“Pacing,” Greta supplied.
“Addie says these are between a size six and a half and eight. Something there ought to fit you.” Toni dropped several pairs of boots off. “I don’t know why we have so many sizes. Something about her mom leaving a pair here.” She gestured toward the downstairs. “Coat closet has hats, scarves, and coats. Borrow whatever.”
“Can we go into the backyard?” Kaelee asked as they were wrapping themselves up in layers. “I have never seen snow quite this deepand undisturbed. My building has no yard and, well, I grew up in the middle of North Carolina… not exactly a winter wonderland.”
Greta took her hand, slightly awkwardly with the bulky mittens she wore. “So no snow angels?”
“Do sand angels at the beach count?”
“Absolutely not.” Greta shook her head. “Sand castles don’t count in lieu of snowmen either, you know.”
“I suspect we’re a little old for doing all that.” Kaelee laughed. “I just want to see the snow up close.”
By the time they were standing outside in the tiny yard behind Toni’s townhouse, Kaelee was bouncing on the balls of her feet like an antsy athlete, and Greta wasn’t sure that a walk was going to be enough to take the edge off her energy—at least that was her excuse if her next move went poorly.
She scooped up a few handfuls of wet sticky snow when Kaelee wasn’t looking and tossed the first snowball at the back of her head.
“Hey!” Kaelee pivoted just as Greta launched the second snowball. It smacked her high on the chest, and a puff of flurries lifted into her face on impact. The result was that Kaelee had a brief snow cloud obscuring her vision.
Greta ducked behind a tree in the far side of Toni’s yard.
Kaelee was laughing as she lifted a handful of snow and stared at Greta. “I played softball, Greta.”
“Field hockey,” Greta countered, spying a garden rake in the small yard. She made a dash for it, but the first snowball smacked her just above the knee.
They volleyed several rounds, both hitting their target every time as they chased each other around the yard. Then Greta had an idea. She grinned at Kaelee, and then she charged her as best she could in the knee-high snow. Her run was a bit slower than planned, but she still toppled Kaelee into a snowbank.
“Gotcha.” Greta was sprawled out on top of Kaelee, both of them half sunken in the deep drift.
“You are ridiculous.” Kaelee stared up at her. Her cheeks were pink, and snowflakes glittered on her eyelashes.
“And you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Greta kissed the tip of her nose, the edge of her eye, and then pressed her lips to Kaelee’s in a brief kiss. “Snow angels?”
“We’re going to be too cold to walk,” Kaelee said.
“One snow angel, and then… we walk.” Greta plucked at the ski pants she wore. “I feel pretty toasty and dry still.”
“Fine. So do I.” Kaelee lifted Greta off her and pushed to her feet. “Teach me.”
Greta stood and walked several steps away, looked behind her, and flopped back into the unmarked snow. “You find a good place, no rocks or things to hurt yourself.”
She lifted her arms to the sides and made sweeping motions. “You make wings like this.” Then she swept her legs open and closed. “And then the foot of the robe.”
Kaelee stared down at her with a bemused smile. “You should look ridiculous right now.”
“Are you saying I don’t?”
“I’m saying you look beautiful.” Kaelee shook her head, as if clearing it. “I don’t feel casual, Greta. Not when I look at you. Not when I hold you. Not when we talk. What am I supposed to do about that?”
“Try not to panic? That’s what I’m doing. I putyouin front of my career, Kaelee. You’re not the only one in this place,” Greta said softly. “I told my assistant, my head of publicity, my biggest author,andher agent that I am seeing you.”
“I’m afraid.” Kaelee reached down and grabbed Greta’s outstretched hands, pulling her to her feet and sliding her arms around her. “I’m falling, and it’sterrifying.”
Greta hugged her. “It’s okay to fall. I am, too. I am not trying to trap or control you, Kaelee. I just want to be with you.”
“Same,” Kaelee whispered. She caught Greta’s mouth in a tenderkiss, and then said, “Okay. Fall backwards? Flap my arms and legs, and then what?”
“Then take my hands. I’ll help you stay steady,” Greta said. “Just like you did for me.”
