Page 28 of The Santa of the Mountain

And five minutes after I finish my hot chocolate, we make it to the spot.

“We’re here.”

And almost on cue, my phone lights up with text messages and missed calls and voicemails from my sister, mother, and every other relative near and far.

“Oh boy,” I mutter to myself as I stare at my phone.

“Oh boy is right,” he rasps, raising his phone. “Guess we better get to it.”

“Guess so.”

He sighs. I sigh. And we both call our parents, letting them know everything’s okay, but both of my calls reach voicemail. So much for waiting by the phone…

Oh well, I don’t mind. I leave my message, letting them know I won’t be able to make it to the lodge for Christmas, but Cole assured me he’d get me to the wedding one way or another. After hanging up, I listen in on Cole’s call. I can’t help myself because he’sright there.

“It’s one year, Ma. It’s—sorry. Didn’t mean to call you Ma, it just slipped out.”

I can’t help but smile. I wouldn’t mind meeting the woman who can trip up Cole.

“No, do not come and get me. I’m fine. I’ll dig myself out in a few—Yes,” he says, staring at his feet. “Yes, I know it’s my birthday. How could—uh huh… Yep. Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow. Merry Christmas. Love you too.”

He hangs up and stands there for a moment, silently staring at nothing in particular, and then he looks at me. “I’m pushing forty and my mom acts like I’m twelve. Is it like this with your parents?”

“I think it’s that way with most parents.”

He sighs. “Okay, that’s done. You know she wanted to come dig me out herself? She wanted to load up a snowmobile with shovels and…” He sighs. “It’s okay.”

“Sounds like she loves you a lot. Misses you too.”

He nods. “First Christmas I haven’t spent with my family.”

I swallow. “Same here.”

“But I couldn’t be spending it with a better person.”

I swear the snow around me melts from the heat he just made me feel.

“I… I think so too,” is all I can think of saying, my mind and body flustered.

He closes the gap between us, wrapping an arm around me. Even though I’m wearing a heavy coat, it feels as though Cole’s touching my bare skin.

“Come here,” Cole says, squeezing me once, “I want to show you one of my favorite spots.”

We walk, Cole’s arm wrapped around me, until we reach a rocky outcropping.

“We’ll stay back. There’s too much snow and ice and I don’t want either of us to—” He motions with his hand and makes a whistling noise followed by asplat!

“Good idea.”

“You can see Whispering Winds from here. Right… there.” He points to buildings to my left. It’s a long way down the mountain but I swear I can see the Inn. And if I squint I think I can see the park, the massive Christmas tree, and possibly Evan in his sweater. Maybe not…

“Used to come here and have lunch with my dad when he was working.”

I don’t want to prod, but I have a feeling he’s not alive from how Cole’s talking about him. But then I get my answer.

“He passed away a few years back.”

“I’m so sorry, Cole.”

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