.”

“So, a spring storm. It’s about damn time. When’s it coming?”

Cooper shook his head. “How do you not know about the storm? Most people depend on you for the news around here.”

Gage scowled. “I’ve been a bit out of touch since Thursday morning. No phone. No internet.”

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