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bedroom.
    Holding the candles in front of her as she tiptoed over to the king-size bed, Grace leaned across the wide expanse to make sure the girls were covered. When her hands continued to feel nothing but cool, smooth sheets, she knew something had gone terribly awry.
    Because both girls were missing.

Chapter 5
    “Amanda? Ashley?” Grace called out into the darkened room. Remembering their fear of the dark, she tried another tactic, hoping to calm their fears. “The power went out. Max is fixing it now.” She hoped. He didn’t seem to know his way around his own home.
    When she received no response, she tried again. “Girls, this is one of those times that your mother would want you to show yourselves. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
    Slowly, so as not to startle the girls, Grace entered the bathroom. Just as she’d expected, both girls were huddled in the tub. She lowered the candle so they could see that it was her. The damage their father’s cruelty had inflicted upon them infuriated her.
    “We got scared when the lights went off. Then we heard pounding on the steps. Mommy always told us to hide and cover our ears when Daddy got mad,” Ashley said in her defense.
    “Oh, sweetie, your daddy isn’t here. The noise you heard was Max. He had to race upstairs for his warm clothes before he went outside to the shed. There’s nothing to be frightened of.” Grace held a hand out to assist the little girls as they climbed out of the bathtub.
    “Miss Grace, could you tell us another Christmas story?” Amanda asked.
    After leading them back to the bed and making sure both were warm and snug beneath the quilt, Grace eased in next to them. “Absolutely.”
    Ten minutes later, and a condensed version of A Christmas Carol minus the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future, both girls were sound asleep. Grace quietly slid off the bed and went downstairs. Surely Max had had enough time to find the generator.
    With the flame of the candle as her guide, Grace went from room to room in search of him. “Max?” she whispered loudly, but not so loud that she would wake the kids.
    She searched downstairs and was about to give up when she felt a burst of cold air enter the room. “Max? Is that you?” she called.
    “Yeah. I couldn’t find the darned generator. I was sure Eddie put it in the shed,” Max said.
    When Grace heard him, relief flooded through her. “I have to admit I was getting a bit concerned.”
    “Why?” Max asked as he dropped a large bag on the floor.
    She could’ve kicked herself for telling him that, but it was too late now. “You were gone a long time.” Grace approached him as he entered the den.
    Max slung off his worn leather jacket, tossing it on the back of the sofa, where both dogs slept peacefully. “There’s a freezer out there. Loss of power won’t affect it since the temp’s below freezing. I figured I’d better scope out its contents since we’re going to be stuck here for a while. It’s stocked with everything we’ll need though I haven’t a clue who took the time to bother with it.” Probably Eddie. The man thought of everything. He was due for a raise this month. And a paid vacation, too.
    Grace eyed the large bag on the floor. “If you’ll bring that to the kitchen, I’ll put everything away.”
    “Sure,” said Max gruffly, hoisting the heavy bag over his shoulder.
    Grace laughed.
    “You find this amusing?”
    “No, not at all. You just reminded me of Santa Claus.”
    Max stopped in his tracks, dropped the bag and turned around to stare at her. Though the only light came from the candle, Grace saw the anger in his eyes. Cold and stark, like the harsh winter storm outside.
    Between gritted teeth, he said, “Don’t ever say that to me again!”
    Grace had had enough. She didn’t know what had happened to turn this man into such…a Scrooge, and she really didn’t care. She was simply trying to make a joke.
    “Look, Max. Whatever issues you have,