Page 52 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

Holly scanned the living room, her eyes landing on Eddie. “Do you know where my mom is?”

Eddie poked the fire and regarded Holly over his shoulder. “She’s out on the deck.”

“What? But it’s freezing out.”

Eddie set down the poker and stood. “I think she wanted to watch the snow.”

Holly nodded and grabbed a throw blanket from the couch before heading toward the back door. As soon as she opened the door, Dasher and Cupid darted out, eager to play in the thick snow. Flurries drifted around her, and the moon illuminated the night sky. She wrapped herself in the blanket and approached her mom, who stood at the edge of the deck, resting her elbows on the railing and gazing out onto Rachel and Eddie’s backyard. Vivian let out a giggle as Cupid and Dasher playfully pounced on one another, kicking up flakes into their fur.

Vivian continued staring into the distance. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Holly draped one end of the blanket over her mother’s shoulders. “You know you can watch the snow fall from inside.”

“I like the full immersive experience.” Vivian laughed. “Besides, it reminds me of your father.”

Though Holly’s skin tingled from the cold, she was warmed by a sense of calm that came over her. “Yeah. Me too.”

“I can remember the first time he brought me to Silverwood. I had never seen snow before, at least not in person. But movies and TV shows can’t prepare you for the magic of your first snowfall. Of the first time a tiny, cold snowflake drifts onto your cheek, melts, and becomes a part of your soul.”

“It’s hard for me to imagine growing up without having experienced snow.”

Vivian set a hand on Holly’s. “Because we brought you here every year since you were a baby. Silverwood has always been a part ofyoursoul.”

Holly smiled and leaned her head against her mom’s temple. “Thank you for that.”

“Your father wouldn’t have had it any other way.” Vivian’s body shook as she chuckled. “He loved Silverwood. Loved being out in the snow. Hiking, sledding, snowball fights. He never did have the knack for skiing, though.”

“Is that why we never went?”

“Well, I was no good at it, either. I could climb a banana tree in my bare feet back then, but I couldn’t stay upright on skis for the life of me.”

“It’s a good thing my friends and I took lessons in high school, then.”

Dasher ducked his head into the snow while Cupid bounced in a circle around him, barking.

“Most of all,” Vivian continued, “your father loved Christmas. Loved everything about it, especially the Silverwood Christmas market. That’s why he built that sled.”

“Sleigh, Mom.”

“That’s what I said.” Vivian snickered, obviously knowing she’d said the wrong word but being stubborn about it. “He put all his love for Christmas into that sleigh. I know he would be so happy and proud that you made it part of the annual Christmas celebration.”

Holly snaked her arm around her mother and squeezed her tightly. “I’m glad you think so, Mom. I think he would, too.”

Chapter Eighteen

The mountain was blanketed in white. The sky could’ve been bluer, but Viola didn’t mind. She breathed in the crisp, cold air and reveled in the fact that she was going skiing today. For someone who lived in a mountain town, she didn’t ski nearly as much as she would have liked.

Silverwood Sky wasn’t overly crowded today, but plenty of people were in attendance. Knowing the children’s charity would receive a nice donation from the lift tickets warmed Viola’s heart.

Viola waited as Jonas clipped into his skis. He fumbled a bit, holding his helmet and goggles in one hand while trying to line one runner parallel with the other. She held back a laugh as she went to help him.

She wanted to put her arms around him to hold him steady but resisted the urge.

This isn’t a date, remember? It’s platonic. No matter how cute he is.

“Here, put this on first.” Viola took his helmet from his hand and hovered it over his head.

Jonas pulled down the headgear and secured the strap. Viola wrapped the goggles over the helmet but kept them up near his forehead for now.

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