A face peered through one of the ground floor windows. The child was seven years old, with golden locks that were uncommon in this area, though not completely unheard of. Her breath condensed on the cold of the glass window and she would be forced to wipe it clear from time to time as she looked out. When she saw the man coming down the street she quickly left the window only to return a moment later with an auburn haired girl who had to be her sister. The sister saw the man coming and grew excited.

He saw her wave to him. A smile appeared on his face as he waved back. Maybe this was worth it, he said to himself. Trudging onward, he reached the bottom of the steps to the townhouse just as the front door opened.

“You made it!” the older sister exclaimed excitedly.

“I said I would come,” Chad replied as he ascended the steps. The warmth from within came through the door and enveloped him as he neared the top. Alicia, the older of the two sisters, and the one for whom he had braved the fury of the storm, stepped aside as he entered.

“Is this him?” the younger sister asked.

“Yes,” Alicia replied as she helped Chad off with his outer garments.

“How can you tell under all that?” she asked.

Alicia gave her sister a look that said go away but the little girl remained with them in the foyer.

“Go tell father that Chad’s here please,” Alicia finally said. When her sister looked like she was about ready to balk at Alicia’s request, she said, “Go!”

“Alright,” her sister said. “But you know you’re not supposed to kiss him.”

Turning red, Alicia made to move toward her sister, but her sister scampered away. “Sorry about Erin,” Alicia said. “You know how little sisters are.”

Chad nodded. His own younger brother Eryl could be the same way at times. “Oh yes,” he replied with a grin.