“Perfect.” Morgan gave him a mitten’d single thumb up. “Put it right on top.”
Carefully lifting the head, the boy carried it to the snowman and slid it in place. “What about his face?”
“A carrot and a few black buttons are all we need.” Greg offered to track down the items.
While they waited, Morgan and Tristan assembled a second snow person, a friend to keep Slick, the name Tristan had picked out, company.
They were adding twigs for arms when Greg reappeared.
“Should Slick be happy, frightened or sad?” Morgan asked.
“Happy. He loves the snow.” Tristan worked diligently on creating Slick’s smiling face while Morgan and Greg worked on his snow friend.
After finishing, they stood back to admire their handiwork.
Morgan patted her pockets. “Crud. I wish I had my phone so we could take a picture.”
“I have mine.” Greg removed his cell phone and snapped a picture of the snow couple. Tristan posed next to Slick while Morgan stood next to Sally, the name they picked out for his companion.
Switching places, she took a picture of Tristan and Greg, and then snapped a selfie, proudly posing alongside their snow friends.
Tristan set Chester on the sled and began pulling him toward the top of the hill. “Can we go again?”
“I need to get back to work, bud,” Greg reluctantly replied. “We’ll have plenty of days to go sledding. Snow will be on the ground for weeks, maybe even months.”
“It’s awesome. I love snow.” Tristan chattered excitedly, rattling off all the winter activities on his list. “I’m hungry,” he announced.
“The exercise and fresh air worked up an appetite. I’m sure Tina has some snacks in the kitchen.”
“I’ll hang the sleds back up.”
Morgan watched as Tristan ran ahead. Dragging both sleds behind him, he disappeared into the carriage house. “I wish I had half his energy. Shoot, even a quarter would do.”
“How is he settling in?” Greg asked.
As soon as the test results confirmed Tristan was Brett’s son, Morgan, Elizabeth and Brett had called a staff meeting to let the rest of the Easton Estate employees along with Greg, Tina and Ronni know what was going on, to let those who were close to the family hear the news directly from them.
She tipped her hand back and forth. “Tristan loves it here, although he’s a little nervous about starting school.”
Greg nodded knowingly. “Being the new kid in town…not only the new kid, but an Easton, might be a little rough. Is he changing his last name?”
“Brett has decided to take it slow. If or when Tristan brings it up, he’ll go from there. I’m sure my brother would be thrilled if his son wanted to take the family name.”
“He’s a good kid.”
“I agree. I won the nephew lottery.”
The conversation ended when Tristan, with Chester hot on his heels, returned. “Thanks again for letting me ‘n Aunt Morgan borrow your sleds.”
“You’re welcome, Tristan. Anytime.” Greg excused himself, reminding her he had to leave soon to pick up the B&B’s arriving guests from the airport.
Taking the cleared path to the back door, a shortcut to save them from having to walk all the way around, Morgan led him into the back porch screen room, also known as the mudroom, a term new to her when she moved to Easton Island.
More than a mudroom, it was a catch-all for all seasons: winter gear, summer supplies, fishing equipment, bike accessories including helmets and kneepads, tools for the firepit—campfire roasters, toaster forks, and fire pokers.
Similar to the carriage house, Greg kept everything organized by activity and season.
Tristan picked up a ski pole. “You got all kinds of stuff in here.”
