Page 6 of Snowed in with My Pucking Ex
Unbelievable!
“Dad, seriously? You know I would’ve gotten out of work sooner somehow to help you. This is our family’s farm; we all pitch in when needed, and this is no different.” I tear up, unable to stop myself from becoming overly emotional. I can’t stand to see my father hurt this badly when he is the best man I know. He does so much for others, especially those in the community, and for this to happen, it really puts my stocking in a fire.
“I know you would’ve, and that’s exactly why I didn’t call you. I don’t need my daughters here worrying about me, fussing around when they have their own lives to live. Besides, we wanted to spend Christmas with you, and knew you wouldn’t be able to take time off for both occasions.”
As if his breaking several bones constitutes as anoccasion. It’s a very important medical emergency. “Hm, so I guess this means you haven’t told Holly yet?”
My mom shakes her head, and I furrow my brow, frowning at her. She’s a medical doctor; she should want my sister and me here to help him around and with the farm. “We’ve been getting by, making sure the animals are fed and kept warm with the early snowfall. Besides, your sister is in France. It’s not like she can pick up and go whenever she feels like it.”
Oh, it’s exactly like that. My older brother, Dasher, is in the military, so I’m not expecting him to be able to leave at a moment’s notice. However, Holly and I have no excuse. Besides, I know my brother would still do his best to get some leave time approved to come help out around here. We’d do anything for our parents.
“Mom,” I say, and immediately tug my cell from my back pocket and hit the speed dial number I have programmed for my sister. “This has to end now. Does Dasher know?”
Pops peeks around the side of his newspaper, “He sure does.”
My hand flies up in a ‘really?’ motion, and I watch as the video call to my sister rings and rings, without her picking up. “She’s probably sleeping or something, but just so you know, the jig is up, and I’m telling everyone who doesn’t know. We all love you, and if my siblings can’t get here in time to help out, the least they can do is pray daily for your health.”
Mom and Dad both nod, knowing I’m getting my way on this one.
Gram’s lips twist into a smirk, “Noticed your car’s missing, Winter. How’d you get home?” She’s a nosey old bat, but she always has been.
I sigh, remembering my car is on the side of the road in a giant pile of snow and most likely will be stuck there for a while after seeing Dad in his casts. I was really looking forward to him driving the tractor down the hill to get me unstuck, but I guess that won’t be happening anytime soon. The tractor doesn’t have any working heat inside, or I’d be attempting to do it myself, but even I’m not that crazy.
“Speaking of my car.” I sigh again, then admit, “I hit a couple patches of ice.” Now it’s my turn to wince, knowing my family will not be surprised to hear the news. I’m a good driver, really, I am. I just have a tendency to run off the road at times, but no one has ever been hurt, thankfully.
“Oh, no! Are you okay?” Mom heads for me, wearing her doctor look, ready to check me over.
My siblings and I never got a fake sick day growing up because the woman is too smart for her own good. It was rough being one of those kids who were awarded perfect attendance while everyone else snickered because they got extra days off. Wehad to come up with more creative ways to get out of going to school all the time, like joining every club under the sun. My brother played every single sport he could, and my sister was too busy being a smarty pants and graduated early. Me, on the other hand, I was involved with the community and had my best friend, Samantha, around to steal me away to attend games and stuff. Hence, how I became so involved with the holiday festival, which was always my favorite activity to volunteer for.
I hold up my hand with a smile, attempting to show her I’m unharmed. “I’m fine, really. Not even a neck jerk or anything. I promise. I will tell you if I feel even a twitch of discomfort.”
“Thank heavens. You didn’t walk home, did you? Please tell me you’re too stubborn for that.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. Of course, I’m too stubborn. Has she drunk too much eggnog already? There’s no way I was going to hoof it the entire way home in thefreezingcold. “No, I didn’t walk. Sean Spruce happened to be driving by and saw my car on the side of the road. He stopped to help, and said he’d seen you all in town, so he gave me a ride home.”
Gram’s nose twinkles in a way telling me she’s full of mischief, like always. The woman has been up to something from the moment I was old enough to realize she’s a bit of a troublemaker. Not in a bad way, she just meddles. And drinks Brandy when she shouldn’t be. Take, for example, how she got my parents to go on their first date, or how she had every girl in town nearly proposing to my brother once he was old enough to marry.
“Such a nice young man, that Sean Spruce is.” She voices her approval. “A true gentleman stopping to save you in your time of need.”
Pop flicks his stare at her momentarily but remains quiet, quickly going back to his paper. I didn’t know they even printed the newspaper around here anymore. I should get him a tablet for Christmas so he can read whatever news he wants.
I nod at Gram, having nothing to say in response but also knowing that rolling my eyes again is not the right answer at the moment. Yes, it was very kind of Sean to make sure I’m okay. It still doesn’t mean I want to give him a gold medal or anything. It’s not like the guy dug my car out with his bare hands and delivered it or anything.
Mom chooses this moment to share that she already knew he was here in town, and oh yeah, she must’ve forgotten to mention it to me, also.Great, who needs a heads up with a man like him anyhow? Just take me out with a snowplow while we’re at it.
“Yes, Calla was counting the days down until he got enough of a break between his international schedule to visit. You know, they just finished playing a series of games in Canada. Anyhow, she said he has a few games between now and Christmas, and of course, a ton of practice. I guess he had to get special permission from his team to practice at the Noelville Blizzards rink while he travels back and forth between Noel Falls and New York with his current team, the Pines.”
I’m very aware of what team he plays for. I’ve watched his games countless times. Yet, I’ll never admit I’ve done so willingly. As far as anyone is concerned, I only watch Sean Spruce glide across the ice like he was born for it when Dad has it on TV with the volume blaring. He thinks Mom won’t hear us shouting and cheering if the volume’s up high enough, but she’s got ears like a hawk.
She knows all of this, yet had somehow failed to mention a single word the last time we video chatted before I left the comfort of my apartment. “I heard you and his mom are closer friends now.” They’ve always been friends, but apparently, they’rebesties attached at the hipat this point, and I appear to know nothing at this rate. You’d think I’ve been gone for years, not a couple of months. Part of me wonders if I should see if my bedroom is still set up or if they’ve gone and changed that onme, too. Maybe they’re hiding another kid they spontaneously decided to adopt or something around here, there’s no telling, but these people need to take it down a notch.
She nods, beaming brightly. “Yes, she’s over here all the time. Plus, we work together most days. I was so happy when she and Sean agreed to join us for Thanksgiving. There’s nothing like having family around the dinner table, giving thanks, and spending the day together.”
Wait, the day?And whose family? Because last time I checked, Sean and I are in no way related. Which I’m extremely thankful for because no matter how much it still hurts to see him on TV or in town, I still want to climb the man like a Lindt chocolate Christmas tree. Just thinking of having him here, in my space, has me needing to fan myself, and I’m not a twitterpated type of woman, trust me. I’m cool as a Christmas peppermint martini with a chocolate sprinkled sugared rim, but when he’s around, I can’t remember my own name, let alone be blasé about the entire situation.
I thought it was only for dinner.
My voice is a bit high-pitched, my heart thundering in my chest as I double check, “They’re, uh, staying the entire day?” I go from sweet mint julep to cinnamon red hot in a flash, from momentarily picturing him licking his fork clean while sitting across from me at the family table. As Sam would say,this is no bueno.The turkey won’t be the only thing getting cooked if I have to sit through that scenario for long.
