Lucy and Etta were staying in the kitchen. It wasn't fully completed, but it had the basics which allowed them to cook up all the food they had brought with them. They had beat the curfew by an hour, and not long after they had arrived Zeb's sister, Zelda, had arrived with her daughter Eden and Gianna, whom had claimed to need a safe place to stay during the storm.

Gianna must have imagined a romantic scene between her and Zeb as they survived the storm together because she was shocked when she walked into the full house. Zeb had given her a friendly enough greeting, although there was no smile, and informed her she would have to share a room with Zelda and Eden. Neither Eden or Gianna looked pleased at the idea.

Hope had been civil so far, they had shared a friendly greeting between them, but Lucy hadn't felt brave enough to ask her if she could hold the baby, and Thomas had been too busy with last minute preparations to insist that she should.

Thomas was in the same situation that Lucy was with her grandmother. His father refused to leave, insisting that the church would need to open immediately after the storm to provide a safe place for those who would need one. Thomas had begged Hope to take the baby and leave, but she had no interest in leaving him or traveling alone with a new born.

The storm was still about six hours out, but the wind had picked up and the rain had started as the outer edges of the storm bands had started to reach them. Eden thought the entire thing was an adventure and had settled into the kitchen to help Lucy and Etta. Etta was cooking a gumbo to use up the seafood and sausage she had frozen. It would provide a hot meal, maybe the last for a few days once the power failed.

Lucy was making biscuits and scones for breakfast the following day, using up the rest of her butter and milk in the process, and Eden was enjoying cutting out the shapes for the pastries.

"There you are," Zelda said as she joined them along with Gianna. She walked over to her daughter and placed a kiss on the top of her head while she watched her work.

Lucy wondered what had happened to Eden's father, but she couldn't figure out a polite way to ask the question

"Where is the child's father?" Etta asked, not worried about being polite.

"Etta!" Lucy hissed in warning.

"It's fine Lucy. He died shortly after Eden was born, Ms. Etta." The oven beeped, and Zelda walked over to remove the biscuits that were done, picking up another tray and sliding them in to bake.

"Eden, I think those biscuits need a taste test." Lucy suggested as she reached into the refrigerator and pulled out some of Etta's homemade apple butter.

Eden grinned as she waited while her mother helped her prepare the biscuit.

There was a sudden gust of wind and the lights flickered causing the atmosphere in the room to change as everyone suddenly remembered the storm that was bearing down on them.

"Gianna, would you like a biscuit?" Zelda asked, taking a bite of Eden's.

"No, thank you," she pursed her lips. "I think I'll just go make sure Zebadiah doesn't need any help."

"Who peed in that girl's cheerios?" Etta asked as she added some extra spice to her gumbo.

Zelda coughed on her bite of biscuit, her eyes meeting Lucy's with amusement.

"I think she's upset that there are so many people here," Zelda said in order to play peacemaker.

"She fancies your brother?" Etta asked.

"Probably, most women do," she agreed.

The lights flickered again, and Eden grabbed her mother's hand as she realized that it might not be all fun and games.

"You know what we need?" Lucy asked, moving to her bag in the corner and pulling out her tablet. "We need some music to bake to, it will make the food taste better." She found one of her favorite play lists and started the music. It immediately lightened the mood and they continued to bake and sing along to the songs as the weather outside the house grew worse.

*******

Zeb stopped outside the kitchen, watching the women as they worked The situation outside was growing worse but they had created a little oasis in the kitchen. The music was turned up to drown out the wind and rain and the smells were delightful.

He didn't doubt that it was Lucy's doing as he watched her grab Eden's hand and twirl her around to an old seventies tune. Eden was giggling, and her face was smeared with jam.

He may not have Lucy's ability to see the future, but he did know what felt right, and it felt right to have her in his home with his family. It felt right to have her in his life.

His heart started to beat as if he had just run a marathon, he watched her throw back her head and laugh and he knew. He was in love.

His sister looked up and caught him looking at Lucy, and she moved to join him before he realized he had been spotted standing in the shadows. Lucy and Eden were so busy laughing that they didn't notice anyone else.

"There's something about her, something in her spirit, it reminds me of mom," Zelda said as she wrapped her arm around Zeb's waist.

Zeb nodded. "She's had similar hardships to Mom," he agreed.

"Ah yes," Zelda looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening, "the witch thing. Gianna filled me in on that one."

"It has made her an outcast in the community..."

"Just like Mom was in her own," Zelda finished for him.

"I noticed some tension between her, Thomas, and Hope," Zelda said, smiling as her daughter started another fit of giggles.

"Thomas and Lucy grew up together and they're still close, and it has created rumors in the town about the two of them. Hope either resents it or is jealous, but I can't tell which it is."

"Are you jealous?" Zelda nudged her brother.

"A little," he agreed.

"Well she has my and Eden's approval." Then she sighed heavily. "I'm sorry about Gianna, but what was I going to do? Leave her?"

"Don't worry Zelda, it's fine," Zeb threw his arm around her shoulders which caught Lucy's attention.

Their eyes met and held for a few seconds before she smiled at him.

"Zeb," Lucy called, "come and try one of Eden's biscuits, they're delicious."

"She calls you Zeb," Zelda said, shocked. Their mother was the only one who had ever called him Zeb, the only one he would allow to call him Zeb

"Maybe there is a little witch in her," he whispered as he grinned down at his sister before he moved into the kitchen. "They smell delicious, as does the gumbo Etta." He included her in the compliments.

"Lucy said you wanted a kiss as payment for us staying here," the older woman said, eyeing him as he sniffed over her shoulder.

"I might have mentioned it." He smiled at the woman, feeling relaxed and happy despite the storm raging outside the window.

Etta lifted her cheek, and Zeb picked up the cue and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "But I think that's me kissing you?" Zeb corrected her.

"Yes, and that's me allowing it." Etta said with all seriousness.

"Now me!" Eden said running over to her uncle and lifting her arms. Zeb lifted her gave her a big loud smack as well. "Now Mommy!" Eden cried, tugging her mother into the circle and Zeb dropped a kiss on his sister's head as he hugged her.

Bless the little girl she was playing it so well.

"Now Lucy!" Eden said. They all knew it was coming and Zeb heard Etta chuckle, pleased that her plan had worked. "You can't leave her out!" the little girl insisted.

"No, I can't, can I?" he said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her close.

'It's fine Zeb, I don't need a kiss," she insisted, blushing as his arms wrapped around her.

She felt wonderful. He looked down at her. "Nope, you owe me payment just like everyone else." He said as he quickly captured her lips before she could think of something smart to say.

And he was lost in her taste.

A few moments later when Eden giggled it broke the spell, and as he pulled away he noticed that she looked as shell shocked as he felt.

"Dinner is ready," Etta said, turning away from the stove. "Eden, go round up everyone and tell them dinner is ready."

The little girl was eager to help and left the kitchen in a hurry.

Zeb stepped away from Lucy as Etta handed him a bowl of food, but his eyes never left Lucy.