by Lexi Ostrow
Clenching his jaw, he dropped the note onto the table, not even caring if it landed with her name face up. Blowing out a breath, he forced himself to refrain from snatching the damn thing from where it had landed.
“Let’s go, Marshall. You’ve got plenty of other trees to deliver while you torture yourself waiting to see if Anna shows up.”
The family plane always felt so familiar to Anna as if it too were a part of the family since it was how they all traveled, even short distances when trains or road trips would suffice.
“Let me grab your bag, Miss DeMarco,” Tennard said with a warm smile.
“No, don’t be silly. What’s the use of being young if I don’t move my luggage myself?” Winking, she tossed it up into the overhead compartment. “See, perfectly capable.”
She heard him laugh as shewalked past and took a seatin the first of the large chairs, sinking into the plush brown fabric. It was like flying first class on steroids, and she loved it. There weren’t many things she actually acknowledged as a benefit of her family’s fortune, but a private jet was one of them she did.
“Just sit back, Miss DeMarco. We’ll be at the landing strip in no time.” Tennard’s voice drifted through the plane’s intercom.
“Ha! If I believed that, I’d be in for a very long flight,” she shouted toward the front of the cabin, not sure if he could hear it or not.
Leaning her head to the side, she flinched, having forgotten the earrings she wore and causing the post to press into her neck. Earrings you shouldn’t even be wearing. Chastising herself, she almost removed Marshall’s gift but stopped. Just as she’d stopped herself from taking them to a local shop to sell. In her head, she knew it wasn’t the proper way to move on. In her heart, she couldn’t bear to completely erase him.
Not just yet at least.
Closing her eyes, she let the soft purr of the plane’s engine help her relax, hoping she would drift off and not be forced to deal with her thoughts for the next ten hours.
Anna sighed as she saw the billowing plume of smoke rising from her family’s chalet. She’d been trying to get there a day before everyone else, both to soak in the resort and to speak to Marshall so she could try to move on with her life. However, it was obvious her text to Leena had spurred someone else to come up early with her because Marshall never would turn the fireplace on.
Tugging her bag over the small pile of snow, she tried not to let it get her down. The supposed storms had clearly never hit, but even if it wasn’t the winter wonderland she was used too, she wouldn’t let that get in her way of enjoying the trip.
This Christmas is for starting over, for starting fresh, she thought to herself as she twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.
“Hello?” she called from the front door as she wiped her boots and stepped in. “Who beat me here?”
“Anna!” Leena shouted from somewhere in the house, appearing mere seconds later with a smile on her face and wearing the most ridiculous pair of reindeer pajamas ever made. “Oh, Jake and I were just taking pictures,” she said as she unzipped the green onesie and tugged the antler-hood off her head, sending her blonde hair tumbling down in waves.
“I thought you were flying out later?” Anna said skeptically, wondering why they would arrive early when she’d specifically told Leena she wanted some alone time at the chalet.
Leena’s face burned bright red, but before she could say anything, Jake slid up behind her, wrapping her in an embrace. His pajamas were identical to Leena’s, except red. Her sister-in-law loved Christmas, but the outfit on Jake was just plain creepy.
“Hey, baby sis. We just had something we needed to take care of. We promise not to crash your day of alone time.” He kissed Leena’s neck. “In fact, there’s hot cocoa Leena made from scratch on the counter. Why don’t you grab a cup while we change and then see us off? We’ll catch a movie in town.”
“I’m not going to let you leave without an answer as to what on Earth you’re doing in those outfits!” she shouted as she made her way to the kitchen, the smell of hot cocoa getting stronger with each step.
The house was decorated as impeccably as ever, but she didn’t really take a moment to look at anything. Except for last year, when it had been done in Leena and Jake’s wedding colors, everything was always identical in the rooms people could see. The personal touches were never in the rooms upfront. It was in the back of the chalet—the living room, breakfast nook and kitchen—that held decorations more meaningful to her family.
Five Christmas elf figurines sat on the breakfast bar, one for each of her siblings and herself. She knew how badly her mother would love to add a sixth, but she just wasn’t ready. Three popcorn bowls were placed on the counter next to monofilament that Jake and Leena had already prepped for tree decorating. A gingerbread house made of pewter acted as a centerpiece for the round table on the other side of the space, and a personalized DeMarco Communications toy train encircled a miniature tree next to the television in the living room.
Lifting the lid off the crock-pot, she inhaled the scent of hot cocoa. A rich, sweet perfume wafted up and caused her to drool just a small amount. She wasn’t the biggest cocoa girl, but she couldn’t turn down chocolate. Dipping the ladle into the liquid, she pulled the utensil out and grinned when she saw how thick it was. The mugs on the counter each had a name on it, likely a gift from Leena and Jake, and she found the one with hers before dropping two generous scoops in.
“Mmm…” She groaned softly as the sweet chocolate passed over her lips. Leena was good at a lot, but nothing more so than making hot chocolate.
“Better than hot apple cider?” Leena teased as she walked up next to Anna, dressed in a customary ugly Christmas sweater and jeans.
