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I shook my head. “It’s you and me for the next two weeks.” She didn’t say anything, and I did my best to lighten the mood. “You know we can pass the time by playing charades and poker,” I joked.
Somehow, I managed to keep a straight face.
“Poker?” she asked.
“You know, strip poker.”
I gave her the biggest smile until she finally gave in and laughed.
“Never going to happen,” she tried and failed to say without a huge grin.
“Never say never, Highness.”
Things changed when she got a call. Her muted conversation had put the frown back on her face.
When it ended, I asked, “Is everything okay?”
Her shrug wasn’t reassuring. “Gran is out of the hospital. They don’t know if she had the virus or not. Pneumonia did a number on her lungs and she’s developed a complication that requires her on oxygen. That means she can’t talk much without losing her breath. Then, because her immune system is compromised, she can’t have visitors. Not even my dad. I just feel helpless.”
“Text her and send her a picture of your smiling face. Offer to video chat but not speak, just so you can see each other.”
Her smile almost reached her eyes. “That’s a really good idea. Thanks.”
When we arrived at dusk, she was fast asleep. I rounded the car and opened her door.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”
Her lashes swept up and her brown eyes focused on me. “We’re here?” she said, still sounding drowsy.
“We are and I want to show you around before dark.”
I bypassed the front door, and with her hand in mine took her around back.
“This is the generator,” I said. “It runs on gasoline and here is the fuel gauge.” I tapped it. “Looks like Dad filled it up.”
“I thought you ran on solar?”
“Solar is the main power source. The generator is backup.” I walked her behind a timber screen. “This is my stacked barrel rainwater collection system. I know it’s a mouthful. Basically, it’s a backup to the well water pump system when power is out like when you were here the first time.”
Without going into too many details, I told her how the water was collected, went through a filter system, and was stored until needed. When it was, it would be filtered again through the well water filter before entering the house.
“You’ve thought of everything.”
“Not really. The toilet is compostable, and I’ll show you how that works tomorrow.” Her brow rose and I laughed. “It’s just in case something happens, I want you to know how things work at least on a basic level.”
Her face soured and I wrapped my arms around her. “We’ll be fine.”
I didn’t let go of her shoulder as we went back to the front. Inside, Dad had replenished firewood. A quick inspection of the refrigerator and he had come through with food as well.
“I bet you didn’t think you’d see this place again,” I joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
When I turned, she stood in place, taking it all in like it was the first time.
“I didn’t pack for two weeks.”
I managed to hold back a chuckle. “I can’t say it will be a hardship to see you in my clothes.”
“This isn’t funny, Grant. How is this happening?”
