Page 17 of Sinful Santa
Somehow, during the fall, he managed to twist them so that Tahlia landed on top of him instead of her skis. Tahlia bolted up, hands planted on his chest. His arms were loosely wrapped around her, fingers splayed over her back.
“Are you alright?” she exclaimed, searching his face for any sign of pain. “Did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” he rasped. “Got the wind knocked out of me, but I’m…” he lifted his head out of the snow and his speech slowed, his breath stuttering, “…fine.”
A quiet fell that should have been impossible considering all the activity on the mountain, a hundred people swooping this way and that on skis and snowboards, but Tahlia didn’t notice or hear any of it. She lowered herself just a little, her body relaxing at the same time his arms tightened around her haltingly, as if he wanted to do more but wasn’t allowing himself the opportunity. There was a quiet part of her that wanted him to and it was growing louder with each second she rested against his chest.
“Are you two alright?”
The pair of them shot up, Tahlia twisting around, to face one of the lodge’s ski instructors, apparent from the green coat he wore with the lodge’s insignia on the right shoulder. He was staring at them from behind snow goggles but Tahlia could tell he was concerned.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Nelson said gruffly, pushing himself to his feet. “We were, uh…just leaving.” He looked down at Tahlia, his expression gentle, and once again offered her his hand. This time, when she took it, she rose up without issue and stood at his side. Embarrassed for a multitude of reasons and in need of something - anything - to do, she leaned over to pick up her skis.
When she straightened, the lodge instructor was still standing there, his mouth twisted in confusion.
“We’re good,” Nelson repeated and the instructor jumped a little.
“Right, uh, have a good day, folks.” The instructor gave a nod and shuffled off until he was gliding smoothly along the hill toward another struggling skier.
For a moment there was heavy silence; Tahlia looked up at Nelson and he met her gaze. She wasn’t quite sure what she saw in his eyes but she didn’t dwell on it, a more pressing matter coming to mind.
“Does this mean we have to walk back?” she asked bluntly. Nelson blinked before he shook his head quickly.
“Uh, no, no. We can use the lift. Are you able to walk?”
“Of course, it’s just a bruise,” she assured him. “Come on. I’m sure the kids are starving and from what I know of your dad, he’s going to feed them sugar.” The kids and the grandparents had already made their way down the mountain. An embarrassingly long while ago.
Nelson sighed and nodded wearily.
14
The crooning of Bing Crosby filled the cabin as Tahlia helped the Nelson family decorate their new tree. It was given a place of honor at the front window and filled the space nicely, not too big nor too tall. Of course, the crooked point left height as a non-issue, nonetheless the tree really was perfect.
Tahlia and the twins put the string lights on together, running around the tree in a race to see who got to the end first. All three were dizzy by the time Jed pointed out all the lights were stuck in the middle of the tree. They had to untangle and restring, but the kids were delighted all the same.
“Matt,” Ophelia waltzed in from the kitchen with a tray of snacks in her hands. Her son followed her out, a cup of coffee in his hands and his phone to his ear. “Will you do something for me?”
“I’m taking a call, mom,” he rumbled, glancing around guiltily. Ophelia placed her overflowing tray on the coffee table before nimbly reaching up and plucking the cellphone from her son’s hand.
“It’s not even gone through,” she said. Matt squawked out a protest when she ended the call. “Why don’t you play the piano for us, dear? I noticed the upright over there.” She nodded toa shiny oak rectangle along the opposite wall that Tahlia had assumed was a strange chest. Which she wouldneveradmit to a living soul even if her lack of knowledge about pianos wasn’t her fault. Culture wasn’t a big focus in her foster home. Especially the last one. After that, life had gotten chaotic and busy
“You can play the piano?” Tahlia turned to Matt with a surprised smile.
He appeared embarrassed, if the red hue to his cheeks was any indication. “A little.”
“A little!” Ophelia exclaimed. “You were one of the top teenage pianists in the country!”
“Really?” Tahlia’s mouth dropped open and, quite charmingly, the color on his cheeks deepened. She imagined it traveled up to his ears but they were covered, as usual, by his hair.
“Yeah,” he mumbled. “But it’s ancient history.”
“When was the last time you played?” Tahlia asked, taking an ornament proffered by Maddy and hanging it on the tree. Jed lifted Kaiden up to reach the top with another ornament.
He grunted. “Going to get too big for that soon, kid.”
Matt ran a hand through his hair, what he did with his nervous energy. Fluffy hair was an unintended consequence. “Years ago,” he admitted. “I barely remember anything.”
“Grandma,” Maddy called, “we can’t find the tinsel.”
