Wrapped in Winter (Seasons in Montana: Winter)

11. January

Chapter 11

January

“ I t’s pink, Mommy! We’re twins!”

My daughter swings her legs on the chair next to me in the nail salon. We have matching nails, and next will be matching cookies.

“You picked a great color, baby.”

She smiles proudly. We sit together under the dryer waiting the last few minutes before we’re allowed to gather our items and leave without smudging the polish. I don’t mind the warm air on my hands. The sun is shining bright, but it's still winter in Montana and we won’t thaw out until May.

“What’s next?”

What a loaded question. I know she’s asking if we’re going for cookies or to the library after here, but the question is one that’s been bouncing in my head since meeting Drake. What is next? I haven’t a clue, but I’m almost to the point of letting Drake lead me so I can find out.

“I think you two should go get cookies.”

“Drake!”

I’m pulled from my musing and see Drake standing in front of us. He’s in his work uniform, but it makes him no less attractive. The fact I know what’s under that uniform makes me squeeze my thighs tight.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

He stands with his hand on his hip, clipboard in the other. “This is one of my delivery stops. When I came to the front to have the owner sign, I saw two beautiful blondes and knew I had to come right over and say hello.”

“Drake! Can you come for cookies with us?”

His eyes linger on me with a smile playing on his lips before he turns to Lily and gives her an even brighter grin. “I’d love to, Pretty Lily, but I’m working. And it looks like you’re having a great time with your momma, right? Girls’ day is important.”

“We have matching nails!” She pulls her tiny hand from under the dryer and wiggles her fingers. “Momma, show Drake yours!”

“Yeah, Momma, show me yours.” His tone is loaded and makes me blush. I pull my hand out from under the dryer and give a glance toward Lily, who is now studying her nails, and show him my middle finger instead. He chuckles. “That’s a beautiful color. Like raspberries. I bet it tastes as sweet as it looks.”

I shake my head. “There's no winning with you, is there?”

“Oh, Momma, you’ll always win with me.” My breath catches. Hearing him call me that, it makes our relationship feel very intimate. Loaded with promises I want him to keep.

“Okay, Lily. How about we go get some hot chocolate and a cookie?”

Lily cheers, and we both stand. “Bye, Drake!” she yells as she makes her way to the door.

“Bye, Lily.” He lets her pass but won’t budge when I try to slip by, forcing me to brush up against him. As I do, he leans in and whispers in my ear, “When’s our second date?”

“You had it the other night at the bar.”

He smirks and follows it with a low laugh. “I need more than two minutes, January.”

“Could have fooled me.”

He puts his hand on my waist. “Remember our rules? I get to take you out twice a week. And I’m dying to be inside you again, so we need those dates soon.”

“So sure of yourself.”

“It’s why you like me.”

My heart is thundering in my chest. This guy has a line for everything, and I love our teasing back and forth.

“Eh, you’re growing on me.”

“I knew I would. Go have a cookie for me. Make sure it has extra icing. That’s my favorite part.”

Lily and I grab a round table and dig into the tray of assorted cookies. We’ve got two hot chocolates with extra whipped cream, and it shouldn't make me blush, but it does when I remember Drake’s words.

“I think this is my favorite.” Lily bounces in her seat, taking a bite of a chocolate chip cookie that crumbles on the table.

“Use your napkin, baby.” I grab the raspberry chocolate chip, reminding myself to bring some home. “I like the raspberry the best.”

She scrunches her face up in disgust. “Yuk! Drake likes these ones too.”

“He does? How do you know that?”

“Do you know if the cows at the ranch like the snow?”

Her abrupt change in conversation makes my head spin. “Um, I know they don’t mind the cold, but I don’t know if they like to be in the snow.”

“I bet their feet get cold.”

I nod and take another bite. “I bet you’re right.”

“When Drake brings me a chocolate chip cookie, he’s been putting a raspberry one in the bag too.”

The whiplash is strong today. “But you don’t like raspberries. You should tell him so he doesn’t waste it.”

She shrugs. “I like Drake, Momma. Do you like Drake?”

This line of questioning is not where I want to go today. “Sure, baby, he’s very nice.”

“Is he the one you went on a date with?”

“Why do you ask?”

She shrugs her shoulders again. “Because he’s nice, and if he wasn't the one, he should be the one.”

I close my eyes. What a profound statement for a three-year-old, even though I’m reading more into it than I know she meant. “You don’t have to worry about things like that, baby. Aunt Meadow should not have said adult stuff in front of you. Your only job is to get ready for school. Are you excited?”

A bit of the excitement that was just on her face drops at the mention of school. “I don’t know anyone there.”

