Page 29 of When It Snows

We sit in silence for a moment before Hazel stands. “Come on. Let’s go help Sadie in the kitchen while Mom deals with Dad.”

We leave the bedroom and walk to the kitchen. It’s not a long walk. The farmhouse isn’t big by any standard.

“Scarlett!” Sadie shouts and drops the potato she’s peeling to rush me.

“It’s good to see you, Sadie,” I say as we hug. I missed my little sister. We talk on the phone but it’s not the same as seeing someone in person.

“You, too. You should come home more often.”

“Maybe she will now,” Hazel sings.

“Oh, are we talking about Weston? Do you love him? Are you going to marry him?”

I do love him. And I miss him. The second he climbed into his patrol car to drive away I felt as if a hole had been bored into my heart and I’d never be complete again.

But I didn’t stop him. He has an important job to do. He doesn’t need his hook-up to chase after him.

The door flies open and my brothers, Thomas and Ian, run inside.

“Boots off!” I order before they tramp snow everywhere.

They kick off their boots, leaving them in front of the door for everyone to trip on, before rushing me. “Scar!”

They jump me and I nearly fall over. Whereas I’m short like my mom, my brothers got their height from Dad. They’re both over six feet tall.

“You finally made it home for Christmas on Smuggler’s Hideaway,” Thomas says when they release me.

“About time, Scar,” Ian adds.

“Scar might be moving back to the island,” Hazel says.

I throw a towel at her. “I never said I was moving back.”

“But how else are you going to carry on a relationship with Weston?” Sadie asks.

Thomas scowls. “Weston Milton? He’s a player.”

“He’s not good enough for you,” Ian adds.

“I never said anything about dating Weston.”

Would I like to date him? Hell yeah. I love the man. I want to spend every minute I can with him.

“Good. Because the man doesn’t date. He’s a one and done kind of man.” Thomas wags his finger at me. “And not the man for you.”

My heart squeezes. A one and done kind of man. I know this. Weston is a player through and through. Somehow my heart didn’t get the message because it wants me to wrap myself around him and never let go.

Chapter 12

If it’s snowing, I’m not going.

Weston

“Merry Christmas!” I shout as I enter my childhood home.

Mom bustles out of the kitchen. “Aren’t you handsome?”

We’re all dressed up in Prohibition era costumes for the Smuggler’s Holiday Masquerade Dance. It’s tradition to attend the dance on Christmas Eve on Smuggler’s Hideaway.

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