I gave myself another minute of deep breaths before finally opening my door. The crisp air filled my lungs as I hefted my suitcase and duffel bag out of the trunk. I wondered briefly if I should have thrown in a few more books. I had my comfort reads, Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, and of course my Kindle, but was that enough to dilute the senses for what was surely to come? Probably not.
I climbed the sturdy steps onto the porch and gave the door a quick knock. As I had learned from one unfortunate incident, Ben enjoyed walking around in his underwear in the comfort of his own home. So now, I always knocked first, and I always waited to be let in. Ben opened the door this time—fully clothed, thank goodness. He waved me in while making an apologetic gesture toward the phone at his ear. His blonde hair was combed stylishly, and he wore tailor-made jeans with a quarter-zip sweater. Closing the door, he threw me a smile and a chin thrust without skipping a beat in his conversation, then turned and disappeared into another room.
A small living room greeted me. It included a brown couch, a chair, and a coffee table. Just past that, tucked into the corner, was a small kitchenette with a fridge, stove, and microwave and four maple cupboards surrounding it. Two small doors on the opposite side led to a bathroom and the small bedroom Ben had just occupied. Though it was about the size of a hotel room suite, the cabin had the appearance of being newly built while still maintaining a rustic charm.
It felt warm and welcoming, or that could have been the three-year-old blonde terrors who launched themselves into my arms the moment they saw me.
“Aunt Owive!!!”
Laughing, I dropped my luggage and pulled both of them into a bear hug. I relished the feel of their little arms, a death grip around my neck, and only let go to tickle their sides.
“I thought I told you two to stop getting so big.”
“I tawer than sissy,” Ivy stated proudly while Holly began rummaging through my duffel bag.
“You made it!” I glanced up to see my older sister walk out from the bathroom. Standing up, I reached out to greet her with a hug. Though she was four years older, we were at eye level at five foot six. Where my hair was dark brown with auburn highlights like my dad's, hers was light brown like my mom's. We both had Mom’s pert nose and a light sprinkling of freckles across our faces, however. Though still thin, Chloe’s body had rounded and softened the past few years, due in part to becoming a mother, and it looked good on her.
“Yeah, how are you? When did you get here?” I asked, bending over to redirect Holly’s attention to a toy to stop her dragging out all the makeup from my toiletry bag.
“A couple of hours ago.”
“So, I don’t know how we’re all going to sleep.” Chloe motioned toward the small bedroom. “When I heard you’d be in here with us, I figured we’d just put the girls on the floor in our room, but there is literally no room on the sides of the bed. It’s so tiny in there. I’ll have to put the girls on the floor out here in the living room, but that doesn’t give you much privacy.” She pointed at the couch. “I think it does pull out into a bed, though, so that’s something.”
I looked at the brown couch. It was newer and honestly didn’t look too bad. Perhaps technology had found a way to rid the pull-out couch from the uncomfortable bar running across your back? I guess I’d be finding out.
“This looks great. Don’t worry about it,” I assured her.
“Ben asked about renting another cabin for you, but the lady said they were all booked up.”
“Yeah, I did, too.” I smiled at her. “It’s really not a big deal. I’m just sorry I’m intruding on you guys.”
She shot me a look. “Hey. We love having you. I just want you to be comfortable. The twins still don’t sleep great, so I’m worried they’ll have a scream fest and keep you up half the night. You could always sleep in Mom and Russ’s cabin if it’s too much for you.”
Nope.
“I promise, I’m fine,” I said, ignoring her worried look as I moved my bags behind the couch, where they’d hopefully be less of a temptation to two curious three-year-olds. “Are Mom and Russ back from cross-country skiing yet?”
Chloe plopped down on the couch, emptying a tub of magnetic blocks she must have brought with her onto the floor. As if by magic, the sound had the twins racing over and they were distracted with the blocks in no time. “I haven’t seen them yet. We got here after they’d already left.”
I sat down next to her. “Is it weird she’s skiing with him? I’ve never heard of Mom doing anything like that before.”
Chloe shrugged. “Russ has her playing on a club volleyball team with him back home, too.”
I tried to picture my mom playing sports. Or cross-country skiing. Growing up, my family’s wild Friday nights consisted of Monopoly or a movie night.
“I haven’t seen your boyfriend yet.”
I shot her a look. “Huh?”
Chloe gave me a wicked smile. “Glenn Foster.”
“You’re the worst.”
“He might be your boyfriend again after this trip if you don’t start spilling about Miles.”
I’d had two hours alone in a car to prepare, so I was ready for her this time. “Listen. I don’t want to get worked up over the tiny details yet because it’s so new. It will just get in my head.”
There. That was smart. And true. If I had actually been in a brand-new relationship, I’m sure I would be mature enough to not want to hash out every little thing, especially with Chloe. She’d be so excited that she’d make too big a deal out of everything. That’s the kind of stuff that gets into your head.
“How about just some details, then? And look me in the eye.”
I spent the next couple of hours being a human jungle gym with the twins on the floor and giving Chloe just enough information about Miles to keep her satisfied, though I wasn’t sure she was totally convinced. Ben had gotten a few new responsibilities at work, which explained the phone attached to his ear most of the afternoon, but he did join us for brief intervals.
“What’s the schedule for this place? Do you know?” I asked, reluctantly curious to know my fate for the night.
“There’s a big welcome dinner at the lodge tonight,” Chloe said. “That’s all I know.”
Ben joined us again a few minutes later, pulling out a chair next to the couch. We spent the next while laughing and talking, and I managed to relax for the first time since I’d arrived. It felt normal, just the three of us. We were just siblings meeting up for a fun winter getaway. No parents allowed. It almost felt like our bubble hadn’t burst. The dam hadn’t broken. As if Dad hadn’t passed away, and Mom hadn’t gotten remarried to the first guy she met.
SIX
“I see a woman may be made a fool,
If she had not a spirit to resist.”
William Shakespeare - The Taming of the Shrew
The lodge was lit up like a beacon with glowing white Christmas lights as we set out on Main Street. We passed the general store and the other rustic buildings that were even cuter upon closer inspection, as we headed toward the lodge. Somewhere above us, Mannheim Steamroller’s “Carol of the Bells” played softly. The sidewalk across the road was also lit up, and guests from the other cabins bustled along, headed toward the lodge for dinner. I kept a sharp eye out for the Fosters but thankfully didn’t see anybody familiar as we walked.