I lay back on the pillows and pulled the heavy blanket up to my chin.

I closed my eyes and let a deep relief settle into my bones.

The other house was just an investment property.

The alarm clock glowed red in the dark, counting down the hours until morning.

The next morning, bright sunlight poured over the driveway.

Gasoline was up to three dollars a gallon, so Richard wanted us to ride together to the hardware store for bags of mulch and garden supplies.

He was still inside the house, finishing his morning shower.