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.“I don’t like that gun,” she said.“I didn’t like it when you pointed it at me that day we met, and I don’t like it now.”“I didn’t point it at you,” Tage denied.“Yes you did!”“No I didn’t.”Jilly opened her mouth to reply, but before she could Gwen waddled into the room and said, “You two sound like a pair of six-year-olds.”Tage laughed.“You look like you’ve got a pair of six-year-olds in your belly.”“Very funny,” Gwen said.She eased her way sideways onto the sofa, leaning backwards to catch herself with one hand.She looked more than ready to give birth.“Turn the radio on, Jilly,” she said.“Maybe they’re playing some Christmas carols.” She rummaged around in a box sitting on the coffee table.“Found it!”“What?” Jilly asked.“Mistletoe,” Gwen said, pulling the plastic green branches out of the box.“Who cares if it’s fake? Hang it up in the doorway, Jilly.Here’s a tack.” She handed both to Jilly.“I’m not tall enough,” she said.“Tage’ll do it.”“Give it here.”He walked over to the doorway and reached up to tack the mistletoe to the archway.“I need another tack,” he said.Jilly brought it over to him, but when she did he didn’t take it from her hand.Instead, he leaned down and kissed her.His lips were a bit chapped from the cold weather, but they still felt warm against her own.Her stomach somersaulted.She darted a glance toward Gwen who was still pawing through the box of ornaments on the coffee table.Quickly, before she could think about it and change her mind, she reached up and kissed him again.She caught him off guard and her lips landed somewhere near his chin.She felt a few stray prickles of hair against her lips and wondered why the sensation felt so good.Tage smiled at her, and they went back to stringing popcorn.Gwen was humming along to the radio, and then Otto and Cat swept into the house.Otto’s hat was covered with snow, and Cat’s eyelashes had ice crystals, but their faces sparkled with joy.“Look at this magnificent tree Otto found!” Cat said.They all went out to the porch and exclaimed over its size.Otto and Tage pulled the tree through the doorway with Cat and Jilly helping here and there.Gwen stood back and directed them, her belly pointing out in front of her.When they finally got the tree into the stand, Jilly collapsed on the living room floor.“Geesh.” she sighed.“Who ever would have thought Christmas was such work?”“You barely lifted a pine needle,” Tage told her.She sat up and stuck out her tongue at him, but he grinned at her and crossed his eyes.“Would you come help me get this set of lights working?” Otto asked Tage.Jilly hugged her knees to her chest and surveyed the scene in front of her.Gwen, fatter than the chubby spruce tree, was still digging decorations out of the Christmas box, Cat was carrying in a wooden tray loaded with cups of heavenly smelling hot chocolate, and Tage and Otto were arguing over which one of them should plug in the light set they were trying to fix.She’d known many kinds of Christmases at all of the foster homes she’d lived in, but none had prepared her for this one.If she could stop time, she’d do it right this instant.She’d freeze out all the problems hanging over their heads, and live in the joy and peace of a Christmas that felt like family.BOOK TWO: ARRIVALSChapter XV.Five days into the new year, forecasters began predicting an extraordinary ice storm heading into the North Country.The radio broadcast warnings and advised people to have an extra jug of water and a few candles on hand in case the electricity went off.Otto clicked off the radio after the latest weather report, and said to Cat, “I know it’s your day off, but would you like to walk into town and pick up a few extra supplies?”Gwen was in the kitchen making a double-layer chocolate cake; ever since yesterday she’d been running on a burst of energy and efficiency she called her ‘second wind.’ Jilly, curled up on the couch, still wore the fuzzy flannel pajamas she’d received from Cat for Christmas.She was reading Giants in the Earth by O.E.Rölvaag, a book recommended to her by Ned for her literature studies.She’d taken some time off from school—telling everyone that even home-schooled kids got Christmas vacation—but today was the official first day back for studying.To her everlasting amazement, she was finding the Norwegian immigrant story captivating reading.But now she put her finger in the book to hold to her place and looked over at Otto and Cat.“Do you want me to go? Tage is coming over after work this afternoon, and we could walk into town to get whatever you want.”Cat shook her head.“I’d like to go for a walk with Otto.It’s actually quite nice outside right now.” She cocked her head at Gwen thoughtfully.“We’ll grab the sled and be off.” She stood up.“Let me get my boots and things and I’ll be all set.Don’t forget your gloves, either, Otto.” Due to the weather change, they’d put away the old Radio Flyer and were using a metal runner sled.Otto had built wooden sides for it, so it resembled a wagon on skis.Jilly went back to reading and didn’t stop until she smelled the heavy-sweet scent of chocolate drifting into the living room.Naturally, she went to investigate.Gwen sat at the kitchen table absentmindedly stirring a bowl of chocolate silk frosting.The cakes were cooling on two racks next to the oven.“That smells great,” Jilly said.“Let’s eat it for lunch.”She’d only been teasing, and was shocked when Gwen agreed.“Really?” Jilly said.Gwen looked up at her.“What did you say?”“I knew you weren’t listening,” Jilly said, her voice mournful at the thought of waiting until after supper for the cake.Gwen’s face tightened.“What’s the matter?” Jilly asked.“Nothing,” Gwen said, letting out a brief sigh.“I wish Otto and Cat would come back.It’s really starting to freeze on out there.”As if response to Gwen’s summons, Jilly heard footsteps on the front porch.The door swung open, but it was only Tage.“What are you doing here?” Jilly asked, eyeing the clock.The time read two-thirty, she’d missed lunchtime altogether she noticed, and Tage didn’t get off work until four.“You’re drenched.”“I know.You got a towel?” He ran a hand through his rain-darkened hair.“Rob let us go early.It’s really bad out there!” He bent down and untied his boots so he could take them off.“There must be a half-inch of ice coating the trees already.If this keeps up, we’re really going to be in trouble.”Jilly handed him a kitchen towel she’d retrieved from the drawer and went to peer out the rectangular window in the door.The weather did look nasty.“I hope Otto and Cat don’t have any trouble getting home,” she said.“They’re not here?” Tage asked in surprise.“Where’d they go?”“To town,” Gwen said.“Why?”“I barely made it out here,” Tage said grimly.“Walking is treacherous, driving is impossible.The cops are closing the roads.” He looked at the two of them.“Haven’t you guys been listening to the radio?”Jilly shook her head.“I was reading, and Gwen was making a cake.” She bit her lip.“Do you think we ought to go look for them?”“No!” Gwen said.They stared at her.“I mean,” she said with a forced laugh.“I don’t want to be here alone
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