Chapter 13
Snowmen and Laughter
The morning sun reflected off the freshly fallen snow, making Willow Lake sparkle like a winter wonderland. Emily stepped outside, pulling on her mittens, and saw Jack already rolling a large snowball near the edge of the inn’s garden.
“You’re starting without me?” she called, laughing.
Jack looked up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “I had to get a head start! You wouldn’t want me to win the best snowman award, would you?”
Emily shook her head, smiling. “Oh, it’s on!”
They spent the next hour building a snowman together. Jack rolled the base while Emily shaped the middle, their laughter echoing across the garden. Occasionally, a playful snowball would fly from one to the other, leaving both of them breathless and rosy-cheeked.
“Careful, Emily!” Jack warned, ducking as she threw another snowball.
“You’re too slow!” she teased, giggling.
Finally, their snowman stood proudly, adorned with a carrot nose, coal eyes, and a scarf Emily had wrapped around it. They stepped back to admire their work, snowflakes settling gently on their hair and shoulders.
Jack brushed a few from Emily’s scarf. “You know,” he said softly, “I could spend every winter like this… with you.”
Emily’s heart fluttered. “Me too,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before either of them could react, Jack grabbed a handful of snow and lightly tossed it at her. Emily squealed and retaliated, and soon they were in the middle of a full-on snowball fight, rolling in the snow and laughing until their sides hurt.
Finally, they collapsed side by side, breathless, staring up at the pale blue sky. Jack’s hand found hers, fingers intertwining naturally.
“You’re amazing,” he said softly.
“You started it,” Emily replied, smiling.
Jack leaned closer, brushing a snowflake from her cheek. “I don’t care,” he said. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
Emily’s heart warmed, the cold of the morning forgotten in the heat of their laughter and closeness.
As they lay there, side by side, snowflakes falling around them, Emily realized that Willow Lake had given her more than winter magic — it had given her Jack Harrison, and a love she never wanted to let go.