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“I’m sorry.” My heart went out to him. While I was being smothered by Marina, Flora barely batted an eye. Her claims that she needed her daughter with her were never backed up with action despite Luke’s constant attempts to get Flora visitor visas and more.
“If it’s not us coming to France, she doesn’t want to hear it, and I refuse to take Ava to a place outside her comfort zone to get to know a stranger,” Luke grumbled.
“It’s the right thing to do,” I agreed. “There’s no telling how Ava would react and having her in a place she feels safe and secure is the best way to handle something like that. Maybe… maybe next year?” As soon as the words left me, I knew they were false. Luke sent me a defeated glance and nodded.
“Maybe.”
“Or tell her you’re engaged,” I chuckled, “that gets so much fucking attention.”
“I’ll pass, thanks,” Luke laughed.
“Hi!” Summer appeared in the doorway and Luke brightened up instantly, leaning away from the counter. I hid my smile; I felt it too though. Her presence was so warm and light that it was difficult to hold onto unhappy feelings.
“Hey Summer, everything alright?”
“Oh absolutely,” she grinned and there was a mischievous glint in her eye. “If you two are finished fueling up, it’s time for you to get your butts outside because today we’re having a snowman building competition! And let’s face it, the adults are painfully on the losers side after Twister, so come on! Get outside!”
With that, she turned and vanished. Luke laughed and set his cup in the sink. “Alright, it is on.”
“We’ll be losers no more!” I laughed, sliding from my stool as warmth flooded my chest. Just a few seconds of Summer and my heart felt lighter. With a clearer mind and warmer heart, we headed to get changed.
This competition was in the bag!
20
SUMMER
“Are you ready?” I asked in a hushed whisper. All three children around my legs nodded. As soon as Jax and Luke appeared out the back door, I stood up and yelled. “Attack!”
With loud squeals and giggles, the children launched their snowballs at their fathers who were hurrying down the wooden stairs. Surprised cries rose up from each man, but they leaned into it, throwing themselves into the snow and scooping up handfuls to return fire. A snowball launched from Theo and caught my shoulder so who was I to remain a bystander after that? The children relied on their carefully prepared pile of snowballs while Jax, Theo, and Luke had to gather ammo while under attack.
Their combined laughter floated through the air like birdsong, and their faces quickly became rosy from the cold and the exertion of running through the snow. As everyone ran around, Jax slipped on the snow and landed face down with a grunt and a laugh. As he rolled onto his back, Kane and Bonnie immediately pelted him with snowballs, and the soft thud of snow on his jacket almost drowned out his laughter.
Ava was much more tactical and tried to run around behind everyone to launch her attacks but was eventually scooped up by Luke who spun her around in his arms as she squealed and giggled.
“Nooo!” she screeched over her laughter. Jax managed to scramble up and dump a bunch of snow over Kane who laughed so hard he almost turned purple, while Theo took time to launch a few snowballs straight at me.
“You’re a traitor!” he laughed. “You’re supposed to be on our side!”
“What can I say?” I called back. “They’re just cuter than you!”
The fight lasted until the children’s ammunition was depleted, and Tabitha, who had taken up residence on the porch to watch from above, clapped her hands. “I declare the children the winners!”
Each child cheered, tangled up in their father’s arms as each man groaned their faux disappointment.
“But why, Ma?” Luke groaned.
Tabitha peered over the edge; her flushed, wrinkly face tucked up neatly in a large cotton scarf. “Because the children used smarts and the element of surprise,” she grinned, then returned to her knitting.
“Fair,” Jax laughed. Each child was set down and Ava ran over to me as I brushed snow out of my hair.
“Snowman time?” she asked, her glittering eyes staring up at me.
“Snowman time,” I grinned. “Alright! It’s kids versus parents and I will provide assistance to the children because I am like… what was it again, Kane?”
“You’re Alfred!” Kane declared as he stomped about in the snow.
“That’s right, I’m Alfred apparently. Dads, you can build over there by the trees, and children, we’ll build over here by the porch. Both teams have one hour, and Tabitha will decide the winner. All good?”
