Keeping the Peace by Linda Cunningham Page B

across the chest and polar-bear printed flannel pajama bottoms. She smiled as she handed them to Strand. “Well, not high fashion, but comfortable. The bedrooms will get a little chilly tonight with no heat, but there’s a thick duvet on the bed and another quilt folded on the chair in the corner. You should be fine. Oh, and there’s a flashlight on the bedside table. Just for times like this.”
    “Thank you, really,” he said. “I always loved The Cure. You make me feel like one of the family.”
    “We like company here in Vermont. Sometimes the cabin fever gets maddening. Having you stay is like having my kids’ friends over.”
    He looked at her then. “I’m closer to your age than theirs,” he said significantly.
    The color rose in her cheeks. This is ridiculous, she thought to herself. “Good night, Gabriel,” she said. “I’m going up now to make sure the kids are all set. Mia doesn’t know how sore she’s going to be in the morning. John’s and my bedroom is on the other side of the house above the kitchen. If you need anything in the middle of the night, don’t hesitate to yell up the stairs.”
    “Thanks,” he said. “I’m going to give my mom a call. It’s not so late yet in California. I want to tell her about the baked penne and the apple pie. It’s the best meal I’ve ever had on the road. Good night.” He smiled at her and retreated into the room, closing the door.
    Melanie climbed the stairs with a flashlight to check on her children.
    She went into Peter’s room first. He was already in bed, bundled under his flannel-covered duvet.
    “Seems like a regular person, doesn’t he, Mom?” he said.
    “Well, sort of, I guess. I feel kind of sorry for him, away from his family like that.”
    “Yeah, he said he missed his sister. I can’t picture it myself. I guess his sister isn’t like my sister.”
    “Peter! What a thing to say!” But she smiled as she kissed him good night. “You love your sister; you know you do.”
    Peter pulled the covers over his head and curled up into a ball underneath. His mother patted the lump that was him and went down the hall to Mia’s bedroom. The door was closed, so she knocked lightly.
    “Mom?”
    “Yes, may I come in?”
    “Of course.”
    Melanie went into the room and shut the door behind her. The girls were in their pajamas, sitting up together in Mia’s double bed.
    Emmie said, “I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep just knowing who’s sleeping downstairs.”
    “Well, it appears he’s just a man, like every other man,” said Melanie. “He has a job, and he does it. He does seem lonely, though. I feel bad about that. Poor guy.”
    “He’s cuter, though, than any other man,” Mia whispered.
    “And he doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Emmie replied just as quietly.
    “He’s pretty cute,” acknowledged Melanie.
    Mia looked uncomfortable. “Mom, I don’t feel very well. My neck hurts.”
    “Mia, you ditched your collar and sling,” Melanie admonished. “You’re going to feel the effects. Grammie was right, too. No school for you tomorrow morning, no matter what the weather. Here, take this Tylenol. Emmie, you come and get me in the night if Mia’s having a lot of pain, okay?”
    Emmie nodded vigorously. “Yes, I will.”
    “The electricity will probably come back on before too long,” said Melanie. “Snuggle down together, and you’ll be warm enough.”
    The girls scrunched down into the bed, and Melanie fluffed the big duvet over them. She kissed them both. “Try to forget who’s sleeping downstairs. Remember, he’s just another person, and it’s to our credit we were able to make him feel less lonely for at least a night.”
    “This was better than going to the concert, Mom,” said Mia. “Think of it. We had him right here in our house, and he played our piano and sang just for us.”
    “I’ll never, ever forget this,” said Emmie dreamily.
    “Nighty-night,” said Melanie, and she closed the door