Page 40 of Pine Creek Lodge
Chapter Thirty
Nat's family had always taken New Year's Eve seriously. No fancy parties or elaborate celebrations - just games, too much food, and the kind of easy laughter that came from years of shared traditions. Tonight was no different, except that Sofia was here, curled up on their couch with Moxie in one of Nat's old sweaters, looking so at home it was hard for Nat to imagine she was leaving tomorrow.
The living room glowed with warmth, fairy lights still twinkling on the Christmas tree. Her father had built up the fire, and the coffee table was laden with her mother's famous appetizers - tiny pastries filled with wild mushrooms, homemade dips, and an elaborate cheese board that Sofia had contributed, insisting on visiting the specialty store in town.
"Okay, next round!" Zoe announced, shuffling the cards for another game of Hearts. Moxie, nestled in Sofia’s lap, occasionally batted at the cards she was holding. The kitten had been a little nervous as random fireworks peppered the evening sky, but Sofia kept distracting her by waving the cards in front of her.
"I still can't believe you've never played Hearts before," Nat's mother said to Sofia as she dealt the cards.
"My childhood was... different," Sofia replied with a small smile. "But I'm a quick learner."
"Too quick," Nat's father grumbled good-naturedly, studying his cards. "You've already caught onto all my tells."
The game progressed with playful accusations of cheating and dramatic groans when someone got stuck with the Queen of Spades. Sofia, true to her word, had picked up the strategy quickly, though she still consulted with Nat occasionally, leaning close to whisper questions about which card to play.
These moments of proximity were both sweet and torturous. Every time Sofia's shoulder brushed against hers, every shared glance and secret smile, reminded Nat that tomorrow, Sofia would be gone. Eighteen days until they'd see each other again - they'd counted them out together, marking dates on their phones like schoolgirls counting down to summer vacation.
Another firework exploded outside, closer this time, and Moxie leaped from Sofia’s lap with a startled mew.
"Poor baby," Zoe cooed, scooping her up. "Maybe I should take her upstairs where it's quieter?"
"Good idea," Sofia said, reaching over to scratch behind Moxie's ears. "I think she's had enough excitement for one night."
As Zoe disappeared upstairs with the kitten, Martha slipped into the kitchen to make her naughty hot chocolate - thick and rich with a generous shot of rum and topped with freshly whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate.
"Almost midnight," she announced when she returned, passing out the steaming mugs. "Robert, did you get the champagne ready?"
"Already chilling," he replied, laying down his winning hand with a triumphant grin. "And I win! Again!"
"Pure luck," Sofia teased, checking her phone. "It’s eleven forty-five, by the way."
"You two should go outside for the midnight fireworks," Martha suggested. "It's quite a sight from the backyard. You can see the whole valley."
"What about you?" Sofia asked. "Won't you join us?"
"Oh, we've seen it plenty of times," Martha waved her hand dismissively. "You two go and enjoy yourselves."
At five minutes to midnight, Nat led Sofia out to the back porch, both with a glass of Champagne in hand. The night was clear and crisp, their breath forming small clouds in the air, and stars glittered above them, competing with the occasional burst of premature fireworks.
"I'm going to miss this," Sofia said softly, pulling Nat close. "Your family, this house, you."
"Eighteen days," Nat murmured against her hair.
"I'm counting every single one," Sofia whispered back.
The first boom of midnight caught them both by surprise. The sky erupted in a cascade of colors - gold and silver, red and blue, each explosion painting the snow-covered valley in momentary daylight. Nat had always found New Year's fireworks somewhat annoying, an unnecessary disruption to the peaceful night. But now, watching the lights reflect in Sofia's eyes, feeling her warm and solid beside her, it felt different. Each burst seemed to carry a promise as the colors rained down around them, and Nat saw it all through new eyes - not as an ending, but as a beginning.
"Happy New Year." Sofia turned to face her. “I feel like this is going to be our year in every sense of the way.”
“Then kiss me and show me how much you’ll miss me,” Nat teased, pressing herself against Sofia as she cupped her face.
Sofia's smiled and leaned in. Her lips were soft against Nat’s, and when Nat pulled her closer, she felt Sofia's sharp intake of breath, the way her fingers curled into the fabric of Nat's sweater. The fireworks continued overhead, but their light andsound felt distant now, irrelevant compared to the warmth of Sofia's mouth, the pressure of her hands as they slid up to frame Nat's face in return. Everything else fell away - the cold night air, the echoing booms, even tomorrow's goodbye - leaving only this moment, this connection that felt both delicate and unshakeable. When they finally parted, Sofia's eyes were bright with something that looked suspiciously like tears, though her smile was radiant. Nat understood the contradiction perfectly - the joy of finding something so precious tangled up with the ache of having to let it go, even temporarily. But as another explosion lit up the sky, casting them in a momentary glow of gold, Nat felt certain that their connection was strong enough to bridge the distance.
The door opened behind them, and Zoe poked her head out. "Hey, lovebirds! Happy New Year! Mom wants to know if you're coming back in. She’s serving that chocolate lava cake you like, Nat."
"Be right there," Nat called back, but Zoe lingered in the doorway.
"By the way, Sofia," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye, "I hope you know you're totally stuck with us now. Mom's already planning what to organize for your next visit, and Dad's been practicing his dad jokes."
