“Can we ride those?” Mycah interrupts, staring at the snowmobiles with obvious interest.
“Please!” Isa adds, bouncing on her toes. “They look so cool!”
“I wanna try!” Asher chimes in.
“Maybe later if the weather clears,” the second rider—a man—says as he removes his helmet. “And if it’s okay with your folks.”
“We’ll see,” Gina says, which every kid knows means ‘probably not.’
“Yes!” Asher pumps his fist.
“Inside, all of you,” Maverick says.
I’m still waiting for Enrick to finish that sentence. She’s his what? Cousin? Girlfriend? Ex? The not knowing gnaws at me.
“Rick, we went by your place and found it dark. Figured the storm trapped you here,” Margot says. “How’s everyone holding up?”
“We’re surviving without you, believe it or not,” Enrick says dryly. “What possessed you to drive through a blizzard on Christmas Eve?”
“I wasn’t going to let a little snow keep me from delivering Bella’s Christmas presents on time,” Margot says. “What kind of fairy godmother would I be?”
“Presents!” Bella shrieks, practically vibrating with excitement in Margot’s arms. “For me?”
I step forward, reaching out for my daughter. “Come on, B, let’s go inside. You don’t have a jacket.”
“But my presents.”
“Listen to your mother, princess,” Enrick says. “Inside first, then you can see the presents after.”
“Can I open them now?” Bella asks.
“Christmas morning,” I say automatically. “That’s tomorrow.”
“But it’s almost Christmas!” Bella pouts.
“Almost isn’t the same as Christmas morning.” Enrick’s voice is firm. “These go under the tree with the others.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Bella sighs dramatically but doesn’t argue further.
Margot’s eyebrows rise as she transfers Bella over to me, her eyes flicking to my collarbone—to the mark Enrick left there—before returning to my face. “Desiree. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Enrick shifts beside me. “Margot—”
“What? I have heard about her. You talk about Bella constantly, and Desiree’s part of that package.” Margot’s tone is perfectly polite, but something in the way she looks at me makes my skin prickle. “I’m Margot Richardson. Enrick’s best friend.”
“And general pain in my ass,” Enrick adds, stepping forward to take one of the bags Margot’s carrying.
“It’s mutual,” Margot shoots back, swatting at him. “This is Jake, my brother. He’s the one who actually knows how to operate a snowmobile without crashing into a tree.”
Jake nods at me. Unlike Margot, he seems content to stay quiet.
“That was one time,” Enrick protests. “And there was ice.”
“There’s always ice, Rick. It’s called winter.” Margot turns back to me with a fake smile. “It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” I manage, pulling Bella closer against the cold.
“Margot buys me books!” Bella announces proudly. “She helped Daddy decorate my bedroom at his house!”
