Chapter 1
Elena
“As the first snowflake settled, it whispered secrets of a winter tale waiting to unfold.” My mother used to tell me that sentence every time it snowed for the first time in the winter season. I watch the snowfall onto the barren trees and yellowing grass, feel the wind chill blow through my hair. I take a deep breath in and close my eyes hoping to hold this peaceful scenery forever in my memories. I open my eyes and reality is back. I sigh and lean back on the bench. This park is my paradise.
I come here anytime I need to relax since it’s just a block away from my apartment and right now I really need relaxation. My family is in town for the holidays and are camped out in my apartment which isn’t the issue. The issue is the constant badgering and interrogation about my life. I love my family but they just wear me down sometimes.
I take another deep breath in and get up off the bench and start walking towards my apartment. As I’m walking I spot a young kid alone on a different bench only in a thin jacket and jeans.
“ACHOO–” the little boy sneezes just before I walk past.
“Bless you,” I say as I’m walking closer to him. He was a cute, little boy no older than ten. He had bright caramel eyes and dark curly hair, his nose and cheeks rosey from the cold breeze.
“Thank you, Miss!” He says cheerfully. I look around for his parents or guardian and the park is empty aside from the two of us.
“Where are your parents, kiddo?” I ask while I’m still scanning the park.
“They’re with Papa,” he says with a little sadness. “I’m waiting for my Uncle Mike to come get me.”
“Why are you out in the cold waiting alone?” I sit down next to the bot and take my puffer coat off and place it over the little boy. “Here, wear this while you wait. It’s too chilly to only be wearing a jacket.” He puts the jacket on backwards and it swallows him.
“It’s so warm thank you, and my Aunty Sara said that I need to stay here and wait for Uncle Mike.” He snuggles more into the jacket.
“Do you know your uncle’s phone number by any chance?” I say as he grins.
“Yes!” He takes his arm out of the jacket and stands up. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lamented card and hands it to me looking proud. I smile and grab it from him and look over it. It’s an emergency contact list. The little boy’s name is scrawled on the top.
“Let’s give this Uncle Mike a call.” I reach for my phone from my back pocket and dial the number for Michael Whitlock. He answers after two rings.
“Hello, Michael speaking” I paused a little shocked at the man’s voice. It was deep and husky.
“Hi, my name is Elena, I’m here at Sherwood park with your nephew Elijah and I was wondering if you were almost here as it’s cold outside and he doesn’t have proper winter clothes on.” I quickly state.
“Excuse me but what do you mean by almost here? And why’re you with my nephew” He says with a twinge of anger and urgency. I look at Elijah who is flapping the sleeves of my puffer coat like a bird and chuckle.
“Elijah said that his Aunt Sara dropped him off here and said you would pick him up. I just saw a kid alone and wanted to make sure he was okay.” He lets out a big sigh after I explain.
“I was unaware of this, thank you for calling me. I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Do you mind waiting with him?” He says quickly.
“I don’t mind but would you be okay with meeting at the cafe on the corner by the park? I don’t think staying in the cold any longer would be good for him,”
“Yes that’s fine, thank you…” He pauses.
“Elena.” I state.
“Thank you Elena.” He hangs up and I put my phone back in my pocket.
“Alright kiddo your Uncle will be here in about twenty minutes, you feel like having some hot chocolate?” I say as I grin.
“YES!” He shouts excitedly and shoots up off the bench. He flips the coat around properly as I pass his emergency contact list back, and he shoves it back in his pants pocket and grabs my hand. We walked to the coffee shop, talking about the scenery.
We walk into the cafe and the door jingles. Elijah runs to the counter to order his hot chocolate and I follow suit. As I’m paying, Elijah picks out a table in the back corner. I look around the quaint shop. The Christmas decorations made everything look so homey and bright. I head over to the table that Elijah picked out and take a seat and we chat about all the decorations until the barista comes over and hands us our drinks.
Elijah is so excited he is bouncing in his seat with the biggest grin ever. I laugh a little to myself as I take a sip of my hot chocolate.
I watch as he takes his first drink of it. “How is it?” I ask.
“Delicious, I haven’t had hot chocolate in foreverrrrr.” He states. I give him a smile. My phone buzzes and I pull it out and see I have a text from my brother.
Charlie: Where are you??
Me: I went outside to take a break for a bit.
Charlie: Mom is looking everywhere for you, you have to get back soon
Me: Fine. I’m currently occupied, I’ll be back in about 10 minutes.
Charlie: Alright I’ll let mom know
I look up from my phone and see Elijah has a hot chocolate mustache and I’ll let out a hearty laugh. I set my phone down on the table and grab a napkin.
“Hey kiddo let me see your face really quick.” I say as I wipe his coco stache off. He giggles a little bit. The door Jingles as a tall man in a suit walks in looking around frantically. He meets my gaze and oh boy he is handsome he has the same curls Elijah does but his eyes are a cold gray that remind me of winter. He looks beside me and has a look of relief wash over him. He walks over to us catching Elijah’s attention.
“Uncle Mike!” He exclaims and runs towards the man. “You made it!”
“Of course I did, buddy.” He crouches down and hugs Elijah. “You must be Elena?” I blush a little when he says my name with a smile.
“Yes, I’m glad you were able to make it here so quickly.” I smile at both of them. Michael looks back at the boy and has a puzzled look on his face.
“Is this your coat?” He questions. I chuckle and nod.
“Look what I can do with it Uncle Mike!” Elijah says and starts to flap his arms like a bird again. I laugh again and his uncle tries to suppress his laugh.
