“Ollie, this is so amazing!” I say as I wave to Violet and Mack.
We get out, and Ollie comes to my side, kissing me softly. “I knew you’d love it.”
“It’s stunning,” I say, breathless, looking at the massive white sleigh that’s decorated in pine and lights.
Walker, Violet, and Mack get out of the truck, and they’re in awe, too. “Where did you get a sleigh, Jack?” Mack asks as she finds Owen, and they both are practically jumping with excitement.
Jack smiles and says, “Tucker found it at an auction and brought it home. He restored it for the past few months, and it’s finally ready for its maiden voyage.”
We laugh and bundle up in layers until Ellie looks even more like a marshmallow, snug in her carrier, with only her pink cheeks peeking out.
Jack hands Owen a pair of snowshoes like he’s presenting a crown. “These are also for you to try out later with your dad and me...I mean Ollie,” he says and shakes his head like he made a Freudian slip.
“Sorry,” he says.
Owen laughs and shrugs. “Well, he’s kinda like my dad.”
Ollie and my eyes lock, and he grins as he squeezes Owen’s shoulder. “I definitely am, bud.”
Owen looks down and back up at us, bashful. I put my arm around him and pull him in for a squeeze.
“You ready?” Jack asks. "We’ll do some snowshoeing and take turns with the sleigh.”
Owen nods so hard his hat slips down over his eyes. “Yes!”
“Wait for me!” Mack calls as she scrambles to grab her snow shoes from the truck.
“This is so magical! Also, I bought you something,” Violet says as she motions for me to come to the backseat of their truck. “I got Maggie and Cami one, too.”
I walk over, pulling Ellie in tighter. She’s bundled up and sleeping soundly. “It is magical! Did you know about all this?”
She shrugs with a grin. “Kinda. That’s how I knew to buy you this!”
She pulls out a white coat and squeals. “It’s like mine, and it’s heated!”
I laugh, and she helps me put it on over the baby carrier. “How is it so big and perfect?”
She laughs. “I got them big to go over our belly and babies!”
If you’d have told me that a few months ago, Violet and I would be standing here talking about holding babies, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are, and I realize I love it. It’s kind of crazy that I thought I didn’t want something I now can’t imagine not having.
“Thank you,” I say, hugging her. “Ellie thanks you, too.”
We spend the next hour laughing ourselves breathless sledding and snowshoeing through the trees. Owen wiping out and popping right back up like it’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to him. Sledding down a gentle hill while Jack pretends not to be competitive and Ollie absolutely is. Both of them crash and laugh.
Ellie’s bundled up and tucked against my chest, blinking up at the sky like she’s trying to memorize it. She’s probably going to sleep so well with all of this fresh air, we all are.
Eventually, Maggie clucks her tongue and reaches for her. “All right. That’s enough winter wonder for you, my girl. I’m taking her inside the lodge to watch you guys from the window while I drink my hot cocoa.”
I gently hand her over, and Maggie beams as if she just won a prize.
“I’ll keep her warm,” Maggie says. “You all go play.”
She heads inside like a woman delighted to be on grandma duty. I smile as she closes the door. I wonder what life would be like sometimes if my mom were here. Where would she be? Would she still be married to my dad? I hope not. She deserved so much better than Sully. We all did.
Ollie joins me, arm around me as we watch Mack, Owen, and Cami sled down the hill, laughing.
Tucker appears, grinning as if he’s just walked into Disneyland. “Hey, everyone.”
