Page 2 of Cabin Fever With My First Flame

“Why did you and Finn break up in high school?” Ella asks.

“It’s a long story, Ella. Maybe another time,” I reply, darting my eyes between Ava and Mia.

She waves her hand toward the front window where the snow is well over a foot deep, and a plow has yet to come by. “It’s not like we’re going anywhere, and we have the time.”

I sigh. “It’s not that big of a deal, Ella. Finn was a year older than me and a grade ahead. When he graduated, he went to Buffalo to train as a firefighter. He was supposed to be gone for six months and then come back for me. Our plan was to get married when I graduated. I waited for him, but six months turned into a year, and there was no sign of Finn. The calls slowly stopped coming until I received a letter in the mail saying he was moving to California to fight the wildfires—without me.”

My six-year-old daughter, Ava, comes over and sits in my lap, asking where we are. I tell her that we ran out of gas and that there are knights in shining armor coming to rescue us. Ava giggles, but ten-year-old Mia is less enthusiastic about our impromptu camping trip. Pulling up her pants, she comes overand sits crisscross on the floor next to Ella. “What happened next? Is that when you fell in love with Dad?”

I nod. “With Finn, I loved him from the moment he moved to town my freshman year. Our chemistry was off the charts, and we were inseparable for those three years before he left. Your dad was his best friend, and the three of us always hung out together. So, when Finn never came back, the friendship between your dad and I grew into something more. We dated for a couple of years, fell in love, and then got married.”

Ella’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “So, Finn was the hot firefighter who burned you, and Dad was the rebound guy. Any regrets about not chasing after Finn after everything that has happened between you and Dad?”

I narrow my eyes at Ella. “I can always count on you to call it like you see it, Ella. However, I wouldn’t have put it quite that way. I loved your father very much. I never saw your father as a rebound, and our relationship took time to develop. My love for Finn was instant and intense. My love for your father grew from friendship. I loved them differently, but no less than with all my heart. I have no regrets, especially since God gave me the three of you. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

We have a group hug before Ella sits back on her haunches. “Do you think you might run into Finn? How cool would that be to get a second chance?”

I shake my head adamantly. “Finn lives in California, Sweetie. There’s not a chance…”

Ahh!My girls scream in unison when a man in a black ski mask begins pounding on the window, but I can’t get a good look at him from my position. “We’re here to rescue you, miladies. We got a call that you were in need of assistance.”

Three more sets of eyes hidden behind neon-colored ski masks peer at us from over the hood of the truck. The person wearing the bright yellow ski mask rolls his eyes. I can’t see his face, butI get the feeling he can’t be older than 15 or 16. He waves us over and then points to two quad runners that each seat four people. “We’re your ride. Grab your stuff, and let’s go.”

I give him a grateful smile and then make sure each of the girls is bundled up in their new coats, boots, scarves, hats, and gloves. They each have a backpack with a few changes of clothes and basic toiletries. The wind is picking up, and the visibility is getting closer to zero with every passing second.

I wrap a scarf around my face before opening the door and falling knee-deep in fresh powder. The man doesn’t bother to look at me as he hastily helps each of the girls and gets them settled into the back of the quad runners. When he comes back to give me an assist, he stops in his tracks, and his eyes widen in surprise.

I turn around to see what has caught his attention, wondering if there is a bear behind me. When I see nothing, I shrug and move past him, taking the last available seat in the ATV. When he hops into the driver’s seat, I tap him on the shoulder and give him the address that we’re staying at in town.

“No can do,” he replies. “Visibility will be zero within the next ten minutes, and it’s too dangerous to stay out here in the middle of a blizzard. Our cabin is on the other side of the hill, less than a mile away. You and your girls will be safe with us while we ride out the storm. Don’t worry, Bailey Bug. You’re in good hands.”

Bailey Bug? Only one person has ever called me that.

“Finn?”

Chapter two

Finn

Fighting fires and jumpingfrom an airplane is easier than getting three boys to put down their game controllers to help me bring in extra firewood. After a few grumbles, Micah—the oldest of the three—is the first to relent and do the right thing. Since the eight-year-old twins, Jonah and Isaac, look up to their older brother, they quickly follow his lead.

“Let’s gear up and move out,” I tell them. “The sooner we get this done, the sooner you can get back to playing your game. And don’t forget, the three of you need to help me decorate the inside of the cabin for Christmas this evening.”

Micah nods and fights back his tears. At 16, he feels that it’s his duty to be a rock for his brothers. “Mom always loved decorating for the holidays. She had the tree up before Thanksgiving, and our house always looked like it threw up Christmas. She always roped us into making cookies and singing carols. I didn’t appreciate it then, but I’d give anything to be making gingerbread men with her right now.”

Since Micah isn’t a hugger, I pat him on the back. “I’m not much of a baker, but we can try to make some cookies tonight if you want. Who knows? It might be fun.”

Micah shakes his head and helps his younger brothers get dressed. “It was always Mom’s thing. You don’t have to try and replace her, Finn. We’ll create our own traditions now that we live with you.”

The four of us spend the next hour hauling wood from the shed at the edge of the property, loading up the quad ATVs with as much as they can hold. We’re in the process of unloading the last of the firewood when the walkie-talkie on my hip bursts with static followed by the fire chief’s clipped tone.

“Hollister, are you there? Come in, Hollister.”

I motion for the boys to stand on the porch and out of the weather, then press the talk button to reply. “This is Hollister. What’s up, Chief?”

“We have an emergency. There is a woman and her three children stuck in the storm not far from your location. The plows can’t keep up with the roads in town, let alone clear the highway. This storm is turning into a full-on blizzard, and you’re the only one close enough to help them,” he says.

I turn to face three boys who have the Hollister gene coursing through their veins. “Micah, I’ll need your assistance to drive the other ATV. Ugh! I can’t leave your brothers here alone.”

---