“That’s awesome Elijah, but you should give her coat back so we all can leave.” Michael says as he smiles at him. “Let me give you a ride home as a thank you” he says looking at me.
“I appreciate the offer but I live in the apartments right down the block,” I say as I grab the coat from Elijah’s hands. I get up and slide it on and pat Elijah’s head. “It was fun hanging out with you kiddo.”
“You too!” Elijah says as he hugs me.
“Get home safe goodbye.” I say as I leave the cafe. The cold wind is no longer relaxing but aggressive. I shiver and shove my hands in my pockets and fast walk home. When I arrive I’m immediately chastised by my mother.
“Where on earth have you been, young lady!” My mom shouts with her hands on her hips. I sigh and take off my jacket and hang it by the door.
“I was at the park taking a breather and found a lost kid and had to wait for his guardian to arrive.” I say and take my shoes off and walk into my living room.
“You should’ve called, you’ve been gone for over an hour.” I look at her crazy after she says that I could’ve sworn I was only gone for thirty minutes tops. I reach for my phone, to check the time, in my back pocket only to realize it wasn’t there. I do a panic pat down and then walk back to my coat to check its pockets. Nothing.
“I’m sorry Mom, I thought I was only gone for a little bit.” I say quickly as I walk back to the living room looking for my brother. “Charlie, let me borrow your phone really quickly.”
“Why?” He questions holding his phone to his chest while he’s sitting on the couch.
“I think I left my phone at the cafe and I want to call and see if it’s still there.” I say quickly reaching for his phone. He moved it out of my reach and raised an eyebrow.
“I thought you were at the park?” he asks suspiciously. I let out a big sigh.
“I was, can I please borrow your phone? I’ll explain later.” I say exasperated. Siblings are so annoying. I hold my hand out waiting for Charlie to pass me his phone. He squints at me and taps a few things and then holds his phone up to his ear. After a couple rings he gets a shit eating grin on his face.
“Why hello Michael, I was calling to make sure my sister’s phone was there. Do you mind coming to drop it off at her apartment?” he asks the grin not leaving his face for a second. “I’ll text you the address on her phone, thank you Michael.” Charlie hangs up.
“Were you on a date Ellie?” My mom asks excitedly. I sigh and put my head in my hands shaking it. “Oh don’t be embarrassed you didn’t have to make up a story!”
“Mom, I didn’t make up the story. Michael was the kids’ guardian. I took the kid to the cafe after I called him so he wouldn’t freeze while we waited for his guardian.” I say as I kick my brother in the shin then sit down next to him. He just glared at me and texted my phone the address.
“So was he cute? Was he single? Are you interested?” My mom starts the interrogation all over again.
“Ugh mom, no. I don’t know the guy we talked for all of two minutes.” I lean my head back on the couch and massage my temples.
“Just because you don’t know the guy doesn’t mean you can’t tell if he is cute or not.” my mother huffs. “Besides, I think it will be good for you to start dating again, you’re not getting any younger.”
“I’m only 25?! I have plenty of time before I get back into the dating field.” I grunt. She just sighs and walks back to the kitchen. My last relationship ended abruptly six months ago after a trip to italy. My ex couldn’t accept that things changed, that I changed. I thought I knew what I wanted but I didn’t until we had been together for three years already.
“Ellie please baby, we don’t have to do this, we can work on this.” Henry pleads as I sit at the end of the bed. “Why do we have to break up?”
“Henry, you and I both know our paths are going different ways you want to travel, live adventurously and never stay put. I can’t do that anymore. I want to settle down, get married and have kids.” I say with tears in my eyes. “I know I said I didn’t want kids but as I’m getting older I realized I do. The traveling was fun initially but that last trip really put things in perspective.”
“ What do you mean put things in perspective?” he asks.
“You live frivolously and I don’t want that and I don’t want to change you as a person to fit me as a person. I want monogamy, just one person to love and that one person to love only me.” He walks over to me to try and rub my back but I stand up to leave. Henry grabs my arm tight.
“Please baby, if you want monogamy you got it.” he cried out.
“Henry you know you can’t, we tried before but it didn’t work.” My tears were uncontrollable at this point. He lets go of my arm. “I’ll be back later to pick up my things.” he starts sobbing and apologizing and I just walk around him and leave the apartment.
“Elena… Elena?” my brother calls for me waving his hand in front of my face.
“Huh… sorry whats up?” I ask and sit up straight. My brother gives me a look and shakes his head.
“Your date is here.” he grins. I just shake my head and get up from the couch.”
“It was not a date.” I grumble and walk to the door and open it. Michael and Elijah were both standing there. “Hey come in, come in.” I greet them and move out of the way so they can enter.
“Oh well thank you for Inviting us in but I’m just dropping off your phone…” Michael states. My mom rushes over and has a giddy grin on her face
“ Nuh-uh. You gotta come in and have a cup of tea as a thank you for bringing my silly daughter’s phone.” Mom announces. I just shake my head at her.
“Well if you insist.” Michael says awkwardly. Elijah takes his shoes off and runs in excitedly. “Elijah, don’t run. I’m so sorry.” He apologizes sheepishly.
“It’s not a problem handsome.” My mom winks and gives me a nudge. I blush because god is that awkward. Michael just looks at me confused. I just shake my head and shrug. He takes off his shoes and follows my mom to the kitchen. I shut the door and lean against it entirely uncomfortable with this awkward situation.
-Unedited
