Page 21 of Sustain

Her braids are undone, and her hair spills over the pillow in a riot of purple jewel tones. I trail a tentative hand down the strands, suddenly appreciating the vulnerability of her like this. Her usual kinetic energy is muted. Her features are smooth and untroubled for a change.

I let myself imagine, just for a moment, waking up beside her becoming routine, comforted by each other’s presence. My fingers trail feather-light patterns on her shoulder. What would it be like to wake up with her every day? To have someone steadily in my life again?

The thought brings up equal parts longing and doubt within me. My divorce was three years ago, and I’ve had fleetingrelationships since, but none of them even ignited a flicker of this kind of thinking.

What makes Mackenzie so different? Her intellect, for one thing. If she doesn’t know something, she makes it her business to find it out. And her intuition is unmatched. She can read a person or situation like a book. These qualities lend themselves nicely to her work ethic. Which is beyond principled. It’s personal to her, and I love that. All of that put together is enough to get me on board.

With a silent sigh, I carefully extricate myself from Mackenzie’s side, tucking the blankets around her. I stand still for a moment, taking in this vision to carry with me before turning to face reality again and whatever Mother Nature has in store for us today. From the chill I’m already feeling, it’s not good.

As I gaze out the large front window of the cabin to gauge the storm, I can barely see twenty feet from where I stand, the falling snow is so thick. It’s then that I notice how quiet it is in the cabin.

Eerily quiet.

I know that snow dampens sound, but that’s outside. Inside, there’s usually at least some sort of white noise, but there’s just nothing. My stomach clenches as possibilities dawn on me. The most likely culprit -

No power.

I hurry to the kitchen area and flip the wall switch.

Nothing.

Fuck.

Frowning, I confirm none of the light switches work in the silent cabin. Of course, the bloody blizzard knocked out the power. I debate rousing Mackenzie to tell her, but she looked so peaceful. I’ll let her rest while I handle this.

I need to take action now.

First, I quietly pile logs in the stone fireplace, getting a healthy blaze going to combat the chill in the air. At least we won’t freeze. Surveying the wall of frosted glass, I see the snow still whipping past relentlessly. We could be stuck here awhile.

Rustling through the pantry, I take inventory - bottled water, flashlights, and ample nonperishables. Between the fire and bounty of blankets I brought to Mackenzie’s room, we have the essentials covered. While taking out items for breakfast, I make a mental note not to open the refrigerator or freezer anymore unless absolutely necessary. I suppose some food items could be stored outside if it comes to it.

I scrub a hand down my face, calculating. There’s not much left now, but to make her comfortable and find ways to pass the time until help...or at least electricity returns. I stare into the whiteout, schemes turning despite a tickle of anticipation at the extra privacy. This situation is unexpected, but in all honesty, not entirely unwelcome since I get to spend it with Mackenzie.

Luckily, the stove is gas, and I’m able to use it to cook and boil water for coffee. I find a French press in one of the cabinets, and after some trial and error, manage to get some decent coffee out of it.

With basic necessities stable for us for now and breakfast on tap, my thoughts turn to wider unknowns. I dig my phone from where my ski pants were abandoned on the bedroom floor. No signal bars show on the phone screen, unsurprisingly, but I open recent contacts to message status updates while I can. Maybe they can go through if the reception is intermittent. My phone battery is only at a miserable fifteen percent. I should have charged it overnight, but I had no clue the power would go out.

Fingers hovering over the band chat, I debate worrying anyone when we’re helpless to do anything until conditions improve. I guess it’s better to quell any assumptions that we’re somehow ignoring problems, though.

ME: Power out @ cabin. Snowed in but safe Any issues there?

Knowing everyone is probably still sleeping, I press enter, imagining the chaotic possibilities of so many bands unsupervised during a storm and a blackout, and wince. But any mess can wait. Keeping the musicians calm overrides anything else for now.

The message appears to go through when there’s a blip of reception, so I tap another number and press my ear to the phone as it struggles to connect the call. “Hey Tony,” I rush in my old executive tone when the hotel manager picks up. All business. “This is Ian Summer with Blackmore Records. I’m snowed in with no power at the moment. How’s it looking there?” I brace myself, only relaxing when reassurances come that, despite the current situation, and outside of some expected rowdiness in the hotel bar, things are reasonably under control, and by all reports from the production crew, the festival is still on.

The call isn’t long, as it drops almost as soon as it starts. My mind is at ease, though. Mackenzie’s will be too.

Bacon pops and sizzles in the pan when shuffling behind me alerts me that Mackenzie’s awake. I glance over as she emerges wrapped in a blanket, expertly maneuvering herself around furniture on crutches. My shirt and sweats from yesterday dwarf her frame.

“Power’s out from the storm,” I say, shutting the stove burners off to give her my full attention. “But I stoked up the fireplace and took stock of supplies, so we’re all set for?—”

“My hero,” she interrupts, playfully batting her eyes as she makes a beeline for the fancy coffee machine, nonplussed tofind it inactive. Amused, I watch her rummage through cabinets undeterred. “Should I propose again?”

“If the whim takes you,”

“Impressive work, though, in crisis management,” she tosses over her shoulder. “Making fire, preparing sustenance. Very ‘rugged mountain man’ of you. Do you chop wood too? Women on TikTok go crazy for that sort of thing.”

I snort. “Just basic Boy Scout stuff. Though if you keep up that flattery, I may have to demonstrate my Wolf Cub survival skills further.”

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