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“I welcome the company. Thank you.” As they headed down the hallway, the lights flickered, then went out. She gasped and stopped walking.
“Hold on. I have my phone.” J.T. took his phone from his pocket and turned on the flashlight. He took Joey’s arm. “You’re fine. Let’s go downstairs to Finn.”
She nodded and started walking with him, but he could feel her trembling. Apparently, Joey was still afraid when the lights went out.
They went down the steps carefully then into the living room. Finn was still on the couch with the glow from the tablet screen lighting up his face. Joey went to him and sat down to hug him.
“My brave boy.”
“Oh man!”
“What sweetheart?”
“I just lost.”
Joey took the tablet from him. “Let’s put this away for now. You might want to save your battery.”
He sighed. “Okay.”
J.T. shone his flashlight around the room. “Do you have candles?”
Joey got to her feet and took Finn’s hand. “Yes. In the kitchen.”
The three of them went to the kitchen. There were six new candles sitting on the counter, along with two small flashlights and one bigger lantern-style one. J.T. handed one of the smaller ones to Finn.
“Here you go, buddy. Your own flashlight.”
“Cool!” He switched it on and climbed under the table. “Can I make a fort under here, Mom?”
“Sure, honey. I think that’s a great idea. I’ll get you some blankets from your room. Do you want Henry?”
“Yes please.”
J.T. raised an eyebrow and Joey touched his arm. “His favorite stuffed animal.”
“Ahh.” He took a lighter from his pocket and started lighting the candles, while Joey took the other small flashlight and left to get the blankets.
She came back rather quickly and J.T. looked at her. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “I’m pretending to be.”
“Did you get what you needed?”
“Yeah.” She moved the chairs from around the table, then hung the blankets over it to make Finn’s fort. “How’s that, honey?”
“Perfect.”
She smiled, then went to J.T. She watched as he lit the last candle with his lighter. “Why do you carry a lighter on you?”
“For lighting candles when the power goes out. Not for smoking, if that’s what you’re thinking. That one cigarette we shared was enough for me.”
“Oh my gosh. It was horrible.” She looked at him. “We experienced a lot of firsts together. And lasts in some cases.”
He nodded. “Cigarettes, first and last. Beer, just the beginning.” He glanced toward the table. “S E X.”
She moved in close to him and lowered her voice. “You told me you’d done it before.”
He smiled. “I didn’t want you to think I was a virgin at seventeen.”
