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“Where did that come from?”
“I have no idea, but I’m assuming it has something to do with my brother.”
We looked around to find Luke hiding somewhere with a stash of snowballs, but everything was quiet. Even the kids had disappeared. As if from nowhere, another snowball came flying through the air. I barely dodged it, but then another came straight for Skye.
“You are so dead!” she called into the silence.
She crouched down and started to pack the fluffy snow into a tight ball, and I had no choice but to follow suit. We tiptoed around to the backside of the chalets, and it was immediately an ambush.
Snowballs came from every angle as Skye and I tried to doge them, but it was no use; there were far more of them than there were of us.
Laughter and excitement echoed through the valley as snowballs flung from every angle. Eventually, Skye and I were no longer the target of the attack, and it was every man for himself.
Bundled up in colorful snowsuits, the kids' eyes sparkled with mischief, while the adults, equally enthusiastic, had a competitive glint in theirs.
“Look out!” someone shouted, and I ducked just in time to avoid a perfectly aimed snowball. With a burst of energy, I retaliated, sending one soaring towards Taylor. It hit its mark, and a chorus of cheers erupted from Sierra and Skye.
Not far away, Greg was engaged in a playful duel with Cora. Crouched behind a snow mound, they exchanged rapid fire. Cora's snowball hit Greg square on the shoulder, and he feigned defeat, falling dramatically into the snow with a grin. Cora giggled triumphantly, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
Amelia had built a miniature snow fort, and I took cover behind it at the same moment Skye did. Huddled together, we strategized and pelted snowballs at Luke, catching him completely off guard. The laughter of the young kids mixed with the soft thud of snowballs hitting their targets, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
As the battle raged on, alliances shifted, and former opponents became allies, leading to unexpected and hilarious moments. The snowball fight reached its peak when Annie, to everyone’s surprise, unleashed a barrage of snowballs.
No one could contain their laughter as they watched Annie throw snowballs with all her might. After a spirited battle, we gradually wound down, panting and grinning at each other. Snow clung to our clothing, and our breath hung in the frosty air.
I gatheredLaila and Cora and ushered them towards our chalet as we said a brief goodbye to everyone else. As much as I didn’t want to say goodnight to Skye, I needed to get these girls warm and dry.
“What is all that shouting about?” Beth called from the kitchen when she heard us come in through the front door.
She emerged into the living room and her mouth fell open, but then quickly into a grin when she saw the state we were in. The girls’ faces were crimson with cold, and my beard had frost on the tips.
“Come on girls,” Beth said. “Let’s go get you into a warm bath.”
“That’s alright. I’ll take them up. But we’re definitely going to need some hot soup when we come back down.”
“It’s already on the stove.”
I ushered the girls upstairs and helped them peel off their soaking wet and freezing cold layers of clothes as the bath filled with perfectly warm water.
“That was so fun,” Laila said with a smile.
“Which part?” I asked.
“The whole day. This was the best day ever.”
I lifted the girls into the tub and couldn’t help the smile on my face. It really was a fantastic day.
Once the girlswere dressed in warm pajamas and got their hair dried, I sent them downstairs to eat their soup so I could get myself warmed up. When I stepped into my bedroom, I noticed Skye sitting out on the balcony of hers.
She looked deep in thought, and I didn’t want to disturb her, but curiosity got the best of me. I opened the sliding door that went outside and waited for her to notice me.
“You scared the hell out of me!” she said with a jump.
I realized that it was almost entirely dark, and I was still wearing plenty of layers that probably made me look like a giant, hulking, beast in the darkness.
“Sorry,” I said with a laugh. “What are you doing out here? It’s freezing.”
“I’ve got my electric blanket,” she said, lifting the plush, red blanket to where I could see it.
