Page 47 of Once Upon a Winter
Enzo blew air through his lips. “That’s not why I told you all that. My point is that love isn’t about skipping in slow motion through a meadow with the lady you love. Don’t get me wrong. We still manage to frolic now and then, if you know what I mean. But the rest of the time, stuff happens. Love happens. Once you accept it, add another person to the mix. It’s like finding your balance again.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes you don’t. You just fall on your face.”
Enzo smirked. “Not you. You’ll be fine. So will she. You just have to decide whether to be fine together.”
Cooper narrowed his eyes. “You make it sound simple.”
From the other room came the voices of arguing children. Enzo burst out laughing. “Hear that? That’s love.”
Cooper grinned. “I’d better let you get back to your family.”
They stood and headed to the door. A round of hugs and handshakes later, Enzo said, “Give my best to your mom.”
“I will, and my best to your parents.”
As Cooper headed outside to his car, Enzo yelled, “Call her!”
Without looking back, Cooper waved, but that didn’t mean he was going to do it.
Eighteen
It wasdark when Laura arrived home from Christmas Day with her family. The house lights were on, so the power was back. As she unloaded the trunk of her car and headed inside, she remembered how Cooper had insisted they go through the house and turn off any light switches and faucets that were on when the power went out. They’d obviously missed one or two.
With a pang in her heart, she recalled how happy they had been while getting ready to go to his house for Christmas Eve. Her family’s Christmas festivities had helped keep thoughts of Cooper at bay, but now that she was home, heartache overwhelmed her.
A gust of wind blew an icy mist at her face, and she shivered. There was no avoiding her feelings, so she would confront them. That called for a mug of hot cocoa and a Christmas movie—something that said, “It’s a miserable life.” She would start by watching Judy Garland sing“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”while she looked on the internet, the source of all wisdom, for a list of the saddest Christmas movies of all time.
Love Actuallycame to mind. She was easily as sad as the Laura Linney and Emma Thompson characters, not to mention the guy with the signs. It was a shame the stores were all closed. Although Cooper had mentioned that one of her neighbors was an elementary school teacher, which meant she was bound to have stockpiles of markers and poster board. Laura would have to embark upon a new career as a cat burglar, but tough times called for tough measures.
I could ring Cooper’s doorbell and stand holding my posters. Perfect. There. A well-defined action plan always makes everything better. What would I write on the posters?
Hey, Cooper,
How do I look standing here with these cards?
Don’t answer that.
The thing is, I’m here because…
Err…
Just because it’s Christmas,
And at Christmas, it used to be customary…
To go door-to-door and harass people with song.
Lucky for you, I’m not singing.
(Have you heard me sing?)
No… I’m just standing here because…
Christmas is a magical time, and
Even though the snow globe made you do it,
I loved how you seemed to love me,
