Page 28 of Yankee in the Wind

“Come with me,” Phoebe said.

Lilly hesitated.

“It’s alright,” Jack said. “You’re safe here.” He glanced at Ace. “Does your offer to crash here still stand?”

“Absolutely.” Ace looked at his fiancée. “Can you please get them settled in the front guest room?”

“Sure. Come,” Phoebe said.

This time, Lilly followed her invitation, and side by side, they walked up the large staircase.

“This is a gorgeous house,” Lilly remarked.

“Yes, isn’t it? It belongs to Scott.”

“Is it only the two of you who live here? I mean, it’s not a rehab center, right? That’s just a front,” Lilly added.

“Yes, it’s just the two of us… and soon this little boy will join us.”

“You already know the sex of the baby? I didn’t realize they could tell this early on. You can’t be more than five months along.”

“You’ve got a good eye,” Phoebe said. “I know the sex of the baby only because Scott had a premonition. He already knows what our little boy will look like.”

As Phoebe opened the door to a large bedroom, Lilly said, “I’m still trying to get used to the fact that true psychics exist.”

“Well, they like to be called precognitives, but yes, they are psychic. Just as well, or I wouldn’t even be here.”

Lilly looked at Phoebe. “What happened?”

Phoebe walked to a large walk-in closet, and Lilly followed her.

“Some psycho locked me and two dozen kids in a school bus and stopped it on the train tracks.”

“Oh my God!”

“Scott had a premonition about it, and he saved me and every single child. I still shudder at what could have happened, if he hadn’t made it in time.”

“I can only imagine how terrified you and your students must have been. So you’re a teacher?”

She laughed and shook her head. “I wouldn’t have the patience for a class full of third graders. No, I’m a reporter. Well, I was, before I had to go into hiding with Scott.”

Lilly nodded. “Yeah, guess I’m in hiding now too.”

“Scott told me what happened yesterday after Jack called him. And then I saw the news report later. You must be shaken.”

“At first it was all adrenaline, and I didn’t really know what was happening. It all sank in later, you know?”

“It always does. But you’re here now, and we’ll keep you safe.” Then she pointed to the clothes. “Now let’s see if some of these things fit you. You’re in luck too: I just ordered new underwear and it’s still in its original packaging. You can take those. And I’m sure Michelle has a few things too that might work for you. What’s your shoe size?”

“I’m a 7 ½.”

“I’m an eight, but I think Michelle might be your size.”

“Did I hear my name?” the voice of a woman came from the bedroom.

“We’re in the walk-in closet, Michelle,” Phoebe called out.

A moment later, a thirty-something woman with dark hair popped her head in. “Hey! You must be Lilly. I’m Michelle, Nick’s girlfriend.”