A Caribbean Christmas by Olivia Noble

Author:Olivia Noble [Noble, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ThunderWords Press
Published: 2018-12-20T05:00:00+00:00

Her sleep was fitful, and plagued with faceless images that frightened her to no end. It was no surprise when she shot awake, her heart beating rapidly. The bed beneath her was soaked with sweat, and she grasped the wet sheet tightly, trying to ease her pounding heart as best as she could.

Thunder. That was what woke her. Booming thunder followed by lesser counterparts that, nonetheless, still shook the house. Rain battered the windows, and there was a heavy roar as it pounded against the roof. Catherine jumped again when a flash of lightning lit the room brilliantly, and was followed by a clap of thunder that nearly made her ears ring. Her chest bloomed with another round of fear when she remembered that she was near the top of a mountain. She hoped this sudden storm wouldn’t cause any landslides.

Now, there was no hope of going back to sleep. The raging storm was much too loud to lull her into slumber, and the sheets were now cold and damp. Catherine didn’t feel like changing them at the moment.

She slid off the bed and wrapped the blanket back over her shoulder. She made her way to the door and paused.

Would Derek be asleep? She didn’t want to have to face him, not after what had happened before he left. Hopefully, the storm hadn’t affected him the same way it did her. She could peacefully admire his sleeping frame before heading to the kitchen where she would doubtlessly find items to make herself some hot chocolate.

If he was awake, well… she didn’t know.

Catherine pushed aside her nervousness and opened the door. She spotted him instantly. He was sitting in the couch, a kerosene lamp beside him casting shadows against the far wall. His back was turned to the armrest of the couch, a book—no doubt the same book he’d been reading for weeks—in his hands. He looked up at her, giving her no time to withdraw back into the room.

Before she could find her words, he pointed to the lamp and said, “The power’s out.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. He returned his attention to the book and allowed quietness to infiltrate the room, despite the noise of the storm.

Catherine expected as much, though it still surprised her. After what happened, Catherine wouldn’t have wanted to say much either.

She came closer, sliding down into the chair opposite the couch. “It’s nasty, isn’t it? The storm, I mean.”

“Snuck up on us during the night.” He still hadn’t taken his eyes off the book but he shrugged. “Looks like it might last a little while.”

“Had other plans for us?”

“A few.”

“I’m guessing those won’t happen if this doesn’t let up soon.”

“It isn’t likely.”

Catherine sighed. She was pretty sure he wasn’t reading, but his eyes remained fixated on his book. It was an odd change from when they would follow her everywhere.

“I’m sorry,” she said. She pulled the blanket a bit closer but kept her eyes on him. “About what I said. About how I treated you.

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