Page 14 of Mr. Winter
Without a word, I nod to assure her that it’s safe enough for her to move. After a tentative step, Arden realizes she’s just as safe on the ice as she is on concrete. Warmth feels my body. Hope turns into belief, which is rare with adults. She rushes to the little girl and scoops her and the puppy into her arms, holding them tight as she returns them to the little girl’s dad. He’s tall and solid like a linebacker. Immediately, I know she went out there since she’s the lighter choice.
She tucks a brown tendril behind the little girl's ear, and the little girl lights up and yells, “Thank you, Jack!” She looks my way and waves. It’s always easier for a child to believe.
After some profuse gratitude, the crowd disperses, but I begin to retreat. I cannot face her right now. There’s still too much that needs to be done. We need to focus. I’m invisible by the time she turns around. I release a whisper in the wind to let her know it’s for the best.
I float away when I see her eyes water. I cannot watch her cry. It’s great when someone starts to believe, but it also sucks. Now, I’m able to feel her hurt and disappointment.
* * *
Arden
Jack is Jack Frost.What in the hell was I thinking? It wasn’t a teenage hallucination. I saw what he could do, but my brain didn’t make the connection until today. When Jenna was stuck on that ice after she ran after her new puppy, my heart dropped. I had to do something. We do not lose five-year-olds and puppies to tragedies on my watch. I was doing fine until the ice cracked four ways. I sent a prayer into the universe that I wasn’t crazy, and Jack did have ice powers. If he did, I hoped hard that he’d somehow help me. I felt it. I felt him looking and was surprised to see a man wearing all black from head to toe. He wore a hoodie and shadowed his face, but I know without a doubt my Jack had come to help me. All I could see was the blue glow of his eyes as he froze the lake, but then he left me.
“It’s better this way.”
That’s it. The closest I’ve gotten to closure. Now, I’m sad in a way sugar cannot fix. I’m a basic bitch—hair in a bun, wrapped up in fuzzy pajamas and yelling at made for television love stories that always end with a kiss after a dumbass misunderstanding—sad.
“Why won’t you talk to me, Jack!” I yell to no one or maybe not since he did materialize out of fucking thin air.
I’m not surprised when he doesn’t answer, but I still fall dramatically to my side on my couch. I’m glad Mack is stuck at work. He would have roasted my ass for being such a girl right now, but I can’t help it.
My phone rings with a cheery ass Christmas song, and I hiss at it. Admitting it didn’t do anything to me, I answer it.
“Yeah?”
“Bitch, if you wanted my attention, you didn’t have to try to die to get it, psycho.”
Ah. Kimberly. That’s her way of saying she’s checking on me.
“Shut up, slut. We’ve been rushing to finish your wedding. Not a day goes by where you don’t call me.”
“You know what I mean, hooker. You sound down. Are you still shook from earlier?”
“No. It’s hard to explain, but I’m ninety-nine point five percent sure I saw Jack, but he wouldn’t talk to me.”
“Aww, bunny. I would ask if you’re sure, but I don’t need to cuss you out at a time like this.”
“It’d be the other way around, Ma’am.”
“I’m on the way. We can watch chick flicks and cuddle.”
I love her because she is so fucking weird.
“It’s okay. We have cake tasting tomorrow, and while you are taking care of the other things with the planners, I have a tree lighting ceremony to oversee.”
“I can just leave from your house though.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s just, we were so close, and then, he was gone. Today was a confirmation that he’s alive, but I don’t think seeing me is a priority.”
“Maybe he had business at the mansion with your current nemesis.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m going to crack his shit the moment I get him alone. What’s with these Winters men?”
“I know you cared about Jack. You were crazy over that dude. He was a good friend to the rest of us as well. I’m not sure if he has a good reason or not, but maybe the fifteen-year-old you needs to let him go.”
Kimberly’s advice is sound, but the thought makes my chest hurt. I’ve been holding out hope for so long that even though it was severely diminished until he showed up, it was still there.
“Then again, who am I to talk? Deacon and I are magnets. Fuck it. Let’s storm the mansion and stage a sit-in until we have answers.”
