Chapter 11
When life gives you snow, make snow angels.
Scarlett
I park my car in my parents’ driveway. I’m not ready to go inside. I stare at the farmhouse as I recite my daily affirmations.
I am worthy of love. I am worthy of success. I am worthy.
No more stalling, Scarlett.
I blow out a breath and grab the casserole I made before opening my door. I don’t reach the porch before Hazel comes flying out the door.
“You made it! I thought you’d be stuck in a log cabin with a hot police officer forever.”
I stumble to a halt. “Hot police officer?”
She rolls her eyes. “Did you forget this is Smuggler’s Hideaway? Everyone knows everything about everyone.”
“But there was a foot of snow and no internet or electricity. How could people possibly know what happened?”
She threads her arm through mine. “You’re silly. Now, tell me all about what happened.”
My cheeks heat. “Nothing happened.”
“Liar!”
She drags me inside and sets the casserole on the side table. The dog lifts his head and barks at me but I don’t get a chance to pet him before Hazel pushes me down the hallway to the girls’ bedroom.
“Now,” she says as she shuts the door behind her. “Tell me all about how sexy Weston is and everything you did together.”
I shed my coat and throw it on the bottom bunk bed. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Aha! You did kiss him.”
“We kissed. End of story. Let’s go get Christmas dinner ready.” I have my hand on the door handle before she yanks me away.
“No way. No how. I need to know everything.”
“We’re not kids anymore, Hazel. I don’t tell you everything.”
Her mouth drops open. “You like him. You really, really like Weston.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “So, what if I do?”
She squeals and jumps up and down. “I’m so excited!”
“Shush. Everyone will hear you.”
She giggles. “Everyone on the island is assuming you two did the bow chica bow wow anyway.”
“This island.” I shake my head.
“Does this mean you’re moving back to the island?” She waggles her eyebrows. “Since you have the hots for the town’s most eligible bachelor.”
I frown. “I’m not moving back home. Mom and Dad disapprove of every decision I’ve ever made in my life. I can’t deal with their judgmental behavior on a daily basis.”
There’s a knock on the door before Mom walks in.
“Merry Christmas, Mom.” I hug her. “Shall we get started on dinner?” I walk toward the door but she shackles my wrist to stop me.
“We need to talk.”
Shit. She heard what I said. It doesn’t matter how judgmental my parents are, they don’t approve of one of their children actually calling them on their behavior.
“Mom,” Hazel grumbles. “It’s Christmas.”
Mom sits on the bed and pats the spot next to her. I sigh before sitting down. Hazel sits on the floor in front of us.
“I’m sorry you don’t feel welcome here.”
Here we go. Guilt trip incoming. “It’s not that I don’t feel welcome.”
“But you think your father and I don’t approve of your choices in life.”
“You’ve made it pretty clear what you think of my choices. There’s no doubt in my mind you don’t approve. I’m putting on airs. I think I’m better than you. Need I go on?”
She wrings her hands together. “I haven’t always been this way.”
She has my attention now.
“I was similar to you once. I loved school and thought college was my career path.” She glances away to stare outside. “But college didn’t end the way I thought it w-w-would.”
Her voice breaks and I grasp her hands. “What happened?”
Hazel scoots closer and places a hand on her thigh. “Mom?”
“It’s the same old story. I was stupid and trusted the wrong people and suffered the consequences.”
My heart stops. What consequences?”
“I went to a party.” She inhales a deep breath and I squeeze her hands. “I don’t know what happened, but I woke up back in my dorm room. I’d been…”
My stomach clenches and tears threaten. My mother was sexually abused. “You don’t have to say the word.”
“I couldn’t prove what happened because I couldn’t remember. I quit school and came home. When I met your dad and he found out what happened, he promised to protect me and our family forever.”
Everything makes sense now. Dad and Mom have been trying to protect me. They want me to stay on the island because they can watch over me here.
“I’m sorry about what happened to you. Do you want to talk about it?”
Mom wipes a tear from her face. “No.”
I blow out a breath. I don’t want to be selfish but I know my mom. If I don’t speak now, I might never get another chance.
“I appreciate everything you and Dad have done for me. I understand you want to protect me. But I’m not a teenager or a college student anymore. I have a good job, and I make decent money. I’m happy with my career. I can’t give it up.”
She stands. “I’ll speak to your father.”
“You don’t have—”
“Yes, I do.”
I watch her leave with my mouth hanging open. Mom has never been forthcoming about her past before. I didn’t even know she went to college.
“Wow,” Hazel murmurs. “I would’ve never guessed.”
“Me either. I wish she had told me. I could have been more understanding.”
We sit in silence for a moment before Hazel stands. “Come on. Let’s go help Sadie in the kitchen while Mom deals with Dad.”
We leave the bedroom and walk to the kitchen. It’s not a long walk. The farmhouse isn’t big by any standard.
“Scarlett!” Sadie shouts and drops the potato she’s peeling to rush me.
“It’s good to see you, Sadie,” I say as we hug. I missed my little sister. We talk on the phone but it’s not the same as seeing someone in person.
“You, too. You should come home more often.”
“Maybe she will now,” Hazel sings.
“Oh, are we talking about Weston? Do you love him? Are you going to marry him?”
I do love him. And I miss him. The second he climbed into his patrol car to drive away I felt as if a hole had been bored into my heart and I’d never be complete again.
But I didn’t stop him. He has an important job to do. He doesn’t need his hook-up to chase after him.
The door flies open and my brothers, Thomas and Ian, run inside.
“Boots off!” I order before they tramp snow everywhere.
They kick off their boots, leaving them in front of the door for everyone to trip on, before rushing me. “Scar!”
They jump me and I nearly fall over. Whereas I’m short like my mom, my brothers got their height from Dad. They’re both over six feet tall.
“You finally made it home for Christmas on Smuggler’s Hideaway,” Thomas says when they release me.
“About time, Scar,” Ian adds.
“Scar might be moving back to the island,” Hazel says.
I throw a towel at her. “I never said I was moving back.”
“But how else are you going to carry on a relationship with Weston?” Sadie asks.
Thomas scowls. “Weston Milton? He’s a player.”
“He’s not good enough for you,” Ian adds.
“I never said anything about dating Weston.”
Would I like to date him? Hell yeah. I love the man. I want to spend every minute I can with him.
“Good. Because the man doesn’t date. He’s a one and done kind of man.” Thomas wags his finger at me. “And not the man for you.”
My heart squeezes. A one and done kind of man. I know this. Weston is a player through and through. Somehow my heart didn’t get the message because it wants me to wrap myself around him and never let go.