Page 22 of Lakehouse Mistletoe
Easing into the large chair by the window, she looked out. The weather called for snow tonight, and it was the first real snow they had gotten for the winter season.
The front porch lights illuminated the trees blowing in the frigid wind, and she could even catch the scent of cedar from the garland outside.
The tiny white lights on the garland seemed to sparkle in the night.
She reached for the TV remote and turned on the weather channel. She sipped her tea as the weather man predicted four inches of snow by morning.
She made a mental note to take a flashlight to place on her nightstand in case the electricity went out and the generator didn’t kick on. She was grateful for Oliver’s help, but knew she couldn’t always rely on someone.
Her phone buzzed and she picked it up.
I’m still thinking about you.
She groaned. Carl. When would he learn to leave her alone?
She had started a new life, and it didn’t include him.
Helen ignored the text and turned off the TV. She soon grew sleepy as she sipped her tea while the storm started up outside.
Chapter 17
Helen woke up at six and padded into the kitchen. It was still dark outside, so she started the coffee before heading to the living room. She tightened her robe around her waist and flipped on the porch lights before opening the front door.
To her delight, the whole yard was blanketed in snow. She carefully stepped onto the front porch where the furniture was dusted in white snowflakes.
She smiled to herself despite the cold wind cutting her to the bone.
She reached down and plugged in the Christmas lights. The porch erupted in a festive scene of greenery, charming white lights, and beautiful poinsettias.
Helen hurried back inside to look at the winter wonderland scene from the cozy environment of her living room.
She grabbed a cup of coffee and snuggled up in the large chair by the window and turned on the fireplace with the remote.
It had to at least be five inches of snow on the ground, and it was still falling.
A small twinge of sadness fell over her. She imagined couples sitting together on their couches enjoying the winter snow. The wife was probably serving coffee while the husband was reading the newspaper. They both snuggled under a cozy throw on the couch.
She frowned. “Nope. In reality they would be arguing over who used up the last of the coffee creamer and who was going to shovel the driveway.” She laughed to herself.
It wasn’t bad being on her own. She’d been married for so long that her life became intertwined with Carl’s. She’d been the homemaker and charity organizer while he went out to work and made the money. She remembered her grandmother always told her every woman should have their own money apart from her husband.
Helen wished she had listened to her grandmother. But she let her heart rule where her head should have been in charge.
She sipped her coffee and wondered how different her life would have been if she had worked outside the home.
Never again would she be dependent on a man.
Not wanting to leave her comfy spot, she grabbed her phone out of her robe pocket and pulled up the Notes app. She quickly made a list of cookies she wanted to make during December. If time allowed, she would make a different batch of cookies every day to be shared during tea. She always wanted to do that, but Carl insisted she just stick with making sugar cookies since that was his favorite.
She looked up and glanced outside. She might be alone, but she was free to do whatever she wanted.
A slight smile etched on her lips. A sliver of excitement raced up her spine. It was a foreign feeling but she hoped it would soon become normal.
Chapter 18
Later that day, as Helen was pulling a batch of fresh snickerdoodle cookies out of the oven, a truck pulled up. Helen frowned. Her only guests, a couple from Georgia, had already checked in and were out touring the town of Hopeton.
A brief knock on the back door had Helen hurrying to answer.
