Chapter Sixteen Ella
Chapter Sixteen
Ella
The aftermath of the blizzard is everywhere as we set out on our dog sled odyssey through Homer.
Snowdrifts swallow fences, cars sit buried to their windows, and broken branches lie scattered across the landscape.
Rhia stands at the helm while I sit on the narrow bench, wrapped in blankets. The dogs surge forward with restless energy, hard to control after being cooped up during the storm.
Sledding is so much fun. Easily one of the best presents I’ve ever received.
Though it would be even better if I were driving.
But given Tiero will likely lose it when he finds out about this little expedition, I let Rhia steer, hoping that will soften the blow.
Still, my fingers itch for the reins. Sitting back is harder than I expected.
The weather has calmed completely. The sun is out, the sky a brilliant blue, as if the chaos of the past few days never happened.
I roughly remember where George Roberts lives, but finding his street is another matter entirely. The roads are buried, signs hidden beneath layers of snow, and even with satellite navigation, we struggle to orient ourselves.
I’m doubly glad Rhia came with me. Doing this alone would have been a nightmare.
At first, we pass only a handful of houses. Our Second Dawn Cottage really is in the middle of nowhere.
Farther in, though, people are outside in force, armed with shovels and snow blowers, digging out cars and clearing paths. Snow piles high around them, and the steady scrape of metal against ice cuts through the otherwise quiet morning.
We’ve been underway for a while when Rhia suddenly brings the sled to a halt.
Confused, I glance over my shoulder.
“Why have we stopped?”
“El, I’ve just realized something.”
There’s a look on her face I recognize instantly. She’s had an epiphany.
“What?”
“This is the last adventure we’ll ever go on as just you and me. The way it’s always been.”
I frown. What is she talking about?
“You know we can still go on trips together. This isn’t the end of us.”
“It’s not the end of us,” she says. “It never will be. But you’ll be married. Try convincing Tiero to let you disappear for a week or two. And soon, Peanut will be here. It’ll be a long time before you can just take off again. You might even have a second child by then.”
Crap. She’s right.
“I hadn’t thought about it like that.” I turn in my seat to face her fully.
She looks off into the distance.
“We’ve been on so many adventures together. And both our happily ever afters started with one. You were there when I crashed into Lex in Scotland, and I was there when Tiero stormed into your world in Sicily.”
She lets out a long sigh. Stepping off the sled, she settles onto my lap, looping an arm around my shoulders and resting her head against mine. I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close.
“It feels like the end of an era,” she says quietly. “And the plans we made to be pregnant at the same time and for our kids to grow up together as close friends, just like you and me… that’s not gonna happen now.”
Emotion rises in my chest. Not wanting to start crying again, I nudge her playfully, trying to keep the mood light.
“Well, that one’s easily fixed,” I say, forcing a teasing tone. “Just get Lex to knock you up. You’ve had two years of practice. You know how it works.” I grin. “Time to put those skills to use.”
She gets a faraway look, my words ticking over in her mind.
“You’re right. There’s nothing stopping us now.”
Her voice softens, but there’s a new kind of certainty in it.
“Lex and I are both officially dead. Our jobs aren’t tying us down anymore. We’ve got time. Not just to make a baby, but to actually be there and raise it properly.”
Her words hit deeper than she probably realizes. Guilt flares in my chest at the mention of her job. It’s been there ever since we ran from the hospital in Canada to escape to here.
“Rhi,” I say softly, my breath fogging between us. “You’re my favorite person in the world. I’m beyond happy you’re here with me. But I still feel guilty that you gave up your life… everything you built… because of me.”
She pulls back just enough to look at me, her lips pressing together before she shakes her head.
“No,” she says firmly. “Don’t do that.”
Her tone softens.
“This isn’t something I lost. It’s something I gained.”
I frown, not quite following, but she continues before I can ask.
“You know, this really is all working out just fine. For all of us. Claudette was right. Maybe her prediction was meant for you, but it extends to me and Lex too.”
She shifts slightly on my lap, her voice turning thoughtful.
“My PR company was my dream for so long. And I am proud of what I built there. But these past few weeks… not working, not chasing deadlines, not constantly being ‘on’…” She exhales. “I haven’t missed it. Not once.”
She gives a small shrug.
“And now Con and Reece have taken it over. They’re thriving. They finally get to run something of their own, without answering to anyone. That doesn’t feel like a loss. It feels like everything landed exactly where it was meant to.”
She leans in again, resting her forehead against mine.
“Those weeks we were forced to live apart made me realize how much I took having you close for granted.”
Her hand finds mine, squeezing gently.
“And now… I have everything that matters. Lex isn’t constantly traveling anymore. I get to have him with me. You’re close again. And we get to build our lives side by side.”
Her hand moves to my belly, resting there.
“Well, you’re building yours already,” she adds with a small smile. “But I won’t be far behind.”
A laugh slips out of me. Seems like she’s already made that decision. Let’s hope Lex is ready for it too.
“So you see,” she says, her voice lighter now, “this is perfect. All of it. Especially you getting married tonight. That blizzard just made everything look even more magical.”
I glance around, taking in the sparkling snow. She always finds the good. Always.
For a moment, I just sit there, taking it all in.
“Yeah,” I say, smiling. “And for that wedding to actually happen, we’d better get that license.”
“Good point.”
She slides off my lap and moves back into position at the front of the sled.
“You do realize,” she adds over her shoulder, “this is basically our bachelorette party.”
“Minus the booze and the male strippers,” I quip.
“True. But I’m sure you’ll get your private show tonight. Your husband-to-be is a very fine specimen.”
“That he is,” I say, smirking. “And I won’t even tell Lex you said that.”
“Just imagine them side by side, all naked and yummy,” she says with a wicked grin. “The room would go up in flames.”
“I’m happy picturing Tiero naked… Lex, not so much. That just feels wrong.”
“There’s no harm in looking. It’s all about admiring the masculine form,” she winks. “But there’s only one man for me when it comes to touching and licking and sucki—”
“La la la la la,” I sing, cutting her off.
I really don’t need that image in my head. Walking in on them a few times was more than enough.
“Shall we resume this bachelorette adventure?” I ask.
Rhia beams. “Absolutely. Let’s go.”
Then she belts out Pink’s “Let’s Get the Party Started” at the top of her lungs, steering the sled straight into every snowdrift she can find, sending powder flying into the air.