Page 68 of My Greatest Joy

“So there’s a trick to making the perfect one. You hold your hands out like this in a T, then you fall back like this,” I say, demonstrating it. “Then you move your arms like you’re doing jumping jacks. The trick is taking your time to stand so you don’t disturb it.”

Fallon chuckles as I make my creation, then I slowly stand.

“You were right. Itisperfect!”

“As if you doubted me,” I say, leading her over to some undisturbed snow. “We’ll do this one together.”

I take a step away from her, creating enough space so she’ll be able to move her arms and legs. “Ready?”

She nods.

“Three. Two. One,” I count down, and we fall backward. Fallon giggles as she thrashes in it.

“It’s so cold!” she squeals, repeating what I told her to do, then we stand. “Look.”

“I think these are the two best damn snow angels I’ve ever seen.”

She laughs and nods while she takes a picture with her phone. After she snaps it, it slips from her grip. Fallon goes to retrieve it, but when she straightens back up, snow slams into me.

My jaw drops at seeing her up-to-no-good face.

“That’s war,” I warn, quickly packing a ball, and launch it back at her. The next thing I know, we’re running around like teenagers, making snowballs, chunking them across the way, and laughing as we try to hit the other. Dasher barks while chasing us around, and I smile so much my face hurts.

Fallon races toward me, stumbles forward, and trips me. I hold her, bracing her fall as we land in the snow.

“I thought you’d be harder to take down than that,” she teases.

“That’s because you’re a force to be reckoned with.”

She smiles, and for a moment, I see something flash behind her eyes. She licks her lips and studies my mouth, and I’m tempted to kiss her. Unsaid emotions stream between us, pulling us closer. The anticipation of having her tongue slide against mine again is almost too much. Her eyes flutter closed, and I slowly move forward. Right before our lips crash together, Dasher plows into Fallon, and she falls to her side as he keeps playing. Fallon throws snow in his direction and he barks at it, trying to catch it in his mouth.

“Dasher,” I groan, hating that he ruined the moment but also finding it hilarious.

Once both of Fallon’s feet are firmly planted on the ground, she offers to help me up. As I stretch out my hand, I simultaneously reach behind me and grab another fistful of snow. She doesn’t realize it until it crashes into her forehead.

Fallon growls, then the fight continues until we’re breathless. Dasher is having the time of his life out here, and I’m almost willing to bet Fallon is too.

After admiring the view a little longer, we make our way back to the sleigh, and then ride toward the barn.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed myself this much during the holidays since before my mom died,” Fallon admits as we sit close together.

“Really?”

She nods, and I can see she’s lost in her head.

“I’m honored, Fallon. Do you want to talk about it?”

She sucks in a deep breath and unscrews the top of the hot cocoa, then takes a big swig. “My mom passed away two days after Christmas. The anniversary is something I dread every year.” She pauses. “You know, I hear these stories about people with sick parents who had time to prepare themselves for the worst. I didn’t get that because my mom was gone in a blink.”

“I’m sorry,” I offer. “I know it’s cliché, and that’s probably what everyone says, but no one should ever lose a parent at a young age.”

“I appreciate it. I was eleven when she passed. Taryn’s two years older and helped me a lot, but it wasn’t her responsibility to raise me. My teen years were difficult without my mom. We were all grieving at the same time too, which didn’t help.”

“I can’t imagine, but I can understand why you wouldn’t like this time of year. I’d feel the same way.”

“Thanks,” she whispers, and I place my arm around her back, offering what comfort I can.

“I live with a lot of guilt that she died.”

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