The March nights in Cloudster City were still quite cold. Emily Court wrapped her arms around her daughter, Shannon Court, as they lay on the rickety bed. Although they had two hot water bottles by their feet, they still felt chilly.
Before this, they’d used an electric blanket. However, Gloria Thompson, Emily’s sister-in-law, had sealed the sockets in Emily’s room with concrete because she felt the electric blanket used too much electricity and made the bills shoot up.
Emily could hear her brother, Anthony Court, arguing with Gloria in the room next door. The sounds were muffled, but that didn’t make the words hurt any less.
“It’s ridiculous for her and her brat to stay with us when I’m pregnant! Besides, who cares what Mr. Smith is like?