“I don’t like to abandon my holiday drink of choice since it’s such an intense battle in this family, but this is divine.” Anna took another sip and reveled in the heavenly taste. “So, what are you and my brother doing here early?”
“I wanted to take family photos up here. It seemed appropriate since this place holds a certain degree of magic for Jake and I.” Grinning, Leena grabbed the mug with her name and dunked it straight into the crock-pot.
“And the horrible costumes?” Anna prompted, brow raising as she waited for Leena to try to explain it.
“I lost a damned bet,” Jake grumbled as he entered, also sans costume but wearing a simple red Henley and jeans.
“He sure did!”
“So, family photos?” Anna wasn’t completely sure she was convinced. Granted, since Leena was the Queen of Christmas, taking photos wasn’t too odd. “You’re certain you didn’t come to check in on me?”
Leena and Jake popped over to London far more often than they should, but she enjoyed it. Prior to Leena, she couldn’t remember the last time Jake had done anything but party it up in his French lifestyle. They were also the only ones in the family who knew anything about Adam.
“Not at all.” Jake dug his hand into the popcorn bowl. “In fact—” he shoved some into his mouth “—we thought you’d have been here a few more days.” He dropped his hand into the bowl closest to him for more.
“But, now that you mention it…” Leena poked Anna’s side playfully. “Where is Adam?”
Groaning, she took another long sip of hot cocoa and walked to sit at the breakfast table. She’d known someone would inquire about her love life, and it made sense it was one of the only people who knew she currently had one.
“Did you honestly think I’d bring someone I have only been dating for half a year to Christmas here?”
Laughing, Leena joined her at the table while Jake disappeared into the hall. “Good point. Though I want to hear more.”
“About…?”
“Coy is not cute on you, Anna DeMarco. About you and Adam. How is everything? Will we get to meet him after the holidays? You’ve done a good job of hiding him.”
That made Anna laugh. “I am not hiding him. We weren’t even that serious until a
month or so ago.”
“Oh,” Leena said, dragging the word out like an incredibly irritating toddler who’d just learned a juicy secret.
“Not, oh,” Anna said, mimicking the way ithad been said. “I just think our feelings naturally progressed until we realized how we felt about one another, and now we’re just taking it from there.”
“Well, I suppose, if Jake is the fastest moving DeMarco and Nick is by far the slowest, that it makes sense you’d fall somewhere in the middle and date like a typical adult.”
Anna looked over the brim of the mug at Leena as she sipped. “I’m not certain if that was a compliment or an insult.”
“Don’t think she’s too normal just yet,” Jake said as he tossed her a badly folded piece of white paper with her name scrawled across the top. “I just did my brotherly duty and read it to make certain it wasn’t some psycho trying to contact you.”
Anna knew who the note was from, she knew that handwriting intimately from nearly two years of writing to one another after her parents had forbidden her from going to the chalet when they’d found them in bed. It hadn’t had anything to do with Marshall not being as rich as they were, like some of her friends had thought, but simply that they’d found their baby in bed with a boy.
“You read my mail!” she exclaimed as she hastily unfolded the note.
“Um, no, baby sister. I read your note. That is not mail.” He grinned as if he’d just found the greatest loophole of all time.
“Really, Jake. We need to work on your big brother skills,” Leena said.
Anna vaguely heard them teasing one another as she read the note and her mind took her back to the last time they had ever been happy together, even if she’d shattered it.
Anna,
We need to talk. Spring vacation proved to me that we’ve been dancing politely around one another for too long. Meet me on the slopes when you get here. I’ll be there all day, even with so little snow.
~ M.
Summer 2006
His lips lingered against hers, drawing out the kiss and making Anna melt farther against him. Gingerly, she pulled back and looked up, barely able to see him against the sparkling night sky. They’d been sitting amongst the trees, kissing and talking for nearly three hours. Three hours that felt as if they’d never spent time apart.
“I can’t believe you snuck away from your going away party to meet me,” he whispered before kissing her again as he wrapped his arms farther around her, tugging her against his chest.
“I can’t believe you thought kissing me the moment you saw me was the appropriate greeting.” She was breathless, lost in the moment and the feel of him around her after so many years apart.
“Can you think of something better than this?” His eyes were serious as he looked down at her. “It’s been a terribly long two years without you.”
Her heart seemed to grow too large for her chest. She’d missed him too. In fact, she hadn’t even dated anyone. Being without Marshall had been a terrible punishment, but she’d somehow managed to accept that she would have to move on one day, and she’d be able to do that since she’d been accepted by Oxford Business School. She’d never expected him to linger outside her graduation party until he caught her eye. She shouldn’t have walked outside to him because leaving felt impossible now that she’d been with him again.
“I need to tell you something, Marshall.” Her voice cracked as sadness filled her, stamping out the warmth of happiness she’d felt moments prior.
“That isn’t exactly the perfect response to my statement.”
She felt him stiffen but not pull away from her, which only made it harder to push the words out.
“I’m leaving for college in a week.”
He gave her a small smile. “Is that all? I already knew that. I can’t go with you, but we can make it work.”
