Sadie
“Oh, my god,” I say, looking up at the roof of the Lodge. “What in the world?”
Zane stands proudly, looking up at the beloved building, along with his father, Grandpa, Jed, George, and his friend Travis from Silver Pines.
“It’s Frosty,” Travis says with a grin. “Each year, I have to think of new ideas to get ahead of everyone else in town, so usually I get my Frosty a new friend for the display. This year, I figured Z here could have his own.” He motions behind him.
Standing proudly next to the lodge is a forty-foot blow up Frosty the Snowman, with lights and everything. The entire lodge roof is covered in lights, it’d put the Griswolds to shame.
Izzy claps her hands together, Sylvia laughs as if she’s used to these sorts of shenanigans, and Gran tells the boys Frosty has to be moved ‘a little to the left.’
Zane has been going on about outdoing the resort since I got to town. Funny, for someone who acts as if Christmastime is doing him a personal hardship, he sure does go to some lengthsto ensure he’s in the thick of it. I am starting to understand that Zane really doesn’t dislike Christmas at all. The fact he’d go to these lengths to ‘outdo’ the resort just says it all. If he didn’t care, why would he even bother?
“Well, I think you boys did a wonderful job,” Sylvia says.
“I agree.” I smile, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’m sure you could see these lights from outer space.”
Frank chuckles, slapping his son on the back. “Zane never does things by halves.”
“I think he put in a little extra effort this year,” George mumbles, shooting a pointed look my way, then a wink.
“That reminds me,” Izzy starts. “When are you gonna tell everyone you and Sadie are an item, Z?”
Sylvia gasps, along with Grandma Josephine, and I shoot Izzy a glare, which she promptly ignores.
“You two are dating?” Sylvia mouths the words, and I’ve no idea if she’s happy or sad about the news, but we get along well, so I can’t imagine she’d be against it.
“Thanks, Iz,” Zane mutters.
“I knew it!” Sylvia claps her hands together as she does a little jump in the air. “I could sense the tension between you two the second I suggested Sadie move into your guest room. That’s when I first realized you two would be the perfect match.”
“Mom,” Zane warns. “Too much information.”
“Well, we’re thrilled,” Frank says with a big, broad smile. “Welcome to the family.”
Zane rolls his eyes.
“I caught them in the barn,” Izzy goes on, making my eyes widen. “I mean, I didn’t see anything, they were just being sneaky.”
My only response other than gasping, is to press my forehead into my palm.
“Way to go, Iz,” Zane mutters. “Don’t leave anything out.”
“That’s how I wooed your grandma here,” Grandpa Gary says with a big old smile. “I rode up on a horse and swept her off her feet. Flowers help too, and being a gentleman. I hope you’re being one.” He clips Zane around the ear, which makes everyone laugh.
Zane is this big hulking man, but to see him being chastised by his family is hilarious.
“Ow, Grandpa! I am,” he says, rubbing his ear. “Jeez already.”
“Not from what I saw that morning when—” Iz starts, but Zane bends and quickly makes a snowball, rolling it between his gloved hands, then lobs it at her. She shrieks, dodging out of the way.
“Oh, no,” Sylvia and Josephine say in unison.
“Bombs away!” Jed calls, ducking for cover as he lobs one back at Izzy, too. Clearly, the two of them are in cahoots.
“That’s it, Zane, Jed, you’re both dead meat!” Izzy warns as she launches an attack; down by her feet — disguised by the snowman she built earlier — she’s already stashed an army of snowballs around the bottom. Clearly, she had heavy artillery planned all along.
George gets in on the act, but he doesn’t throw any at Izzy, interestingly, he runs over and starts helping her get Zane.
