The front door opened, Tris called for me, and Cait sprung into action, grabbing up a Unicorn Fart and ducking into the laundry room so she could enjoy it in secret. Regan laughed and started pulling the muffins out of the box.
“I’ll set these out and then hide the cupcakes out of the reach of little hands, eh?”
“Thanks. Plates are over there, I think. Stick the box on top of the fridge, okay?”
They nodded, shooing me on, and I went to help Tristan and Mary with the bags. I’d had a feeling that my definition of a few things and Mary’s were vastly different. As soon as I saw them, I knew I was right. I opened my mouth, but Mary shot me a look that said she would be Very Disappointed if I said anything. I sighed and turned toward the stairs.
“Girls! Grams and Aunt Regan are here.”
Satisfied with the banging of doors and the sound of tiny feet running toward the stairs, I took the bags from Tristan. Mary and Tris traipsed into the kitchen a few minutes later, now divested of their winterwear, and Harper and Marlie were right behind them. Hugs and squeals sounded as the greetings were taken care of, and then I sent them all to the dining room with muffins so I could cook the eggs and bacon in peace.
I had just come back from dropping off juice and coffee, warmed by the happy chatter, when Caitlyn emerged from the laundry room. I waggled my eyebrows at her and motioned to the spot of frosting she’d missed at the corner of her mouth.
“Good, huh?”
“Regan is a bit magical, huh?” she asked with a chortle, wiping her mouth.
“I don’t know how they do it.” I turned to the stove to set out the frying pans.
Cait touched my back and I titled my head in her direction.
“They love our kids already. How is that possible?”
“Our kids are pretty damn lovable. Hey!” The pinch to my side was expected, and I laughed as I scooted out of her reach. I set the pan down and turned to her. Because that wasn’t what she meant, and I knew it. Her parents were kind and generous butvery hands off. They lived in Europe, her father following her mother around on the lecture circuit, and my parents were…well, yeah. Neither Cait nor I had much experience with this kind of loving and accepting family. I leaned my hip against the edge of the counter. “Who knew that people like this actually existed in real life, huh? But the Mulligans adopted us the moment they met us, and that was that.”
Cait’s brows beetled together as she mulled that over. After a moment, she exhaled slowly. “It makes me feel even better about you all being here. I knew it was the right choice, because of Charlie alone. And I heard all the stories you all told me. But seeing it in action….” She took another breath and smiled at me. “They’re going to be so happy here.”
“I hope so.”
“Daddy, I don’t smell bacon!” Tristan’s voice was loud in the space, and before I could remind him to use his manners, Harper spoke, though I couldn’t make out what she said. A second later, Tristan added, just a touch more quietly, “Sorry, Daddy. Can you start cooking please? I’m very hungry.”
“I’m on it, Tris. Thanks for using your manners.” I tried my best to reinforce his good habits, though my mother always scoffed when I thanked my children. For anything really. As if they weren’t human beings who deserved the gratitude. I straightened and gestured with my head. “Go join them and get to know them a little, yeah?”
Caitlyn nodded and made herself a cup of coffee before slipping through the door. I leaned back to watch her sit at the table, and Mary immediately engaged her in conversation. I wasn’t sure how much Mary knew about our situation, but I have a feeling it was everything. Charlie would have shared it with her, now that the two of them were closer. If for no other reason than Mary was lovingly tenacious when it came to people she cared about.
The sounds of happy conversation washed over me as I started scrambling eggs and frying bacon. Something settled deep within me, a contentment I didn’t know I was missing. I thought I’d always been at least content, if not always happy. But this was a whole new level of that feeling, and I breathed deeply, just soaking in it. My kids were happy and safe, Caitlyn was about to embark on her dream adventure and would be close enough for frequent visits, and my deliriously happy brother was once again just a few miles away. We had a whole group of people who wanted to help take care of us. We’d always had a solid foundation, but now we were revitalizing our lives, making upgrades. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Mary stole my children, claiming them for decorating help. Christmas Eve was tomorrow, which included the big family dinner in the dining room of the Inn. Mary insisted the children would be a great help in getting the room ready, and I didn’t bother to remind her that the kind of help the kids would provide meant the task would take ten times longer. She’d raised three children; I was sure she already knew that.
Since Cait decided to take the opportunity to get some work done and holed up at the dining room table with her laptop and a pot of tea, I was at loose ends. There was nothing left to unpack until the moving truck arrived a few days after Christmas. I’d never been one that sat still well. I needed to move.
I threw on a sweatshirt, an extra pair of socks, and bundled up. I didn’t have a winter coat yet—the kids did thanks to Charlie—and my boots were steel toes instead of snow boots, but thatwas good enough for a walk around my new home. After the New Year, my job would be snow removal as well as repairs and regular maintenance alongside Nic, and now was as good a time as any to get acquainted with the area.
As soon as I stepped outside, I knew the long sleeved shirt, hoodie, and leather jacket weren’t going to be enough to keep me warm for long. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my coat, and my fingers hit something soft. My hat, the one Oak had made me. I smiled as I pulled it out, looking it over. I didn’t know much about crochet, but I could tell the stitches were uneven in a few places. It didn’t matter though. He’d thought of me, and it was still warm and cozy. I pulled it on, tugged it over my ears, and headed out.
It was a cold but clear day, the sun shining brightly enough that I had to squint. It never occurred to me that I’d need sunglasses in the winter—somehow my brain didn’t equate the two—but the way the light glinted off the bright white was almost painful. I pulled my hood up to both block the wind and help with the glare, and that made it bearable enough that I could look around as I walked.
My feet carried me away from the motel, toward the iced-over pond and the cabins. It was so quiet, nothing but the crunch of my boots in the snow. Occasionally I’d hear a bird call, though I couldn’t begin to guess what kind since I thought all birds flew south in the winter, or a rustle. But mostly it was just silence, the bare trees and the thick snow drifts, muffling everything. Cricket appeared out of nowhere, making me jump, but she only stayed long enough for a few pets and to sniff me over, before continuing her patrol. It wasn’t long before she disappeared.
The trees were denser near the pond, Nic not having done anything with the area yet. She and Dana had focused on the motel proper during their first year of business, though I knew the cabins and the trails were next on their agenda. Nic hadmade that clear during our conversations, assuring me I’d have plenty to do once spring came. But because of the tree cover and the amount of fallen branches and other detritus, all covered in thick snow, I couldn’t get as close to the pond as I wanted, and ended up near the cabins.
“You’re going to catch a cold.”
I jumped, then whirled around to find Oakley standing near his back porch, bundled up in a parka and a mug in his gloved hands.
“Germs cause colds, not the weather,” I said conversationally, smiling so he would know there was no judgment in my words.
He shrugged one shoulder like maybe that was so, then shook his head. “But the cold doesn’t help. Come on.”
