"Thanks," Imogen said, allowing the hug to go on longer than she usually might. Eventually, Rosa let go and pulled back to look at her. "I'm okay, Mum."
"I know, I just missed you that's all." Rosa turned to the other two. "I missed you all. Come in, let's get you warmed up.” She noted the pile of skis leaning against the railing. “Where are your grandparents?"
"Oh, they're coming," Imogen said, laughing. "You should see them."
Robbie giggled. "It's definitely a sight."
Janka nodded and laughed too. "They should be here any—"
Rosa turned to the sound of what she assumed could only be Meredith squealing in the distance, and just like that, the sled shot out from the trees, skidding across the road. Schultz twisted and they began the descent down the hundred yards or more before one more twist brought them into the drive of the cabin, Meredith falling off the back in hysterics as they finally came to a stop.
"Oh, Schultz, we should do that more often." Meredith kept laughing as the girls ran back outside to help.
Chapter thirty-two
Their ‘sled’ was actually two sleds—one that carried Meredith and Schultz, the other strapped down with two boxes and a holdall.
"How on earth you both didn't break your necks, I'll never know," Rosa said when they were all inside.
Meredith kissed her cheek. "It was fun, Rosa. You should try it… It's…exhilarating." She moved towards Billy and pulled her daughter in for a hug.
Schultz gave a small chuckle. "It was a little scary."
"It was madness, we could have—" Meredith stopped talking when she noticed Imogen’s glare.
Imogen touched her mum's arm. "We wanted to spend the day with you."
"And glad of it we are, right…Rosa?" Billy said, joining them. She put herself on the other side of Imogen, out of reach for touch, but her eyes couldn't help but linger on Rosa for a moment.
If anybody noticed, they didn't say anything.
"So, who is for a hot chocolate and some lunch?" Meredith called from the kitchen. She was already unpacking one of the boxes into the fridge. "Good job we brought supplies, you're almost out."
"Well, we had to eat. Not much else to do when you're snowed in." Billy shrugged as she casually stepped away from the others and moved to the kitchen to help unpack.
Meredith smiled. "Must have been quite the experience." She reached for the kettle and filled it to the line. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Did you and Rosa get on alright? I was a little worried."
Billy quickly glanced at Rosa, who was laughing as the girls mimicked skiing slopes with their hands.
"We got on fine. Actually, it was a nice opportunity to talk and clear the air with some things."
"Oh, that's…" Meredith patted her arm. "I'm pleased. I always hoped you two would find some peace with each other."
"Yeah…" Billy opened the cupboard. "Are we all having hot chocolate?"
"I think so," Meredith answered. "So…what kind of things did you talk about?"
"Hm?" Billy mumbled, focused on the doling out of hot chocolate into mugs.
"You and Rosa…what did you talk about?"
"Oh…uh…all sorts of things." An image of Rosa, naked on the couch, flashed through her mind's eye. She pulled a pan off the rack, making a loud clang. "Can you pass me the milk from the fridge, please?"
Meredith did as she was asked.
"We mostly played cards, but we, uh...we cleared the air with stuff from…when I left…that kind of thing."
"That's wonderful. Maybe now things will be more…" She glanced across at Rosa. "She seems happier."
