I believe him. It’s great that my glee is bringing him joy, but I want to be sure he’s having fun, too.
“We could make a snowman together,” he suggests.
“Or have a snowball fight. Or make snow angels!”
He shivers. “Youcan make snow angels.”
“Will you make me warm if I get cold and wet, Daddy?”
He kisses my forehead. “Of course. Let’s get dressed, and then we can go outside and enjoy the snow.”
I have another shower, this time with Damon. We lose track of time kissing under the hot water, while the shower screen steams up, but eventually drag ourselves out and get dressed. We have a quick breakfast and then put on warm clothes, hats, scarves, and gloves, and venture outside.
By the time we reach the closest park to Damon’s apartment, the snow is no longer undisturbed. Children run around squealing with delight, as they hurl snowballs at each other, or push balls of snow around to make them big enough to form part of a snowman. We find a relatively quiet spot and work together to build a snowman.
“I haven’t done this since I was a kid,” Damon admits. “The moment it snowed, mum would chase Nigel and I outside to play.”
“Happy memories?”
“Yes. We’d play outside until we were so cold, we couldn’t feel our fingers or the tips of our noses.” He shudders. “I’m not sure I could cope with that now.”
“Why not?”
He grimaces. “I’m too old.”
I cackle. “You are not old.”
“Kids are more immune to the cold than adults.”
“Nonsence! If we’re having fun, we won’t notice the cold.” I sidle up to him and nudge his shoulder with my own. “Weproved that in the limo the other night,” I say in a low voice while I waggle my eyebrows.
“If you want to have that sort of fun, we should go back inside.” He kisses me softly.
I whimper. “Tempting, but snow!”
“You weren’t so keen to get out of the car the other night.”
“No. That’s because there was no way to get warm and dry afterwards. But your apartment is only a short walk away. So I can get as cold as I want, knowing I can have a hot bath and get into dry clothes.”
Damon raises his brows. “You have another set of clothes with you?”
I smile and shrug. “I was hoping it would snow. Come on, let’s make the biggest and best snowman in the park!”
“Put all the kids to shame, you mean?”
“Yes!”
My nose and cheeks become pinched by the cold in record time, but I refuse to let it bother me as we make a huge, three-piece snowman. Once we have the body and head in place, we search the area for twigs and rocks to make the face and arms. The only thing we’re missing is a carrot for the nose—we use a pinecone instead—and an old scarf to put around its neck. Damon takes photos of me striking silly poses with the snowman. I hug it, pretend to kiss its cheek—it’s too cold to actually do it—and pull funny faces. I persuade him to take some selfies of the two of us. Then I fall back into the snow, laughing as I stare at the clear blue sky and move my arms and legs to make a snow angel. The cold and damp seep into my clothes, but I don’t care. I’m having a fantastic Christmas, and it’s only just started.
“You’d better get up, boy.” Damon holds his hand out to me.
I accept it, half letting him haul me up, half jumping to my feet, and then turn to survey the imprint I’ve left in the snow. Itdoes look like the type of angel you’d use as a tree topper. Damon takes a photo and then we amble towards his apartment, damp gloved hand in damp gloved hand.
I realise how cold I am the moment we’re in his apartment. I shiver and clap my hands together, not that it helps. Damon tugs our gloves off and lays them over a radiator to dry. He helps me with my hat, scarf, and coat next, then removes his own and hangs everything up. Without a word, he leads me to the bathroom, turns the bath taps on, and peels my soaked clothing off me, revealing damp skin which is pink from the cold. He gets undressed too, and wraps me in his chilly embrace while we wait for the bath to fill. He adds some bubble bath and then helps me get in, cuddling me in the water.
“This is nice, Daddy.” I snuggle against his chest and half-close my eyes.
“Having a good Christmas so far, boy?”
