Snowflake Kisses

by Brower, Dawn

  Snowflake

  Kisses

  Dawn Brower

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Snowflake Kisses Copyright © 2017 Dawn Brower

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  DEDICATION

  Snowflake Kisses

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  EPILOGUE

  EXCERPT

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Books by Dawn Brower

  DEDICATION

  This book is for everyone that believes in magic and a second chance at love. I hope you enjoy Snowflake Kisses. Mack and Meghy love winter for their own reasons, and found their happiness by embracing life and take a leap of faith. Sometimes that is all it take to discover what you want and what you’re willing to do to attain it—just believe in the possibilities.

  Snowflake Kisses

  The color of my heart runs blue

  Broken from the loss of you

  You understood me

  And all I could be...

  No love could ever be more true

  Than the one between me and you

  Snowflakes flutter around

  With the absence of sound

  Dreams are made of

  Happiness and love

  Snowflake kisses

  and unwavering bliss...

  You understood me

  And all I could be...

  Sleigh bells ring, are you listening

  In the lane, snow is glistening

  A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight

  Walking in a winter wonderland

  CHAPTER ONE

  Decorations glistened with glittery lights across every light post on the quaint village’s quintessential main street. Snowflakes fluttered from the dark sky as they fell over everything. Bells from a nearby church started to ring as the hour turned to six in the evening. People walked along the streets talking merrily with excitement for the holiday season. It should have all filled him with joy, but it didn’t. The town left a combination of nostalgia and distaste in his mouth. What am I doing here?

  His agent thought it would be a good idea to return to his hometown to unwind—heal. Mack Taylor wanted to do anything other than go back to Suttons Bay. The memories should be good ones. His childhood hadn’t been bad, and up until the months before he left he’d loved his hometown. His success had been his anchor and his way to prove some dreams can come true. He hadn’t been an overnight sensation and had to climb his way to the top. Now that he was there though he refused to be sent back to the bottom—this injury wouldn’t be his undoing.

  He walked slowly down the street heading toward the only inn to be found in the small town—Hillside Homestead. It was a early twentieth century farmhouse turned into a bed and breakfast. The proprietor had made sure to keep it period accurate to the time it had been built. She also happened to be Mack’s aunt, and only living relative.

  Hillside Homestead was located just on the outskirts of town on top of a high sweeping hill. It was steep to climb on a good day, but on a snowy one—ten times worse. He’d hated it and loved it as he was growing up. As a small boy it was the best sledding hill to be found, and as a teenager a pain in his ass when he tried to sneak out. His aunt had caught him every single time, and yet he continued to try. Now with the injury to his leg he hated the damn climb more than ever. He stopped a moment to rub the ache in his thigh.

  Mack trekked through the snow until he reached the front porch. The light in the kitchen greeted him and told him all he needed to know. His aunt was home, and probably preparing baked goods for the next day’s breakfast. She prided herself on her homemade and historically accurate food. He should go inside and tell her he’d come home for Christmas. She’d been begging him to return for years, but he kept giving her excuses why he couldn’t. Truthfully, he had one reason for staying away, and as long as it still remained in Suttons Bay he would make sure to give the entire town a wide berth.

  He pushed his hands into his jeans pocket and sighed. All he had with him was a back pack with a couple outfits, and his wallet. His agent had made sure he had no way to escape the town once he arrived. Until, Ben thought he’d had enough recuperation Mack was stuck in the town he’d grown up in. Ben thought he was doing him a favor. His agent didn’t realize that he was forcing him to face ghosts of a past he’d rather forget. He made himself walk the distance to the front door and push it open. Heat wrapped around him immediately once he stepped inside. “Aunt Rose,” he called out.

  “Mack?” She rushed into the room and wrapped her arms around him a tight hug. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I’d have prepared a special meal or made sure your room was freshened up.”

  That was the one thing he could always depend on—his aunt keeping a room for him. If he’d failed on his endeavor he knew he’d always be welcomed back into the fold. He’d been so glad he hadn’t had to come back—until now.

  “It wasn’t planned,” he told her. “I’m on a forced vacation.”

  Aunt Rose stepped back and studied him. “What’s wrong?” She frowned as she stared up at him. He opened his mouth to explain but couldn’t get the words out. She was going to be irate once he told her about the accident. It wasn’t common knowledge. Ben had handled everything to make it appear as everything was right in Mack’s world. No one outside of Ben and the doctors knew the truth. Aunt Rose placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot on the ground. “Tell me now,” she demanded.

  “Can’t I come home just to visit my favorite aunt?”

  “I raised you boy,” she berated him. “You can’t fool me. I’ve been begging you to come home for too long to believe that malarkey.” She tilted her head and scrunched her eyes together suspiciously. “Did you lose all that money of yours and have no other place to go? Why didn’t I hear a car pull up?”

