Chapter 8
After Nina”s bath, the storm intensified, and the house creaked and groaned under what felt like a relentless assault of wind and rain as it got battered around by the elements. As she pottered around, getting ready for bed, she listened to things banging and crashing outside with no sight of the end on the way, but as if a miracle had occurred, the lights suddenly flickered a bit, and the power came back on.
Making their way up to the third-floor attic room, Nina could hear something on the roof banging but she wasn’t sure what. Listening with squinted eyes, trying to make out what it was, she felt slightly panicked about how the night was going to turn out and wondered what they were going to wake up to. As she walked across the timber floor towards the window, looking out over the harbour, everything felt alive with the storm”s energy. Robby stood beside her, and for a minute, they both peered down at the harbour as the storm threw the boats from side to side and the chaotic churn of the water and the bluster of wind mesmerised them as lights flickered in the darkness and the boats” tethers seemed as if they were going to snap at any time. With the wind continuing to howl, flashes of lightning streaked across the dark sky, and a thunderclap shook the window panes, making Nina nearly jump out of her skin.
With the rain battering on the roof and sliding down the windows, Nina pottered around in her slippers and dressing gown. Glad that the power had come back on, she turned on the lamps on either side of the bed and pulled back the covers. She then switched on the diffuser on the dresser and watched as little plumes of mist hazed across the room, the scent of lavender and vanilla mingling with the clean smell of the sheets. As she took off her dressing gown and settled into bed with a book, Robby came up the stairs with two hot chocolates topped with cream and a little saucer with chocolate truffles from the chocolate shop.
Robby put the mug and saucer on the bedside table, and Nina smiled. ‘This is my kind of storm sustenance. I’ll put in a storm order for next week, too.’
‘Mine, too. Glad to be of assistance,’ Robby said as he went around the bed and put his mug down. He looked over towards the window. ‘It doesn’t sound as if it’s going to be stopping anytime soon. At least we’ve got power back. What an evening, eh?’
Nina popped one of the truffles into her mouth and nodded. ‘We might just have to stay up all night, eat chocolate, and listen to the storm.’
‘Works for me. It’s not bad entertainment, actually.’
‘Yes, true, it’s quite nice tucked up here, isn’t it?’ Nina noted as she took a sip of the hot chocolate. ‘Like we”re in our own little spot at the top of the world, looking down on a big storm that’s happening to everybody else.’
‘Yes, that’s it. It’s insulated up here.’
‘I remember thinking that when I first came to view it.’
‘Hmm, yes.’
Nina took another sip of her hot chocolate. ‘At least we can see what we’re doing now that the electricity is back on.’
‘Yes, at the moment. I wonder if it will go out in the night,’ Robby replied.
‘Not sure. Let’s hope not.’
‘I suppose it doesn’t make much difference if we”re asleep.’
‘Good point, but it would be good if it doesn’t go out again. I could do without that.’
As the storm continued to rage outside, they sat dipping into the chocolates and watched from the cosy attic room as the drumming rain continued to lash against the roof.
‘It’s strange, really, isn’t it? How a storm can be so wild and sort of calming at the same time, especially when you”re safe inside. It makes you appreciate the safety of home, that’s for sure. Imagine if you were trying to survive outside with this going on around you.’
‘I can’t even think about it.’ Robby put his empty mug back on the bedside table. ‘Right, well, we’d better turn in and see if we can drop off in spite of what is going on out there.’
‘Yeah, you”re right,’ Nina agreed, marking her page and closing her book.
‘Let’s hope everything is okay in the morning.’