Page 15 of Ribbons and Roses

“One of these days I’m going to convert you.” She rises on tiptoe to kiss me on the lips.

“Keep kissing me like that and you just might.”

We move into the den where Stitches has a roaring fire burning and Sasha is helping the kids decorate the massive Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

“Finally,” Delphine says, holding out her buzzing phone in her hand. “This is Dad. I bet he’s calling to tell me they’re on the way.”

I think nothing of the comment as Delphine answers the call and I move toward the kids jumping and pinning ornaments on the tree.

“Bryce, Dominic… be careful with that tinsel,” Sasha says, casting the boys an amused glance. “You’re going to wind up tangled.”

“I’m a Christmas mummy!” Dominic exclaims. He stretches his arms out, the shiny tinsel wrapped around both, and begins stiffly lurching forward.

The other kids laugh.

I’m on the verge of joining them when bits and pieces of Delphine’s phone conversation catch my attention. Her tone of voice has deepened with worry.

“Lost?” she asks. “What do you mean you’re lost? Did you try GPS? The roads are a little tricky, but there’s a sign you can’t miss. You’ve circled five times? It’ll be dark soon.”

“Stitches and I can go meet them,” I say. “They can’t be far if they’ve already gone through the town.”

She shakes her head. “No, Jon… that’s okay. They’ll find their way. Dad, it’s just some snow flurries. You’ll be fine.”

“We’ll go. It should be quick.”

I call Stitches over to tell him about our impromptu field trip. He seems disappointed if only because he was ready to break out the adult drinks.

“It shouldn’t take more than half an hour.”

We head out to the melody of laughter from the kids as they finish decorating and the sight of Delphine gifting me a grateful smile.

Stitches takes the wheel while I ride passenger.

Ernest was correct when he told Delphine over the phone that it had started to snow. Light flurries flit through the cold air and gather on the ground. My security on watch offers to tag along, but I decline and tell them to remain at the house with Delphine, Sasha and the kids.

“Should be quick.”

“Let’s hope they’re just lost. Not really, really lost,” Stitches says, turning down the road leading up to our cabin home. “Did they not think of GPS or what?”

“Ernest told Phi it wasn’t working.”

“We are way up in the mountains and this weather is pretty crappy.”

“But circling five times and still missing the sign?”

Neither of us have any answers to explain what could possibly have gone wrong that Ernest and Marcel struggle to find the property. Simply missing the sign and the GPS not working doesn’t seem adequate enough when they’re so close in the area.

We drive down the winding road in search of them.

The snow picks up. What was once tiny flurries become thicker flakes that dust the roads and the windshield. Stitches slows up as a precaution and flicks on the headlights to be safe. This time of year it’s usually dark out by four or five in the afternoon.

“Is that their car?” Stitches asks, jutting his chin at the side of the road. “What the hell would make them pull over?”

I follow his gaze to find an empty rental car parked on the shoulder, the driver side door hanging open. We brake and come up behind them, turning off the engine so we can explore the scene.

“Their luggage is in the back.” Stitches walks around to the rear passenger side and peers into the car window.

I’ve started toward the tree line, peering into the distance in case I catch sight of them.

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