“Well, no one knows anyone yet. It will be everyone's first time in school.”

“I’m scared.” She says it quietly. I almost miss it.

I lean across the table and cover my hand with hers. “Oh, baby, starting anything new is always scary. But you don’t need to be afraid. I’m always right here. And so is Aunt Blossom, and Aunt Meadow, and Uncle Lief.”

She worries her bottom lip and won’t look at me. “What's wrong, Lily? Tell me what you're thinking.”

She looks at me with glassy eyes. “I heard you telling Aunt Courtney you don’t like change and everyone leaves. I don’t want to go to school and have everyone leave me.”

My heart clenches because I didn’t realize I was going to have to explain this at such a young age. Courtney’s words about showing Lily what a healthy relationship is play over in my head. To be fair, I didn’t know she was listening to my conversation, but I need to be better for her. I need to show her happiness and stability. Stability that withstands change, change that brings good. And it starts today.

“Not all change is bad, sweetheart. I know this is hard to understand, but I’m going to tell you a little adult stuff right now.” Her eyes are wide and she perks up a little. She’s as bad as Miss Trudy thinking she’s getting some gossip. “Uncle Jack is living with Courtney and Joey again. That was a good change, right?” She nods her head exaggeratedly. “And when Joey goes to school, Jack is still at home waiting for him.” She nods again. “We went through change too, leaving New York and coming here to live with Grandma and your aunts and uncles.”

“That was fun!”

“It was. So see? Change can be good, and sometimes it's really needed in order to move onto better things.”

She nods again and takes a sip of her hot chocolate, and I can see her mind whirling. “Will Drake be waiting for me after school?” I begin to choke on the cookie I just bit. I cover my mouth so as to not draw attention, trying to swallow before I drink my hot chocolate to wash it down.

I don’t know how to answer her, so I just say, “I’m sure there will be days you see him at the store when he delivers.”

She nods, the answer good enough for her. “Next time we paint our nails, can they be blue?”

I let out a little laugh. “Any color you want.”

“Drake wears a blue shirt when he comes to the store.”

“I’m sure that’s part of his uniform.” And now I'm convinced my daughter has a crush on the delivery guy, and I don’t know if this is good or not. I don’t want her getting so attached, it will only confuse her. Especially since I have no idea what Drake and I are doing.

“And Aunt Meadow has blue eyes like me. I like blue eyes.”

“You have beautiful blue eyes.” She looks at me and blinks fast before dissolving into giggles. But then she sits up straight, looking past me, and yells, “Drake!”

I snap my head to the left and see him standing at the counter. My heart beats quickly and the way my body reacts to him is still so unexpected. I’ve never been so attracted to someone just from being in the same room with them. Not even Sean, and that thought scares me.

He looks up and finds me watching him. The smile that spreads across his face makes me instantly wet. His lips are so full and teasing, and I know exactly how they taste. He speaks to the woman at the counter then rounds it and heads our way.

“You’re following us!” Lily yells out and laughs. He grabs a chair and slides it up to our table. I raise a brow at his familiarity and glance around at the heads who swing our way.

“Maybe you’re following me. Do you know my work schedule?” He leans in, teasing her, and her eyes are big as she smiles back. He glances at me then at our table, grabbing the half cookie on the platter and biting it. The audible moan that comes from him as he chews and swallows has me watching his throat move. “Raspberry. My favorite.” He winks at me.

“Drake, my birthday is in four days. I’m going to be four!”

He looks shocked. “Four! I thought you were going to be sixteen!”

She laughs from her toes. “No, silly! I’m not that old.”

He shakes his head. “Wow, I had no idea. You’re so smart for a four-year-old.” She sits up a little straighter in her chair, loving his praise and attention.

“I’m having a party; do you want to come?”

“Lily.” I snap out her name and instantly feel bad. They both look at me, her with confusion and him with understanding. “I mean, maybe Drake is working.”

“ Are you working?” she asks.

He looks at me before saying, “I do work a lot. Why don’t you have your mom text me the details later, and I’ll see if I can make it.” He’s offering me grace and the gesture is much appreciated.

She drops her eyes, and I see disappointment written all over her face. My mind drifts back to our conversation about how change is good.

“It’s this Saturday. In the afternoon. At two.” I speak in broken sentences quickly and he studies me before a grin comes into play.

“That happens to be my day off.” He looks back to Lily. “I’ll be there.” He stands. “Back to my route, Pretty Lily. Have fun with your momma.” He pulls on one of her little pigtails, and I have to stop myself from jumping on this guy. Cole calling him romantic doesn’t begin to even scratch the surface. More like sex on a stick moving right into daddy territory is his vibe.

And I think I could be ready for it.