Page 40 of Merry on the Mountain
“Okay.”
“Don’t move while I’m outside, can you do that for me?”
“Yeah.” She looks out the front window. “Why isn’t Willa home yet?”
“I don’t know. She might have had to stay at the resort because the weather got too bad.”
“I hope she’s okay.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.”
It takes me about ten minutes to get everything together and layer up, and in that time I see lights shine outside. The tension in my stomach unknots when I peek through the blinds and see Willa. As she and Maya come up the steps, I open the door.
“Power’s out. I’m about to turn on my generator, but it only works for this unit.”
“Oh. Okay.” She pauses and looks around like she might be thinking about leaving.
“Stay with us.”
“Are you sure? We can go back to the resort and sleep in the employee lounge for the night. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Absolutely not.” I wrap my arm around and guide her inside. “Bug, do you think we should have a sleepover with Willa and Maya?”
Her head snaps up in excitement. “Yes!”
“Sorry, looks like you’re stuck with us for the night.”
“Can I sleep with Maya?” Izzy asks as the dog runs to her for pets.
Willa looks at me. “It’s fine with me, if it’s fine with you.”
“It’s more than okay with me.” That leaves Willa all to me. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, I’ll stay here with Izzy.”
I hear Izzy ask if Willa will paint her nails and smile. She asked me once, and I messed up so bad, she peeled it off before she went to bed the same night. I’m so glad Willa is good with her. Beyond good with her actually. She’s incredible, and it’s not fake, which makes me love her even more.
I halt dead in my tracks.
Love?
Am I falling in love with Willa?
As I start walking again, I think back on every moment with her; from the very first ski lesson, I knew she was different. It goes beyond seeing her with Izzy. It’s the way she didn’t blink an eye at spending a not insignificant amount of money to bid on me at the charity auction. How brave she is to go out and rescue people from dangerous situations. She gets along with my friends, even grumpy ass Ben and Noah. I was comfortable in Holly Ridge before, but she’s the piece that makes it feel like home.
I am falling for her.
My stomach swoops as I let the realization settle in. We haven’t talked about the future or being together. After Izzy goes to sleep, I’ll test the waters.
It’s my first time needing to use a generator, but I get it sorted quickly. There should be enough power to run the heater, some lights, and the major kitchen appliances. But we won’t be able to watch a movie unless I use my laptop.
Before heading back inside to the girls, I let myself into the other unit and turn the faucets on to a slow drip, so I don’t have to deal with frozen pipes in the morning. That’s the last thing I need with my family coming to visit tomorrow.
If the storm blows through by then, which before we lost power, it looked like it might not. I was looking forward to seeing my parents, so I’ll be disappointed, but Izzy will be devastated. She became so close with them when we lived in Chicago, especially when they started watching her for me.
The girls are snuggled up on the couch with Maya at their feet when I come back inside. They don’t notice me, so I take a second to watch as Willa reads Izzy’s favorite story to her. She yawns and lays her head down on Willa’s shoulder, herdark brown eyes drifting closed. My heart swells when Willa leans down and presses a kiss to the crown of her head. She quietly closes the book and readjusts Izzy, so they’re both more comfortable.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I tear my eyes away from my girls and slip back into the kitchen. It’s a text from my mom saying their flight out of O’Hare was canceled. I thank her for letting me know and ask her to keep me updated on when it’s rescheduled.