  Aunt Rose wasn’t going to let any of it go. He’d have to fess up and get it over with. “I didn’t drive one here.” That was the truth. “My driver dropped me off in town. I wanted to walk the streets and see what changed since the last time I was here.” Not entirely the truth... He’d wanted a little more time to himself before facing her. He still wasn’t sure what he’d do or say to anyone else on this visit.

  “How long are you staying?”

  That was the hard part. He didn’t really know how long Ben was going to leave him stranded in Suttons Bay. “As long as you’ll put up with me.”

  “Then you’re never leaving again,” she deadpanned. “Works for me. I could use an extra pair of hands to help around here. Something always needs fixing.”

  He laughed. “Put me to work if you need to.” Some things never changed, and other things couldn’t help but evolve into something new. At least Hillside and his aunt would always be something he could count on. He really should have returned much sooner than he had.

  “Have you seen her?” Aunt Rose asked.

  “Who?” He pretended to not know who she was talking about. Especially, since the moment she asked the questions images of her floated through his mind. Her cinnamon gold hair and honey colored eyes—those luscious red lips, and delectable body. He had loved her sinc
e he was five years old, and she’d been his best friend. Mack could never forget her, or forgive himself for hurting her all those years ago.

  “Don’t play dumb,” Aunt Rose accused him. “It’s past time—she’s forgiven you. You should forgive yourself and go see her.”

  “I can’t,” he replied mournfully. “Some things shouldn’t be forgiven.”

  He closed his eyes and fought back emotions long buried. They were hard to control under the midst of memories bombarding him. Maybe he should tell his aunt the truth. If she knew the whole story she wouldn’t be pushing him toward his former friend.

  “I don’t believe that and deep down you don’t either,” she said softly. “Meghy loves you.”

  Mack didn’t want to think about that either. The pain was too much and it stabbed him in his broken heart. In that moment he made a snap decision. “There’s some things I haven’t told you.”

  “Oh?” She lifted a brow. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. Follow me into the kitchen and tell me what’s going on in your life. I didn’t figure this was an unencumbered visit.”

  Mack did as she told and trailed behind her. She headed over to a counter and started to knead some dough she had laid out. The silence was her way of telling him she’d listen once he decided to talk. His aunt had taken him in after his parent’s died in a freak accident when he was five. He knew her as well as she did him. They had a bond that formed over grief.

  “I haven’t been sleeping well.” Ever since he left Suttons Bay years before he hadn’t been able to get more that three or four hours sleep at a time. Dreams haunted him every time he closed his eyes. “The doctor prescribed something to help me with it.”

  “Probably all those late nights singing before large crowds of screaming fans.”

  That might be a part of it. He had a natural high from the attention his fans gave him. There was nothing else like it and he’d never be able to explain it. He loved what he did and he’d always want to sing, but his career choice wasn’t why he couldn’t sleep. He didn’t explain that to his aunt. There was something else she needed to know. “I started sleep walking—the drugs did weird things to me. I have no memory of any of it, and without the security cameras around my house I wouldn’t’ have a clue about some of it.”

  She stopped kneading the dough and glanced at him. “Really? That must have been weird.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t think much of it. Most of the time it was harmless... I might wake up on the couch when I fell asleep in bed, or on the floor of my studio—you get my point.”

  “I do,” she agreed. “Did something change to make you worry?”

  “The last time wasn’t nearly as harmless...”

  His aunt didn’t miss a beat and asked, “What happened.”

  “There was an accident...”

  His sleepwalking had gone on to driving. He didn’t have any memory of it and there was no video tape to help him figure it out. Luckily, he hadn’t harmed anyone but himself in his drug induced state. He’d managed to drive his car into a tree on his property. The gardener had found him the next day. The bone in his left leg had broken in three places. He had needed three surgeries and several casts while it healed for months.

  “You were hurt and didn’t tell me?”

  “I’m sorry...” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I was embarrassed.”

  “Please tell me you’re no longer taking those sleeping pills.”

  “I haven’t had one since that incident.” It had scared him senseless. “I also haven’t’ been able to do much of anything for months. I’m afraid I’ve lost all my inspiration and I’m supposed to be recording a new album.”

  “Is that why you’re here?”

  Ben thought it was time for him to face his demons once and for all. If he could exorcise them, maybe he could return to his music. If not—his career was over. He didn’t want to see Meghy. He’d hoped to avoid her for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him. He would have to make peace with her and hope Aunt Rose was right. If she’d already forgiven him he would be one step closer to finding his motivation to create music again.

  “That’s what I’m hoping for...”

  “Then stay as long as you like. Maybe the problem is you left your muse here when you left.”

