Page 41 of Christmas at Wolf Creek

We move together awkwardly at first, finding ourrhythm. She’s small against me, the top of her head barely reaching my chin. I breathe in the scent of her hair, trying to memorize this moment.

“You surprised me tonight,” she says after a while.

“How’s that?”

“Coming here. Talking to everyone.” She glances up at me. “You’re usually so...”

“Antisocial?” I supply.

She laughs softly. “I was going to say reserved.”

“That’s a nicer word for it.”

Chapter 19

Ella

“Iprefer ‘selective about company,’” I tell him, enjoying the way his hand feels against my waist. Strong and steady, just like him.

The music shifts to something with a slightly faster tempo, but we maintain our slow rhythm, neither of us ready to break this unexpected connection.

“So, Christmas Eve is tomorrow,” Jake says, his voice rumbling deep in his chest. “Any specialplans with Nora?”

I laugh. “Actually, we’re planning something completely insane. The whole family is going skiing, which would be normal except half of them have never been on skis before.”

“That sounds...”

“Like a disaster waiting to happen?” I finish for him. “Exactly. Kane can ski, and I’m decent enough, but Kat swears she’s ‘spiritually connected to the mountain’ despite never having set foot on one with skis. Declan claims he went once in Switzerland, but I suspect he spent more time in the lodge with hot toddies than on any actual slopes.”

Jake’s mouth twitches. “Should I have the first aid kit ready?”

“Probably an ambulance on standby,” I admit, then add, “You should come.”

My words surprise me as much as they do him. His step falters slightly before he recovers.

“To watch the MacGallan family wipeout spectacular? Tempting, but I have some things to take care of tomorrow.” His expression clouds briefly. “Rain check?”

“Of course,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment.

The song ends, and we reluctantly separate. As we walk back to the table, I notice my siblings watching with varying degrees of subtlety. Kat gives me an enthusiastic thumbs-up, which makes me roll myeyes.

∞∞∞

“Are you absolutely certain this is a good idea?” I ask the next morning, watching Kat try to put on her ski boot backward while Rory studies the trail map upside down.

“It’s the best idea,” Declan insists, looking surprisingly competent in his perfectly coordinated ski outfit. “Family bonding through shared trauma is scientifically proven to strengthen relationships.”

“I don’t think that’s how trauma works,” Kori laughs, helping Kane adjust his goggles.

The ski resort is packed with holiday visitors, all seemingly more skilled than our motley crew. Nora, at least, has taken lessons before and bounces excitedly beside me in her pink ski jacket and unicorn helmet.

“Can we go on the big hill, Mom? Please?” she begs, pointing toward an intermediate slope that looks like Mount Everest to my nervous mom-eyes.

“Let’s start with the bunny hill,” I suggest, eyeing Kat, who has now managed to click into her skis while standing on a perfectly flat surface and yet is somehow sliding backward toward a rack of rental equipment.

“Save me!” she shrieks, arms windmilling as Lana lunges to grab her jacket.

“We haven’t even left the rental area,” Connor observes dryly. “This bodes well.”