When she saw it was me, she opened the door and pointed at the staircase.“Second room on the right,” was all she said.I went up the stairs three a...t a time, found the right room and knocked lightly on the door. A muffled voice from within told me to go away. Well, that wasn’t even an option, so I twisted the knob and pushed open the door with enough velocity to almost rip it from its hinges.Feleena was lying propped up on some pillows as Rosa applied a cold rag to her bruised face. I walked over. I filled up her glass and got myself another beer, Lisa was due any minute and as always happens when you think of something it happens as Lisa came bounding in the house, Abby immediately got up and they hugged, Lisa looked at me, “Sorry daddy” she said, “I forgot to tell you Abs was staying over tonight” she continued.“So, what have you guys been up to” Lisa asked with that cheeky grin, Abby was first to respond, “We been drinking wine and reminiscing about old times” she said with a giggle. It was only the extra people here that was straining the resources of the house.Winter was definitely setting in. It was colder, and snow, natural snow, not the freak of nature snow that had fallen before, was starting to fall. Sgt. Ballerton thought back to his recon. It was just as well that he had done that. He had gone, looked the situation over, and made a decision. As far as he was concerned, it was the only decision that could be made.If this was just a few months ago, he would be in. “Then what?”She shrugged again. “Beverly cut the charm out of your leg.”“So she said,” I said. And then it hit me why Maddie was looking so beautiful and glowing. “The charm’s in you, isn’t it? What the fuck? You saw it almost kill me.” I was practically yelling at the end. Okay, it was actually an angry murmur, but I was pissed that Maddie would risk something so dangerous for no reason.Maddie raised an eyebrow. She’s beginning to be able to do it like our mom. It’s a little scary. She slid.