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Ellie scrunches down and tucks herself behind Riley, arms wrapped around her waist, breath coming fast and harsh.
"Go, fast!" She whispers in her ear, and then Riley reaches forward and uses her gloved hands to propel them forward. With a giggle and a scream, they fly down the hill laughing. Ellie glories in the feeling of the cold wind on her pink cheeks, the exhilaration of being out of control but knowing that Riley will keep her safe. Finally, they reach the bottom, and she looks to her left and sees Jesse and Dina fly past moments after them.
"Yes!" Riley yells and pumps her fist. She jumps up from the sled and pulls Ellie with her. They shimmy and wiggle their hands in the air. "We did it, we did it!" They sing together, and then Riley pulls Ellie in and plants a sloppy, cold kiss on her lips. Ellie feels her whole body tingle with warmth.
Dina and Jesse come running over, and they're all laughing and running to the top of the hill again, sleds in tow.
Joel sits off to the side, a mug of hot coffee in hand, with Tommy, Maria, and Tess. The other kid's parents sit at another table a little ways away.
"They look happy," Tommy says.
"That they do, little brother," Joel responds, his eyes warm. Tess reaches out and twines her fingers with his free hand, and he pulls it up so he can give her a soft kiss on the back of her knuckles. Maria leans over and rests her head on Tommy's shoulder, her hand resting on her rounded belly.
The kids come running over after another successful sled race, their faces red with the cold air and the exertions of their fun. Gloves and hats are stripped as they step under the small enclosure the adults wait in. Small hands wrap around mugs of hot chocolate as they all talk non-stop about who beat who and what snow day activity they are going to do next. Tommy suggests snowmen, and the kids are off again, eyes bright.
Joel calls Ellie back, winter accessories forgotten, and helps her don them again. "There ya go, kiddo, don't want you catchin' a cold."
"Joel..." She whines, her eyes are on her friends who are already working to roll together the bottom half of the snow person.
"Mind your Dad, kid. You know how much you hate it when you get a cold." Tess says, her eyes teasing as she tugs on the end of Ellie's messy braid.
"Fine." She capitulates, tugging her hat down over her red-tipped ears. Before she goes, she leans down, wraps her arms around Joel's neck, and hugs him quickly. "Thank you," she whispers for his ear alone, and he knows it's not just for the help with her gloves.
He smiles and sends her on her way with an "I love ya, kiddo." then she's off scooping a handful of snow in her hand and shaping it into the perfect ball. Joel calls out, but It's too late for Tommy, who'd gotten up to help the kids. The snowball hits him straight to the back of his head. He swears loud and sharp, and then the battle is on the snowman, momentarily forgotten. As lines are drawn and teams are made, the battle rages, peace treaties are made and broken, tears are shed and then mended.
The day ends with the families together, warm and safe, in Tommy and Maria's living room. Tommy and Maria are on the couch, Riley's head resting in Maria's lap as she listens to her belly and giggles at a kiss. Her feet rest in Tommy's lap, and his arm stretches across the expanse of the couch, hand holding Maria's as they look at one another and then down to Riley, their kid safe and happy with her family.
Joel and Tess sit together on the loveseat, Ellie nestled between Tess's legs as she bushes out her hair, gently rebraiding the once wild waves. Once she's done, she places a soft kiss on Ellie's head, and she scrambles up to squeeze herself between Joel and Tess. They make room for her with only minor grumbles and groans until she's safe in the circle of their arms. They all sit in silence and watch the flames dance in the fireplace.
The snow continues outside, but the Millers are safe and happy together.