Page 17 of Snowed in with My Pucking Ex
I quickly take the three porch steps, noticing the rich green garland and deep red bows wrapping around the porch pillars as well as framing the front windows and door. A throw and festive pillows are arranged neatly on the porch swing at the end, with various lanterns, poinsettias, tall candles, large gold bells, and a sled painted with the words:‘Wishing All A Merry Christmas,’decorate the rest of the space. Not only that, but there’s so much mistletoe, you’d think this was a kissing booth.
It looks like someone has been keeping busy since the last time I was here. I know it wasn’t her mom because mine told me all about how distracted they’ve been at the clinic with new patients pouring in each day. I can’t help but smile as I take in the rug at the front door. It has‘No Naughty Elves Allowed,’painted in deep black, a contrast to all the red, green, white, and gold adorning the other decorations.
I raise my hand, but before I have the chance to knock, the door is pulled open. David stands there, his good arm braced on the door frame to keep him from wobbling. “I thought I heard a vehicle.” He mutters as I meet his kind eyes.
“Expecting a delivery?”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “Nope, but I was curious if you’d have any more cars dropped off. Want to fix my wife’s SUV or my truck next?” He offers, while a grin tugs at the corner of his mouth, and I laugh. “Got a tractor or two around here as well that needs a bit of TLC.”
My hand comes up to rub at the back of my neck as I smile and admit, “I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to leave her caron the side of the road. Then, at Thanksgiving, when I learned your tractor doesn’t have any heat, I was glad I took care of it. Knowing Winter, she’d be stubborn enough to try and drive the tractor to tow her car home, and end up with hypothermia.”
David nods, pulling a bite-sized pecan pie he had stashed from his breast pocket, and eats half of it. He chews for a moment before agreeing, “Mmhm. You’re right about that one. I appreciate you taking care of it for her. She’ll need that, you know?” He sticks the other half of the mini pie back in his T-shirt pocket, distracting me.
My brow furrows as I silently wonder if he’ll remember the snack later or if it’ll end up in the washer. Should I say something about it?
“She’ll need that, you know?” he repeats, and I meet his stare, finding him smirking.
With a relieved exhale, I relax a bit, knowing he’s pleased with me helping. “Need what?”
“Someone who won’t back down from her, who will step in to help her when she needs it. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but my daughter can be very independent and headstrong. She hasn’t learned the importance of leaning on others yet, but I’m afraid that’s something you only learn with time. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too excited when you were kids and dating in high school. Not because of anything you did, on the contrary, I thought you were a decent kid. It was my Winter, I worried about. She needed room to grow into her own woman, whatever that was going to eventually look like.”
“And now? Would it be okay if I hung out with her and possibly dated her? If she were open to it?”
He reaches out with his good arm, giving my shoulder a quick, firm squeeze. He replies, “I think you’re just the right one to get close to her, Sean. Something tells me she’d push anyone else away, and this Christmas, I’d like to see my daughter happy andin love. She deserves to have someone to spend her time growing old with. So yeah, I’m okay with you dating my daughter. I’d even be okay if you wanted to marry her sometime, too.”
Her father’s approval means much more to me than I ever imagined. Maybe because Dad isn’t here any longer, and David would be the closest person to another father figure I’d have in my life if Winter were to give me another chance. “Thank you, that means a lot. Is she here?”
He gestures toward the barn, “Been out there working all morning. Yesterday she fussed over the porch. Today, she was going to get the rest of the decorations pulled down from the barn shelves and then get herself organized on festival supplies to see what all she still needs. Is one of those for her?” He gestures at the two cups I’m still holding.
I nod. “Yeah, stopped on my way to get her favorite. I figure it may be best to approach her with caffeine and sugar after I've had her tires and stuff replaced.”
He chuckles. “Smart man, and great job on the games. We were rooting for you over here.”
“Thanks. I’m going to go find her before this cappuccino cools down, and she tosses it at me.”
He’s still laughing as he shuts the door, and then I’m striding toward the big red barn not far from the house. I carefully watch my steps since there’s fresh snow on the ground, and I don’t know where ice may be. I’m also a little sore from taking a rough hit in the last game, so I don’t want to bust my butt in the process.
Some work around the farm with Winter over the next couple of days, and my regular practices at the Blizzards’ rink in the next city over will do me a lot of good and help me shake off that last game. We’re good this year, but even one loss can mess up a team and set the precedent for the rest of the season. I feel like I have an advantage since I’m able to practice while at home forthe holidays. I get some outside perspective and time where I only concentrate on myself, instead of worrying about the team as a whole on the daily. Don’t get me wrong, I love my team, and we work well together. However, it’s getting a little more difficult to click with some of them as I’m the oldest on the ice whenever we practice together.
Music greets me as I get closer, effectively stealing me from my work thoughts. I open the barn door, peeking my head inside to make sure Winter’s in here and hasn’t disappeared to visit some of the animals. My eyes find her immediately, watching as she dances and sings along to the song playing. She’s busily working in front of the long wooden counter her dad built many years back.
I still remember him coming in for the supplies and telling me all about it. I was sixteen at the time and working part-time at the local hardware store. I even had to do a delivery out here and drop off some supplies, and saw it in the making. I thought nothing of it at the time. I suppose the project probably made me think of my own father at the time, missing him, and somehow knowing he’d be doing the same stuff around our house if he were still alive. Seeing something David had built many years ago, still being put to good use and holding up, makes me think of my future with a family someday as well.
Will we have our own family business at some point, where we’ll rush around to create something in time for the festival as well? I can’t help but wonder what that future will look like when I finally have someone to share it with. Could Winter be the woman I create all those memories with? I know one thing: I certainly hope it’s her. If the electricity I feel whenever I’m around her is anything to go by, I’d say she’s the one and only for me, no matter how much time has passed.
Rather than be a creeper and watch her any longer, I stroll inside the big barn. Winter has a piping bag in one glovedhand while the other helps direct the fluffy stuff into clean glass containers. “How’s it going in here?” I ask loud enough that she can hear me over the music.
“Ah!” She jumps and releases an adorable shriek. She’s so cute, I swear. “Jesus, put a bell on!”
“Huh?” I chuckle, holding up one of the cups so she notices I’ve come with a peace offering.
“You move like a cat. You need to wear a bell or something so I hear you ahead of time.”
I nod, wearing a smirk. I’m used to moving with a bit of grace on the ice when I’m not slamming into people and stealing pucks, so I get it. “A bell might be weird, but I’ll see what I can do about being nosier for you. What are you doing?” I gesture behind her to the rows upon rows of glass jars she’s filled perfectly to the point of leaving a small lip at the top. It’s fluffy-looking stuff, reminding me of thick whipped cream.
“These are the sweet honey body whips. I’ve been making them since yesterday. I mixed it all yesterday and added in the different scents. Today, I’m putting it in the jars, and then some will be put into small boxes, while the others will be added to various gift baskets. Is that little burst of sweet hot heaven for me?” She nods to one of the cups I’m holding.
“I thought you might need a boost since you have a lot to accomplish.” I hold out the one in my right hand, loving the smile she rewards me with in return. She eagerly takes the cup, and I can’t stop myself from reaching forward, giving her hip a gentle squeeze. More than anything, I want to tug her to me, wrap my arms around her, and just hold her. I’ve missed her since I’ve been gone, and the happiness I’m feeling right now from being in her presence again doesn’t escape me.
