Page 69 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
“Oh,”she said, halting her jazz hands and her singing at once. “Oh no.”
But before she had time to really react, River stepped forward, his own deep voice joining Mariah’s dulcet tones.
Now it was Nora’s turn to stand and stare as River began to move with a grace worthy of a boy-band—spinning, swaying, and ending his performance by falling to his knees and howling out the final “you” of the song about three octaves lower than Mariah, but with no less passion.
The kids were immediately on their feet cheering, and Nora joined them, laughing in surprise and delight as River took a very dramatic bow.
On the radio, Sinatra started singing “Santa Claus isComing to Town,” and Nora turned the dial down a bit again.
“You weredancing,”John-John exclaimed, scrambling off the bench to run to River. “And singing, just like Aunt Nora.”
“Well, notjustlike her,” River said, waggling his eyebrows at Nora.
His silliness was so unexpected that she couldn’t help laughing out loud.
“How are the horses?” Pixie asked. “Are they warm enough?”
“They’re just fine in the barn,” River told her. “They’re having an indoor day today. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll have better weather.”
“We made snowflakes,” John-John burst out. “And Aunt Nora made acake.But we’re waiting for you before we have our breakfast.”
“I thought something smelled good in here,” River said, tousling the boy’s hair. “Okay if I run and shower before we eat?”
“Absolutely,” she told him. “I’ll just start the eggs.”
“I could get used to this,” he said.
His tone was teasing, but his eyes were filled with such warmth and longing that she had to look away.
This only seems like it could work now, when we’re snowed in, away from the rest of the world.
She knew that as soon as his mom came home, or his brother, or they went out in public as a couple, reality would come crashing back down on them.
She honestly wondered if she would even care at thispoint. She was starting to think that a life with River would be worth the scandal.
But she couldn’t risk the possibility that River wouldn’t be able to handle the judgement. If they tried to become a family and he walked away, the kids might never recover.
They all enjoyed their breakfast,and when it was finished, they hung the paper snowflakes all over the house as the kittens followed after them.
“I still have to wrap presents for my family,” River announced when that was done.
The kids volunteered to help, of course. Nora fed the kittens again while the three of them wrapped up colorful flannels, pretty mugs, and paperbacks, and festooned them with ribbons and stickers.
After lunch, the snow had slowed, so they all bundled up.
“We’re going to make asnow bear,” John-John said, helpless with happiness. “We’re going to make asnow bear.”
The snow was perfect for it, and they wound up making a whole family of snow bears, two big ones and two little ones, that they could see out the living room window.
By the time they got back in, they all had rosy cheeks and a good appetite for supper.
While River headed out to take care of the horses again, Nora cut up some fruit, heated the leftover soup,and cut thick slices of homemade bread that they all enjoyed once he got back.
“Thank you for soup and bread,” Pixie said softly.
“Thank you for snow bears,” John-John added.
“Thank you for a warm spot on a cold day,” Nora said.
