“I adore him,” she said.
Crow didn’t get the chance to answer as a snowball was thrown right at the back of his head.It was like the street went completely silent.
Kelley looked to the kid, who couldn’t have been any older than ten.Even their parents had come out into the street to enjoy the snow.She and Crow were not the only ones taking in the fun.
“I’m sorry, Mister, it just slipped out of my hand.Promise.”
“So, you think you’re ready to take me on for a snowball fight?”he asked.
The boy frowned.“You’re not mad?”
Kelley watched as Crow bent down.“What’s your name?”he asked.Crow was gathering snow in his palms.
“Tim.”
“Right, Tim, you see that beautiful woman close to me?”
“Miss Rade,” Tim said.
“That’s right.You know she has never been in a snowball fight, nor had a whole lot of fun in the snow.How about you and your friends help me show her how much fun this could be?”
The smile on Tim’s face was wide.“You got it.”
“And, Tim, the name’s Crow, not Mister.”He got to his feet and spun toward Kelley.She looked at the snowball.
“Crow, what are you doing?”
“We’re going to have some fun.Don’t you want to have some fun?”
She held her hands up.Did she?Hell, yeah, she did.
“I suggest you arm yourself, because you’re about to get snowed,” Crow said.
It was so lame, but Kelley screamed as a snowball fight of massive proportions broke out in the street.There was no violence, but parents and kids all got involved, and Kelley couldn’t believe how much fun she had.
****
“You know, you didn’thave to do that,” Kelley said, bringing him another bowl of soup.
She’d made chicken soup, one of his favorites.He took the bowl from her, and Kelley picked up her bowl and sat next to him.They’d been outside playing with the kids for a good couple of hours.Crow couldn’t recall the last time he had played in the snow.It had to have been another lifetime ago.
“I know I didn’t have to do that, but I had fun.Didn’t you?”he asked.
The smile on her lips would stay with him forever.This is what he wanted for her, to make memories.He hated to see sadness in her eyes, or tears.
Kelley had also told him exactly what he knew was bothering her.Her mother was still alive, and that bothered Kelley.He pushed that little nugget of information to the back of his mind.He would deal with that soon.For now, he was just going to focus on his woman, and he had a feeling she had a lot more darkness in her past than she liked to admit.
“Yeah, I mean, did you see the way Tim looked at you?He looked like he was going to wet his pants.”She laughed.
“It was all good.I wouldn’t hurt a kid.Besides, I reckon the big kids put him up to it.”He shrugged.
“It didn’t make you mad?”
“What?Kids being kids?”He shook his head.“Nah, they’re kids having fun.There is tons of fucking snow around.Everyone should enjoy it.”It had been a long time since he had.“Are you mad that I threw a lot of snowballs at you?”
It had gotten late and the sun had set before they even came back into the house.They were both freezing and used the shower to warm up.
Kelley had left the shower first, and he had every intention of making love to her, as her menstrual cycle was now finished.However, they were both starving, so he left her to go and finish their food.The chicken noodle soup was divine.It was the best he’d ever tasted.Kelley was a damn good cook.He’d also seen the chocolate fudge cake on the counter, which looked just as good.He intended to have a large slice of it as soon as he finished his chicken noodle soup.The flavors were all on point, and the noodles were cooked just right, not overcooked slop.