  Mack hoped not—otherwise he was doomed. If he needed Meghy to produce again, he might never do it again. He would be forever trapped in the void he found himself in. In the morning he would seek her out and decide on his next move. Until then he’d make himself comfortable at Hillside.

  “Do you need help with that?” he gestured toward the dough.

  “No,” she said and then shooed him away. “Go to your room and rest. We will talk more tomorrow.”

  He nodded and did as she instructed. Suddenly all the energy inside of him slipped away. Rest sounded rather wonderful. If only he could actually sleep...

  Gone away is the bluebird

  Here to stay is a new bird

  He sings a love song, as we go along

  Walking in a winter wonderland

  CHAPTER TWO

  Meghy Watkins stared at her computer and sighed. Exhaustion had become a permanent part of her life and she didn’t like it. Who would? Somehow she’d managed to overwork herself and found no relief in sight. She did it to herself, and sadly she couldn’t seem to make herself stop. She worked tirelessly every day when she could have taken a break or even a small vacation months ago. She didn’t need to work as hard as she did when she’d first started, and yet she continued to keep the same rigorous pace she’d started at in the beginning.

  Her career as a writer had been a lark. Something to do while she sat by her mother’s bedside watching her—praying she’d open her eyes. Her mother had been in an accident several years ago. One she blamed herself for. It had left her in a coma with very little sign of waking up. The first year they’d been optimistic, but then they had to face reality. The doctors didn’t have any hope that her mother would ever wake up, and they had some decisions to make.

  In the beginning she’d poured all her wishes and dreams into her books. Those romance novels held everything she’d wanted from life, but didn’t think she’d ever have. After her mother’s accident her life took a drastic left turn in ways she’d never imagined. She had hoped to go to New York and become a hardcore journalist. She wanted to investigate scandal and dive into the political world. Instead she’d stayed home and wrote romance novels. Sometimes plans needed to be changed and Meghy was thankful in some ways hers had. She loved writing and it didn’t matter if it was a romance novel or a biting article in a newspaper. As long as she could string words together and create her own personal masterpiece she’d always be happy.

  As an author she could work from anywhere, and yet she never left Suttons Bay. Someday maybe she’d be one of those glamorous writers who traveled to exotic locales to weave her tales. Unfortunately she wasn’t ready to explore the world and found safety in the confines of her hometown.

  She needed a break...something to stir her imagination.

  Otherwise the current scene she was working on wouldn’t become the magic it should be. As much as she hates leaving the comfort of her cozy apartment—sometimes she had to put on a pair of pants and venture out into the real world. Vader, her finicky black cat rubbed his face across her leg. His purrs echoed through the room and were so loud it mimicked a vacuum cleaners buzzing.

  “Hello, Kitty,” Meghy said as she leaned down to scratch behind his ears. “Do you want attention?” His purrs became even louder as she petted him. “You like that don’t you?”

  What was the world coming to? She talked to her cat on a regular basis instead of real breathing people. The internet didn’t count. It was so easy to hide behind it and pretend that she had the courage to interact socially. She’d never been a social butterfly, but at least a few years ago it had been easier. Of course that was largely in part because her best friend had been
good with people. His current stardom spoke volumes to how much. He thrived in a crowd and loved being around other’s. So he’d dragged Meghy along with him.

  She missed him...

  At first she had blamed him for what happened to her mother. But really, it was no one’s fault. She’d just needed someone to lash out at and Mack had made a good target. It had destroyed their friendship and she hadn’t talked to him in years. She followed his career and applauded him when he not only won over millions of fans, but a Grammy too. He was a true star, and she was a floundering one. She had her own success, but it was quieter and suited her more. She would have hated to be in the spotlight.

  Out of habit she moved her mouse over to the search bar and typed in his name, then frowned at the headline...Mack Taylor absent from the music world. She clicked on it and read it from top to bottom. He hadn’t been seen in months, and had cancelled his upcoming tour. What was going on with him? She nibbled on her bottom lip and worried about her friend. She wished she hadn’t lost contact with him and could call him. Why had she pushed him away all those years ago?

  Meghy clicked on a photo of him so it expanded across the monitor. He was as handsome as she remembered. His dark brown hair was mussed in the picture and his ocean blue eyes called to her. She had secretly loved him for most of her life, but didn’t think she had a chance at being more than friends with him. Her heart had shattered when she’d learned he left. She’d done that to him—to them. He’d left without looking back and not bothering to say goodbye. She’d lost him forever and there was nothing she could do to change it. She would have if it were possible.

  She sighed and minimized the screen. Staring at his picture wasn’t going to change anything. It was time to snap out of her melancholy mood and face reality. This was no way to live her life and she had to make some changes. Starting with leaving her house and taking a walk to town—once there she could go to the coffee shop and maybe interact with some of the locals.