Blowing out a slow, deep breath, she forced herself to maintain eye contact with him. “I’m going to school in Europe.”
His smile faltered a touch. “Well, I can save up for at least one visit a year.” He kissed the top of her forehead. “Unless you’re trying to break up with me.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Breaking up with me? Or me visiting?” He loosened his hold on her.
“Breaking up.”
“Then don’t worry about it. We will make it work. I don’t care what the world says, high school sweethearts can make forever and always work.”
She loved his optimism, not just about this, but the way he was always positive.
“I’m not coming back after college. My mother has already given me a position in our London office while I’m studying. Since my father’s death, she wants a DeMarco in every major location. Nick is here, Jake is in Paris and she’s got my cousins spread out between India, Germany and New York. That leaves London open.”
His arms slipped from around her, beckoning a chill she shouldn’t have felt in the summer, even high in the mountains.
“I don’t know what to say. I can’t just leave everyone and run away to Europe, Anna.” His words were cold as if her confession had shifted everything.
Standing, she forced herself to hold back the tears brimming in her eyes, though she was unable to keep her voice steady. “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for you to just reappear tonight or for me to instantly fall back in love with you.”
“Well, excuse me.” Marshall stood up. “I’ll just let you get back to your perfect Marshall-free life then.” He looked away and then back at her before stomping off, saying nothing more.
She sat there for less than a minute before leaping up, not caring that the dust and pine needles clung to her summer dress.
“Marshall!” she shouted, cupping her hands around the sides of her mouth. “Marshall, come back here!” She was racing, doing her best not to trip on small rocks and branches as she went.
There was no sign of him. He must have broken into a run during the precious seconds she’d sat, stunned that he had exploded in such a fashion. There was nothing left of the warmth she’d felt a moment prior. Just the warm breeze as it brushed against the tears streaming down her face.
“Anna? Are you going to meet him?” Leena waved her hands in Anna’s face.
Taking a deep breath, she met her sister-in-law’s gazes. She knew Leena could see the tears in her eyes, but she wasn’t going to acknowledge if Leena didn’t ask.
“I am. He’s part of why I came early. It’s been ten years since we were anything to each other, but I never got to say goodbye. I need to in order to move on.”
“Oh, honey. You and Marshall are not nothing,” Leena said soothingly.
“Hate to agree, but I’ve seen how he looks at you. Not to mention, you’re wearing the earrings he got you last year.” Jake pointed to her ears.
“I hate having a big brother sometimes.” She snorted.
“Sucky for you, considering you have two.” Jake snickered.
“Weren’t you both going to go into town and leave me alone?”
“All right, all right. Have fun pining over Marshall until you decide to see him.”
“Ignore my husband. He’s still not completely at the height of his maturity.” Leena ushered Jake out of the room, leaving Anna alone with her note.
“Now, all we need is a little more of the white stuff to grace us, and you’ll be a champ in no time.” Marshall smiled at the ten-year-old dressed in an extraordinarily bright snowsuit.
“Do you mean it?” he asked exuberantly.
Smiling wider Marshall patted the kid on the shoulder. “Absolutely. Your form has been perfect all day. I know it’s a bummer we didn’t have enough snow to really let you loose off the training course, but just hang in there. I’m sure there’s some Christmas magic waiting around the corner.”
“Thanks, Mr. Huck!”
“My pleasure, Parker. Let’s get you back to your mom.” He placed his hand on the small of the kid’s back and nudged him to begin walking back to th
e lodge.
He didn’t always see his students back, but he refused to let a child walk anywhere, no matter the distance, unattended. He’d been waiting what for felt like years for the moment when he would be able to hear someone call him Dad.
Sighing, he pushed the thought back when Parker waved enthusiastically to a woman that waved back.
“I’ll see you soon, Parker. Have a Merry Christmas if I don’t,” Marshall yelled after him.
“Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. Huck,” Parker shouted, barely bothering to look back.
Marshall looked out at the group of people lounging on the lodge deck, many with steaming mugs of something in their hands. They all looked so happy. Regardless of whether they sat in obvious families or appeared to be college kids on winter break, laughter and smiles were plastered on all their faces. Person by person, he checked the crowd gathered outside the lodge, scanning for any sign of vivid red hair and sparkling blue eyes—any sign that Anna had received his message.
He knew she’d arrived. He’d slipped out on his lunch hour like some crazed stalker and had gone down to the DeMarco cabin. While he hadn’t done anything as bold as knocking, he’d distinctly seen her figure through the living room window. In fact, that was the moment when he’d realized how much of a creep he was being and had taken off for the lodge. Yet, if she had arrived and gotten his note, there was no sign of her. That could only mean Anna DeMarco was done with him before he had even gotten up the nerve to ask for another chance.
Angrily, he tore of his gloves and shoved them into his pocket, not caring about getting snow in his pant pockets. It took every ounce of effort in him not to stomp through the small snowfall and into the lodge. While he’d always known she might ignore him, he hadn’t actually thought she would. It was very not Anna of her. That was one thing he knew was the same—she was considerate to a fault.