Maggie watched the lights flicker and go out. She was grateful the candle gave the room some light. She dug through her purse and pulled out her penlight, but before she could turn it on, she heard a heavy tread dashing down the hall and knew it was Jack.

He was gorgeous in all categories, including his awkward behavior around her. The thought of how he'd announced he'd closed the shutters had her giggling. His eyes had rolled directly after saying it. The man absolutely oozed charm. His loss of finesse was proof he found her attractive. Once he'd regained his confidence, his assertiveness followed. For a moment, she was unsure he'd release his hold on her hand.

The lights flickered back on. He was obviously handy to have around in emergencies. She stood and changed into her PJ's. A moment later she heard Jack's voice as he walked by her door talking to someone. It sounded like he was giving instructions again.

Janet's voice came over the ceiling's speaker system. "Are you ready for me, Maggie?"

"Yes, I'm ready."

There was a rap on the door, and Janet came in carrying a tray. "I'm sure glad Jack was here. There's no way I could have started that generator." She set the tray down on the bed and began to peel the plastic film off the sticky side of a biosensor pad. "These sensors are necessary for Doc's readings on you."

Maggie nodded, sitting down in the edge of the bed. "Doc explained those when he showed me his equipment." Janet moved her hair to place a pad on her temple. "I heard Jack running down the hall."

"I imagine you did. He was in a hurry." Janet placed a pad on her other temple. "The thing is tricky to start, but clicks off when the power comes back on. Each time we lose the city power, the generator will have to be manually restarted with a pulley, similar to a lawnmower. You can understand why Jack is determined to fix that starter. If this yoyo's, he'll be racing back and forth until the storm passes and the power stays on."

"I can see why he's here. He's protective of the doctor, isn't he?" At Janet's grin, she asked, "How does that effect the equipment Doc has?"

"Jack put it on battery backup. If there's a surge or a brownout, or if power flickers, the batteries keep the current steady. He designed it a few years ago, but they aren't meant to run everything for hours. The generator is. Now he wants a larger battery bank." She moved Maggie's curls over to the side and began placing pads on her neck and shoulders. "As you can tell, he likes to tinker with things. The man is never idle." She had Maggie hold her shirt down in front to add the pads to her chest.

"He has quite a physique on him. He looks like he lives in a gym."

"He's spent years training." She picked up another pad. "Not to mention his attention to a regimented diet."

Maggie straightened her shirt as Janet finished. "What kind of training?"

"He lifts weights, runs every morning, and a dozen other things to keep him in top form. It's a daily practice with him." She picked up the tray. "These won't bother you for long. Once they heat up from your skin you won't even notice them. It's like wearing a plastic bandage."

"Doctor Malone seems to have the best equipment available. Hospitals don't have wireless biosensors."

"Oh, we're space age around here. His research received a lot of backing from some very interested people. The closer he came to memory control the more contributions he received." As she moved to the door, she asked, "Is there anything I can bring you? We have herbal tea, organic sleeping aids, or magazines if you'd like to read."

"No, I'm fine thanks."

Janet snuffed the candle out. "Okay. If you do need anything, press the button on the table to buzz me." She pointed to her headset. "I'll be coming in to wake you after each REM cycle. Sleep well." Janet closed the door after turning off the overhead light.

Yawning, Maggie pulled the covers back on the bed and crawled in. She thought of trying to read, but storms worked as a sleeping aid for her. She turned out the bedside lamp and cuddled into the mattress. In minutes she was dozing off.

Her body slipped deeper and deeper into sleep until the memory came alive in her mind, and materialized, along with the person in it, as she dreamed...

Maggie was only five years old at the time. She sat outside in the sunlight on a wooden bench swinging her legs back and forth as she waited for Papa J to begin telling his story. She gave his leg a poke. "Can't you remember?" she asked with a suspicious gleam in her eyes.

He gave her a big grin that wrinkled his face up. "I won't forget my Mary, sweetheart. I'll tell you about the time I first saw her, how's that?" Maggie gave him a big smile. "She sat sketching something she was watching in the flower garden."

"I remember." In her excitement, Maggie wiggled around to her knees to see him better. This story always made Papa J happy. "Grandmamma hadn't seen you yet, right Papa J?"

"No sweetie, she hadn't. I was coming up the sidewalk to the house when I spotted her sitting there."

"She wore a dress that matched those." Maggie pointed to the garden filled with yellow daffodils. He'd told her he'd planted them for Grandmamma before she had gone to heaven. "The dress had a pretty lace collar and big pockets on the skirt. If she twirled around the skirt looked like a balloon," she giggled.

