Elly joins us. “I’ve got some hot chocolate ready for the boys. They’ll need something to warm them up.”
My face is hot and damp from the tears that I can’t seem to stop.
We stare out into the vast blanket of snow, unable to see anything past the front porch. They could be on their way back here right now and we’d never know until they were right at the door.
I jump when I hear heavy footsteps on the wooden porch. Two large dark shadows appear out of the blowing snow. It takes me a moment to realize it’s Shane holding Luke securely in his arms, and Jake is right beside him, holding tightly onto Aiden’s hand.
Elly jumps to open the door, and the two dads with their precious cargo walk inside.
My heart slams into my chest when I hear Luke sniffling.
“He’s okay,” Shane says to me. “He’s just cold and scared.”
I remove Luke’s winter outerwear and check him over. He’s unharmed, but his face is red and his ice cold cheeks are streaked with tears. He reaches for me, and Shane hands him over. Luke wraps his arms and legs around me and clutches me tightly, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
“I’ll signal to the others that we found them,” Shane says as he darts back outside.
A moment later, we hear five blasts of a car horn, and shortly afterward, the rest of the searchers return to the house.
Annie removes Aiden’s scarf and cups his bright red face. “Your cheeks are like ice, honey.” She skims him from head to toe. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Aiden looks on the verge of tears as he shakes his head. “No. Just c-c-c-cold.” His teeth are chattering. “We got lost in the woods, Mom. We couldn’t find our way back to the house.”
Jake reaches down to ruffle Aiden’s hair. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re safe now.” He pulls the boy into his arms. “No more adventuring during blizzards, okay? Promise me.”
Aiden nods, his lips quivering as he tries not to cry. “I promise.”
“Bring them in by the fire,” Elly says as she motions for us to follow her. “I’ve got some hot chocolate ready.”
Shane peels Luke off me and carries him through the foyer into the great room. Annie leads Aiden by the hand. While Aiden’s not crying, he’s still visibly upset.
After the boys are seated side by side on one of the sofas, Shane and Jake stand in front of them, hands on their hips, their expressions hard as they present an intimidating wall of testosterone. Now that the danger is over, it’s time for some discipline.
Luke tears up again. “Are we in trouble?” he asks in a quiet voice. His gaze goes from Shane to me.
“What do you think?” Shane asks him, not relaxing an inch.
Even though Shane and Jake are clearly not happy with their sons, the other adults in the room are struggling not to laugh at the situation.
“We’re really sorry,” Aiden says as he gazes up at Jake. Then he looks at Shane. “It’s my fault, Uncle Shane, not Luke’s. I told him he could come outside with me.”
“And who saidyoucould go outside?” Jake asks his son.
“Well.” Aiden swallows heavily. “You did. Sort of.”
Jake’s eyes widen in surprise. “How do you figure that?”
“You said if the snow lets up we could go outside.”
Jake points toward the big picture windows at the back of the room. “Does that snow look like it’s letting up?”
Aiden winces. “No, sir.”
“You two could have gotten hurt out there,” Jake says. “Lukecould have gotten hurt.”
That seems to hit Aiden harder than anything else. His big brown eyes tear up as he glances at his younger cousin sitting beside him. He reaches for Luke’s hand. “I’m sorry, Luke.”
“Are we in trouble?” Luke asks again, his gaze going from his uncle to his father.
