Chapter 69: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 9

Christmas Eve

Michael strides in, muffled up in a thick roll-neck sweater and a scarf, loaded with firewood. Stacking it by the hearth, he swipes off flakes of snow, which promptly thaw and puddle onto the tiles. "I reckon that's a good two feet of snow that dropped overnight."

Beside me, Ryan inhales. "Are we snowed in?"

"Right now, probably, yes..." Michael nudges with the toe of his boot at the heap of dogs lolling in front of the flames. "Budge up you lot." Grumbling, they shift to make room for him. Scruffy yaps protest. Michael grins, bending down to rub his face then, blowing into his palms, holds them over the fire. "... But the snowplough will be along in a while. And in any case, when James stocked up the kitchen, I think he was planning for the arrival of the Mongol hordes. There's enough in the house to see us through to the New Year. No-one's going to go hungry."