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Samantha frowned. “You want to build a snowman?”
“Yes, because we never did it and we should have done. And you’re probably thinking that it’s too late now, that we can’t turn the clock back—”
“We don’t think that, do we?” Ella glanced at Samantha, who shook her head.
“It’s never too late.” Something about the way she said it made Gayle wonder if she was thinking about more than simply building a snowman. There was a new lightness to Samantha that Gayle hadn’t seen before. And although she was no expert on romantic relationships, she was sure it had something to do with Brodie.
“Let’s go while Tab is playing with Michael.” Ella grabbed the coats and they spilled outside into the snow and crystal clear air, shivering and wrapping up as they walked.
“This place is fantastic.” Ella spread her arms and did a twirl. “Can we just book it ourselves every year?”
“I’ve already costed it and we wouldn’t be able to afford it. Ironic, no?” Samantha scooped up snow and threw it at her sister.
“Oh you—” Covered in snow, Ella retaliated, and soon the two of them were throwing snow and Gayle found herself caught in the crossfire.
“And here was me worrying you were too grown-up to enjoy playing in the snow.” She wiped snow out of her hair. “Good to know I was wrong about that.”
Ella shivered as she freed snow from the neck of her jacket. “She started it.” And then she realized what she’d said and burst out laughing. “Let’s build that snowman, before we get frostbite.”
They did it together, the three of them, layering snow onto snow and as it grew Gayle realized they were building more than a snowman.
“I’ve been thinking—” She paused to take a breath, watching as Samantha smoothed more snow onto the snowman’s head. “If you wanted to see a photograph of your father, I could probably find one.” She’d decided that it wasn’t what she wanted that mattered, it was what they wanted.
Ella paused, snow cupped in her two hands, cheeks glowing. “I don’t think I want that.” She glanced at her sister. “But if you do then—”
“No.” Samantha shook her head. “I thought I did, but I don’t. It doesn’t seem to matter anymore. I’d rather focus on the future rather than the past.”
“Me too. And your future has snow in it.” Ella threw the snow at her sister just as Tab came running toward them, a carrot i
n one hand and twigs in the other.
“We brought you arms and a nose.”
By the time they went back indoors, they were all freezing, but Gayle couldn’t remember ever having so much fun with her daughters.
Mary had been right. It was never too late.
And when they moved back into the house and gathered round the Christmas tree, she was sure of it.
Mary was next to her. They looked across the room to where Michael was swinging Tab, now dressed in the mermaid costume Gayle had bought her. Samantha and Brodie were sitting side by side, deep in conversation, and Kirstie and Ella were still having fun with the snow globe. “I never thought Christmas could look like this.”
“Me neither.”
Gayle saw Samantha laugh at something Brodie said, noticed those little touches that said I know you. You’re mine.
Mary saw it, too. “You have a wonderful family.”
“Yes.” And she felt grateful for what she had. For second chances. For new friends. She was even grateful for that award and the bang on the head because who knew where she’d be without that.
Some of the decisions she’d made might have been the wrong ones. She had no real way of knowing, and it was pointless to dwell on it now. What mattered were the decisions she made moving forward.
The future was hers to design.
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan.
Acknowledgments
