Page 48 of A Cozy Holiday
He clasps my free hand, and we amble through the snow, stars still twinkling above.
“How was it growing up somewhere so remote?” I ask.
“Loved it. Quiet. Safe. Always loved the snow and ice and the fact that I got to play hockey on the frozen pond behind my parents’ house six months of the year.”
“But isn’t it weird that everyone knows everyone? I didn’t even know all my neighbors in my building.”
“I like the community. Plus, when I had my first kiss, my parents found out before I even got home. Sucked at twelve but good now that I’m a dad.” He laughs.
“What was your first kiss like?”
“Eighth grade. After science class with Tessa. Our braces clanked, and we tasted like cafeteria pizza. What about you?”
I laugh despite myself. “Mine was with Benny—he was a neighbor. Summer before college. I just wanted to get it over with.”
“Get it over with?”
“I was leaving for Harvard in two weeks, and I’d never kissed anyone. It felt like something I needed to tick off before I left.” I pause. “I’m realizing that’s kind of a pattern for me.”
“Checking boxes?” His voice is gentle as he pushes open the barn door.
“Yeah.” I meet his eyes. “But this—you—doesn’t feel like a box.”
“Good.” He tips my chin up with one gloved hand and kisses me again before we push into the barn.
It’s easy to tell him things. Parker never asked me about anything. He would have groaned if I tried to share a story about my day. Jamie seems genuinely curious.
“It feels chillier in here today,” I say, sniffling.
“Yeah, I must’ve left something cracked. I’ll go look around.” Jamie strides through the barn.
“I’ll check in on Arrietty and the others, then I can start cleaning their stalls.” I grab the wheelbarrow, already equipped with a pitchfork, and head towardher stall. But when I arrive at the door, I freeze. The back of the stall is wide open, leading straight into the cold, white night outside. “Jamie!” I yell, panic rising in my chest. “She’s gone.”
He rushes over, mouth agape. “What do you mean?” His gaze darts around the stall. “Fuck, the door is open.”
“I didn’t even know the back opened up.”
“Yeah, for spring and summer. Damn it, where could she have gone?” He rushes over and inspects the broken door. “Looks like she leaned on it, and the bindings snapped. I knew I should’ve replaced them.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket, shine the flashlight outside, and catch sight of hoofprints. “I can see her tracks,” I say. “I know some animals try to find a safe place when they’re about to give birth. Does she have a spot she likes?”
“Um…” His eyes are wide with panic.
But I was trained to remain calm under pressure.“It’s okay. We’ll find her. I’ll get everything ready for the birth, and you go get the snowmobile. Make sure you bring extra blankets and some boiling water.”
“Got it. I need to call my mom to take the girls to school.” He bolts out of the stall while I gather all my supplies. There is still an hour, maybe two, until daylight.
Jamie circles around with the snowmobile and a packed sled. I hop on behind him, and with the headlights, we follow the deep hoofprints in the snow. We drive for what feels like forever. The sky is a gray dusk by the time we spot Arrietty near a giant tree. Over the roar of the engine, I can hear her belting, and a puddle of blood is forming around her. My heart clenches when I see a tiny hoof sticking out—the calf is breech.
Before the vehicle stops, I’m off and snatching my medical bag. “Bring me the water, the blanket, and that bucket.”
Jamie doesn’t say anything, just hops into action.
“Hey, baby,” I say when I approach Arrietty. Her head turns, antlers rubbing against the bark of the tree behind her. “I’m here to take care of you.”
Her beady eyes plead for help, and my nerves leave me. Animals can sense when someone is nervous, and I know this may be a difficult birth. I’ve spent hours researching for this very moment, but I’m still not ready. But I wasn’t ready for my first surgery, either.
I rub my hand along the side of her belly, reaching for her tail. “Harness her and make sure she doesn’t move,” I tell Jamie.