He laughed with her. "I had forgotten about the pockets. She kept a hanky in one to wipe the charcoal off her fingers." He patted her arm with affectionate approval.

"It wasn't a hanky, Papa J, it was a rag." She wiggled around again to take his hand with both of hers. "Tell me what you thought when you saw her face."

He gave her hand a little pat. "I expected her expression to be serious because of how fast her hand was moving across the paper, but instead I found her delightfully entertained. Her eyes twinkled with laughter, making me wonder what she was drawing. When I turned my head to see, I found a yellow kitten standing on her back paws batting at colorful golden butterflies buzzing her."

Maggie squeezed his hand. "Papa J, don't forget to tell the kitty's name."

He tapped his chin as if trying to remember, but then winked. "She was called Butter."

"I know, 'cause that was her color. You forgot to tell the part of how Grandmamma just got Butter."

He lovingly caressed her soft, fire-colored locks flying in the breeze. "You remembered, though, didn't you?"

So intent on the story, she asked, "Did the kitty catch a butterfly?"

"I am not quite sure, the moment Mary's eyes met mine and she said hello, I forgot about everything but her."

Maggie crawled upon his lap and kissed his cheek. "Did you love her right then?" She felt his arm glide around her back to keep her from slipping off to the ground.

"I'm sure I did. You see, she robbed me of my voice, and I couldn't say a word until she gave it back to me. She asked me who I was and of course, I needed it to answer."

This was one of his little surprises. Something he hadn't told her before. She played along with his game. "Was she a fairy or a good witch, like in the Wizard of Oz?"

He laughed and leaned over to plant a kiss on her forehead. "I think she may well have been like either one, because she did many magical things."

She giggled because he thought so. "Tell me, Papa J, what did she do? Could she fly?"

"No, she couldn't," he said with a chuckle. But she could certainly weave a spell on people. Everyone loved her, especially me."

She hugged him but sat back shaking her head. "That's not a real spell, Papa J. A real spell makes wishes come true and turns bad things into something good."

"People can do that too, little one. Not simply fairies or good witches. And that's what happened to us. It all began when she fell off a horse and hit her head..."

MAGGIE FELT JANET shake her shoulder to wake her. After she repeated the dream in exact detail to Janet, Maggie settled down. Then as simple as choosing a DVD to watch, Maggie pulled up the memory of the day Jonathan had come to ask Mary out on a date and dozed off.

The light was perfect as Mary added a deeper golden tone to the existing paint on the canvas. Centered in a field of yellow daffodils, stood a golden kitten stretched up on hind legs with paws extended up, playfully batting at a golden butterfly just out of reach.

Her work was going well when a pair of large shoulders shadowed her canvas disrupting her concentration. She turned her head to see who they belonged to. "You're in my light."

He nodded but didn't move. "Yes, I am. I take it this is what you sketched a few days ago?"

"Yes, it is. Would you mind moving?" He took a step over and watched her finish what she was doing. When she was satisfied, she set her paints down and began cleaning her brush. "Hello, Mr. Brigham. That's correct, isn't it?"

He regally bowed his head. "I'm pleased you remember."

"Have you come to see my father?" She began walking him towards the house so she could return to her painting before the light changed.

"Actually, I came to see you."

Her brows rose in surprise. "Oh?"

"Yes. I was wondering if you would consider having dinner with me tomorrow night. Are you free?"

Two days ago, she had drilled her father for information on this debonair man. The information she'd gained was slim. His real estate business had made him a multi-millionaire. Her father had christened him a good catch while laughing at her. Being raised to appreciate more than a person's bank account, she wished to know about his family, his likes and dislikes, and most of all, about his temperament. She had been sternly told to find out for herself. The encouragement was her father's blessing. With his invitation for dinner, the opportunity had arrived.

"Dinner would be lovely, Mr. Brigham."

"Please, call me Jonathan. May I call you Mary?"

"Of course. May I call you Jon?"

He smiled with pleasure. "I prefer Jonathan."

A stubborn twinkle came into her eyes. "Well, Jonathan, what will happen if I call you Jonnie?"

He laughed. "Keep reminding you of my name. After all, you should learn it. I plan to spend some time with you."

He had managed to surprise her. "Do you indeed? And how could you possibly know if you want that? We've only just met."

His stare was intense. "I'm noted for having a good eye, and it's obvious to me, you are too exquisite to be only an acquaintance."

"My, you are turning my head with your flattery. Shall we have a seat on the porch where you can tell me more?"

He laughed at her sense of humor. "I'd be delighted..."

"Maggie, wake up." Janet shook her shoulder and she slowly opened her eyes. "What were you dreaming?"

She moved to sit up and drank some water. "It's one of my favorite memories. Mary was painting outside..."