The family spills in, a pile of snow, laughter and gusts of cold.
Olivia rushes over, nearly falling on her face when she reaches me. “Daddy, Liam hit me with a snowball.”
I catch the little girl up in my arms and rub her cheek against mine to warm her up. “I’ll take him out behind the shed later.”
Olivia rears back. “No! Don’t hurt Liam!” Her fists come up. “I’ll fight you.”
Liam laughs and pulls Olivia into his arms. “He’s just joking. Aren’t you dad?”
There’s a slight quaver in his voice as if he’s not sure. I wink. “Since it’s Christmas, I’ll let it go.”
“Come on, Little Liv. Let’s go get washed up for dinner so we can open presents.”
“I’m not little!” She squeaks but tucks her hand into her brother’s and hops down the hall. Ava follows sedately behind as if she’s eighteen and not eight. The three are my pride and joy. I feel so fucking lucky I could explode.
Charlee comes over and tucks herself under my arm. Her fingers burrow under my shirt, the cold digits sending chills along my spine.
“You’re an evil woman,” I say, pulling her hands out from under my clothes and bringing them up to my mouth so I can blow some hot air onto them.
“Everything all taken care of?” she asks.
I kiss her fingers and then her cheek and then her mouth, her cold lips parting under mine. My tongue slips inside, sweeping around the warm cavern to tangle with her tongue. I place her warm hands back under my shirt and pull her closer.
“The kids,” she whispers against my mouth.
“I know.” I kiss her again and then lean back to stare at her rosy mouth. “Damn, but how are you more gorgeous today than when I first saw you?”
“It’s the snow and cold. My cheeks are pink.”
“No. It’s just you.” I press my lips against her forehead. “Aging is better than wine. Can’t wait to bend you over the sink tonight and fuck you until you’re breathless.”
“You sweet talker, you,” Charlee teases.
“I’ll let you wear my Christmas gift.”
“I don’t know whether to be excited or scared.”
“Both? It’ll make your orgasm better.” I grab a blue velvet box and hand it to her. “First gift of the season.”
She arches her eyebrows and opens the lid. Her eyes pop wide and she gasps. Inside is a delicate choker of diamonds, shaped like snowflakes falling off thin chains to look like snowfall. “What is this?”
I pluck the necklace out and toss the box aside. “I told you, first gift of the season.”
The necklace looks even more beautiful draped around her neck.
“Mommy, you look like you’re wearing snow!” shouts Olivia as she runs down the hall and launches herself into Charlene’s arms.
“It’s so pretty,” Ava remarks.
Liam pretends he isn’t interested and gives only a nod but his eyes fall to her neck more than once.
“I bought it because your mom and I renewed our vows here about eleven years ago during a big snow storm,” I share. “Snow is like love falling down.”
“Daddy, that’s so pretty,” says Ava in a surprised tone.
“Hey, I can say nice words now and again.”
All four look at me like I’ve sprouted horns.
“Not really. No offense,” Liam add. “You’re just not that type.”
“I saw I love you all the time.” I protest.
Charlee smothers a laugh and then drags me over to the dinner table. “Let’s eat and open presents.”
“I'm practically a poet!” I take my seat.
“Of course you are,” she soothes.
I pick up my fork. “Maybe I’m better with gestures.”
Charlee pats her neck.”You’re very good with the gestures.”
“We know you love us,” Ava adds.
The other two chime in and then they all fall over themselves to declare that it doesn’t matter what words I use, that it’s the thought that counts. I guess I’m not ever going to be one who is overly effusive or full of words but as long as my family knows I love them that’s what is important. All year long we spend time in our busy lives, rushing from school to work to sporting event to ballet lessons. It’s good to come here and unwind, throw snowballs at each other, chase one another down the ski slopes and come home to a hot drink and even hotter love making. All it took to make us realize this was one night snowed in.