Emilia was glad that Winnie would not go back home to a frozen roommate, but the answer didn't appease her desire for gossip. She was going to have to find another way to ask — maybe a way to be more direct. If this snow kept up, then she would have plenty of time to do so.

"By my math, you're winning," Emilia said, smiling as she poked fun at her sister-in-law, "But I'm sure if he's trapped in here tomorrow he'll catch up to you." Emilia loved her son, and thought that he was much more mature than other people his age. However, he was still a teenage boy — and she was sure he had things he would rather do than spend time with his mother and aunt.

"I don't think it's natural," she said, tilting her head back towards the snowstorm.