After next to no sleep, I found myself on the driveway shoveling long before anyone else had tumbled out of bed. Renee seemed to be one of those people blessed with an internal alarm clock. No matter what situation we were in, come seven o’clock there would be a smell of cooking and the clinking of plates. I finished up my morning’s work and spread some salt over the top to make doubly sure no tiny paws skidded. I felt Renee’s presence behind me. “Morning,” I said, enjoying the sounds of a mountain forest in full song. Renee chuckled and I turned to find her leaning against the doorjamb, two steaming cups in hand. “It’s funny. I got so used to you knowing I was around that going back to reality . . .” She chuckled again. “People must have thought I was odd.” “You expecting them to sense you?” I asked. “Yes and no.” She stepped forward and handed me a cup. “I found it hard readjusting to people not seeing inside me.” I took the steaming offering and drained it in one gulp.
