Winter
Prologue
Jaime stared out the window, growing grumpier by the second and wishing she could melt the frost and icicles if she simply glared hard enough at them. "I hate Winter," she sighed, leaning into her husband's arms as he stood behind her chair, watching the snow.
"We're working on a new power pack that'll hopefully radiate more heat," Michael told her, kissing her cheek. "In the meantime, we could always head out to Ojai for the Winter so you don't feel so cooped up."
Jaime shook her head. "With Jim and Helen on such a long cruise, everybody we know is in DC now. I don't wanna be isolated just because my stupid legs don't like the cold!"
"You're isolated now," Michael pointed out. He was right. When Winter was at its harshest, a simple trip to the grocery store was a huge production for Jaime. When the thermometer dropped below zero, she'd bundle up with more layers than an Eskimo to avoid possibly life-threatening complications. If her power packs froze in the extreme cold, there would be little Jaime could do to help herself – so this had to be avoided at all costs. Most of the time, she simply chose not to go out and felt like a prisoner in her own home...and in her own body.
"The radio says we could get another two feet of snow, minimum," Jaime sighed. "All of this strength you and Rudy gave me – and I can't even help shovel."
"Which reminds me," Michael said, leaning down to kiss her more fully, "I'd better get to it."
"I'll make the hot chocolate," Jaime told him sulkily. She lit a fire as Michael headed outside and nearly tripped over her own feet in a rush to answer the ringing telephone. Any diversion from her boredom was certainly welcome.
It was Steve. "So how does it feel to be a newlywed?" Jaime asked him. There was silence on the other end of the line. Jaime didn't know it, but she'd hit a raw nerve.
Finally, Steve spoke, so quietly even Jaime could barely hear him. "I think I made a terrible mistake..."
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