Chapter Three

Snow

“Hey!” I called as I pulled a tray of muffins from the oven and the scent of warm blueberries filled the air. “You’re early.” I slid the tray onto the cooling rack, tossed the hot pads on the counter, and turned around, expecting Kelsi and… well, just Kelsi.

Instead, both Kelsi and Tom were standing there. Kelsi was almost an hour early, and Tom didn’t usually arrive until the afternoon. The two of them exchanged a quick, tense look, and immediately, a strange weight settled in my stomach.

“Is everything okay?” I asked and looked between the two of them.

Kelsi’s face softened, but she shook her head. “Uh, no.”

“I’m really sorry, Snow,” Tom added, his voice low and apologetic.

I tilted my head, trying to read their expressions. “About what?”

Kelsi cleared her throat, and I could see her eyes start to shimmer with the threat of tears. “I got a call from my dad early this morning. My mom… she was rushed to the hospital a couple of hours ago.”

“Oh, God.” My heart twisted painfully. Kelsi’s mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of months ago. She’d talked about it here and there, always putting on a brave face, and always optimistic that her mom would pull through with chemo. But still, the worry was always just below the surface for her.

“Yesterday, she told my dad that the pain was getting worse,” Kelsi went on, her voice cracking. “She brushed it off and didn’t want to worry anyone, but then early this morning, she woke up struggling to breathe and running a high fever.” She took a shaky breath, clearly fighting to keep it together.

“We need to go, Snow. We’ve got the car packed,” Tom added, resting a comforting hand on Kelsi’s shoulder. “Her dad doesn’t really know much more than things aren’t looking good. We want to get there to be with her mom and also help her dad with whatever he needs.”

“Of course, of course.” I nodded, my heart sinking. “I completely understand.”

Kelsi looked down, guilt flashing across her face. “I don’t know when we’ll be back, Snow. I’m hoping not too long, but right now, I just need to be near her. And with Christmas right around the corner…” she trailed off, her gaze dropping as if she was worried I’d be upset. “I don’t think we’ll be back until after the New Year.”

I reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Just go. You didn’t even need to stop here.”

Kelsi looked like she might protest, but I squeezed her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile.

“But you have so many orders and deliveries coming up…” she started, her voice heavy with guilt. “We feel horrible for leaving you to handle it all.”

I shook my head and held up my hand to stop her. “Do not even worry about me. I’ll be fine. Go be with your mom, and keep me posted on what’s going on when you can. Really, Kelsi. Don’t worry.”

She looked relieved but still hesitant, and her expression torn. Before I could think twice, I wrapped her in a hug and squeezed her tightly. She melted into it, held on for an extra second, and I could feel her take a deep, steadying breath. When I pulled back, I gave Tom a quick hug, too, and felt his hand pat my back with gratitude.

“Thank you, Snow,” Kelsi murmured, her voice quiet and choked. “We’ll keep you updated; I promise.”

I nodded and gave her a small smile. “I’ll be thinking about you all. I’ll see you after the holidays, okay? Drive safe.”

With one last glance, they slipped out the door and left me standing alone in the quiet kitchen.

As I turned back to face the empty room, a sigh slipped out of me, heavy and unsteady. This was not at all the way I’d thought my day would go. Not that I was upset with them for leaving—I’d have done the exact same thing if it were my mom. But the suddenness of it left me reeling.

I glanced around at the mixing bowls, flour dusted across the counter, trays already lined up and ready to be filled. Christmas was coming, and the orders were piled high. I had hoped to lean on Kelsi and Tom to get it all done, but now it looked like it’d be just me in the kitchen for the next couple of weeks. I couldn’t even think about how I was going to get everything delivered on top of it.

I ran a hand through my hair, sighed again, and felt the weight of the day pressing down on me.

“Shit,” I muttered and stared at the stack of orders waiting to be filled for just today alone.

Well, time to get to work.