Page 1 of Snowbound with the Santas

1

RAYNE

“Rayne, all I’m saying is that next time your family flies you out to the Austrian mountains for Christmas, just bring me along! An entire month surrounded by snowy mountains and people to do everything for me?” My best friend, Nina, sighs wistfully, bringing her face close to the phone as we FaceTime. “Heaven, my dear. Heaven.”

“You make it sound so romantic,” I murmur back, tilting my head slightly more to the left and pressing a small silver hoop through my ear. Soft Christmas music plays through the air from the small radio beside the sink, and the ornate mirror is surrounded by colorful, twinkling lights.

“Uh… have you seen what you’re wearing? Where you are?” Nina snorts, unamused. “Your family might be terrible, but I would trade that for my shitty apartment and a wet New York winter any day.”

Stepping back from the mirror, I smooth my hands down the jeweled bodice of the dress my mother thrust into my arms the minute I arrived here.

From Nina’s perspective, things are pretty magical.

I worked my ass off all year to accommodate my family’s demands to spend winter with them in Austria. Usually, I’d ignore such an invitation, but I skipped out on the last three Christmases, and Mom was not taking no for an answer this year. Life as a second-grade teacher is far from glamorous, but I love it. At a glance, no one would suspect that I come from a life of wealth and privilege because I have tried so hard to leave that part of me behind.

Growing up, I watched my mother look down on everyone around her. As a child, I thought it was because my father had left before I was born and Mom was simply overprotective about who came close to us. The older I got, the more I learned that she was just snobbish. Too much money had given her such a skewed outlook on life that her yelp of shock when I told her I wanted to be a teacher still rings in my mind to this day.

My uncle wasn’t much help back then, either. Cecil, a family friend turned uncle, always seemed a little more level-headed until I grew up and realized he was just as bad as my mother, only more insufferable. His government job had him walking around like he wasblessed.

“Earth to Rayne.” Nina’s voice cuts through my rambling thoughts, and I look back at my phone. “Are you so enthralled by your ethereal beauty? You self-centeredbitch.”

Laugher bubbles out of me, and I slide my hands from the jeweled bodice down to the smooth silk skirt.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about how I have to spend all evening dressed up like a shiny candy wrapper just so my mother can act like she has a daughter she’s proud of.”

“Oh, yes.” Nina switches to a pompous tone. “Such a disappointment, having a daughter who teaches the commoners. We must bring her back to the fold where her toilet paper is made of solid gold and she had six different people to dress herself.”

“You mock,” I say with a giggle, “but my mother livesexactlylike that.”

“Wait, really?” Nina’s eyes widen. “Mind swiping me some golden sheets, then? I can sell them on eBay and secure a down payment on my next apartment.”

“I’m on it.” Flashing her a grin, my heart lifts slightly, and for a moment, things feel normal.

Instead of enjoying the holidays with her and our friends, I’m here, back in the smothering life I worked so hard to escape due to a family obligation I can’t shake.

Mom guilts me too quickly. A few words about her age and ailing health, and I crumble immediately. I can’t help it. My heart is too easily played, as proven by so many of my past mistakes.

“You know when you come back to work, though, you might need to bring a gold sheet for everyone. Hilary is pissed you got so much time off,” Nina says, finally leaning away from the phone with a long stretch.

I groan softly and gently fluff my curls. They swing forward, hiding the earrings from view, and I nod.

“I know. I didn’t take a holiday for over a year for this and I still have no idea what my mom said to the boss in order for this to happen. I bet she made some kind of donation.”

“Money talks,” Nina agrees. “As long as it benefits our kids, right?”

“Exactly. It’s fine.” I suck in a deep breath, and the unforgiving press of the bodice stabs into my ribs. “I can do this. Winter here, then I can go back home and not see anyone else for another three years. On my way in, I’m pretty sure I saw an aunt I haven’t seen since I was twelve. Mom invited everyone this year.”

“A real aunt?” Nina asks.

“At this point, I have no clue. Money is the blood in this family, so who knows?”

Suddenly, a sharp rap of knuckles against the door interrupts the conversation, and my mother’s sharp, eloquent tone drips through the door.

“Rayne? Rayne, are you still in there? How long does it take to put on a dress? Does it fit? I knew I should have gone a size up. You look like you’ve put on weight.”

“Mom!” Warmth floods my cheeks, and I press one hand to my abdomen, pressing firmly enough that the gemstones stab into my palm. “I’m almost done.”

“Ridiculous. I’m coming in.”

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