Chapter 4

Lisa woke up during the night to find the fire needed more wood. She climbed out of her warm cocoon of blankets to put another log on the starving fire. She listened to the howling wind as she made her way to the window, distressed by the amount of snow that continued to fall.

And still no sign of Bill.

She found the presents she had hidden for the boys and placed them lovingly under the tree, the tree they had decorated together with love, like their lives, sharing and caring for one another. She returned to the couch and gathered the two boys close to her. Enveloped in their warmth, she finally fell asleep.

She awoke a little before dawn, just as the fire began to die down. She added another log to the embers and made her way to the window overlooking the dirt road, sure she already knew what she would see. Nothing!