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.She pulled on her gloves and hurried outside."Hop on!" Paul yelled over the hum of the snowmobile'sengine.He held out a pair of goggles that matched the oneshe was wearing.After donning the goggles, she slid on behind him andwrapped her arms around his waist.In a blink, the snow-covered trees were whizzing by.She pressed her cheekagainst Paul's broad back, thankful that he was broad enoughto shield her from the bulk of the wind.50Snow for Christmasby Destiny WallaceIt took about twenty minutes to pull up to a house Mararecognized right away.She hopped off the snowmobile andgave the goggles back to Paul.He pulled his own off andgrinned."How was the ride?" he asked as they walked to the backporch."Fast," Mara breathed."I know you can handle a little speed," Paul quipped withwink.Mara was too cold to come up with a witty retort.She justwatched as he opened the door and walked inside.Shefollowed him into the mudroom and began stripping off herouterwear.She hung them on a hook beside the one he used.She was still unwinding her scarf when Paul caught her elbow.He placed his lips on hers in the gentlest way possible.Hedidn't press or probe; he just brushed his mouth against hersand turned to enter the main part of the house.She pulled off her boots and hurried in after him."Amaranté?" a deep, graveled voice questioned when shewalked into the kitchen behind Paul."Hi, Mr.Sutherland," she said with a shy wave."MerryChristmas.""You're damn right! I never thought I'd see you in theseparts again!" The older gentleman with a head full of silverhair pulled her into a suffocating hug.Paul had gotten hisheight from his father, so her cheek was pressed firmlyagainst his chest."Nice to see you too," Mara squeaked."Let her go, Dad," Paul sighed.51Snow for Christmasby Destiny Wallace"Let who go?" Elaine Sutherland asked as she entered theroom."Hi, Mrs.Sutherland," Mara said, waving as Paul pulled herout of his father's embrace."Hello," Paul's mother said with a polite smile."It's nice tosee you again, Mara." Her gray eyes narrowed for just amoment, giving a hint as to what hid under the niceties."You too," she muttered, dropping her eyes from the olderwoman's questioning gaze.Paul frowned as he looked from one woman to the other."I just came by to check on you guys.Is the heat working?Did the pipes freeze?""No, dear," his mother said warmly."Everything is still ingood working order.We're just fine.""As fine as we can be without cable," his father grumbled."Dad, you know there's nothing I can do about the cableconnection.How's your generator holding up?""Fine," Mrs.Sutherland quipped."I'm going to shovel a path to the generator and check onit, just to make sure.""Whatever floats your boat, son."Mrs.Sutherland glowered at her husband."You're helpinghim, Larry."He dropped a few curse words but headed out to themudroom."You wait here with my mom, I'll be right back."Mara glanced at Mrs.Sutherland.She was frowning as sheran a hand over her white hair pulled back in a tight bun."Ican help you guys."52Snow for Christmasby Destiny Wallace"No way, you stay in the house where it's warm." Paul wassmiling as usual, but she could tell by his tone that he wasserious.He glanced once more between her and his motherbefore going into the mudroom."Subtle," muttered Mara, "like a Mack truck."It was a goodbye kiss, she decided.The kiss that hadseemed so romantic a few minutes before when they were inthe mudroom was obviously a kiss goodbye because Paulknew his mother was going to kill her."I don't know who you think you are," Mrs.Sutherlandseethed when they were alone in the kitchen and both menwere outside the house, "but I didn't raise my son to run'round town impregnating women with my great-grandma'sengagement ring in his pocket."Mara took a step back as the force of those words hit her.Paul's mother didn't yell, she was much like her own motherthat way.Instead, she dropped her voice and spat the wordsout in a hiss.The woman was obviously not happy with Maraand what was that she'd said about."Engagement ring," Mara repeated."Yup, he was going to propose to you when you'd gottensettled."Mara's throat swelled and she couldn't quite finish her lastbreath.She coughed to clear her airway, but it didn't helpmuch."Propose?" Left alone, under Mrs.Sutherlands accusatorygaze, she'd become an echo."Uh-huh.You heard me."53Snow for Christmasby Destiny Wallace"Wait how do you know all this? Paul just found out why Ileft yesterday.""It's called a cell phone or don't y'all have those where youlive."Mara frowned."I never heard him talking to anyone on thephone," she said mostly to herself."We text.seriously, what century are you in? Did you cutyourself off from all communication or do you send smokesignals?"Mara laughed [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]