9. Reunited

Chapter 9

Reunited

The young lovers sat at the elaborately set dining table and dug into the feast. Nova ladled pot roast into shallow bowls while Ash buttered a roll.

“Where did all this food come from?” Nova asked after swallowing a mouthful of the tender beef. “Is someone joining us?”

“No, snow. It’s just us.”

The next spoonful was tasteless as his ominous foreboding sent a chill down her spine and spoiled her appetite.

“Do you remember the song you wrote for me?”

“Once I began writing, I didn’t stop until it was on paper. I don’t need sheet music to play it. It’s from my heart.”

“Will you please teach me how to play it?”

Nova stood and tugged Ash’s hand, leading him over to the piano.

“I wondered why this was here when I first woke up in the bed. But it makes so much sense now.”

Ash sat on the bench and she sat down on the black upholstered seat. He pulled her into his lap and she cuddled into him. She gazed over her shoulder and met the gleam in his eyes.

“Don’t get distracted, little bunny.” He chuckled.

The twinkle in her eye was playful as their lips met.

“Mmm-hmm.”

He wrapped his arms around her and placed her fingers on the keys.

He tapped her right ring finger, followed by her left thumb. Ash hummed the tune as he moved Nova’s hands and tapping her fingers for each note. The music was clunky, but they laughed, enjoying the tender moments in between.

When Nova had enough, she slid from Ash’s lap to sit on the bench next to him and watched his expert fingers play the melody. She swayed and hummed along as the beautiful melody filled the room. Watching him play was a beautiful gift.

They spent a joyful Christmas morning together, building memories that would last forever.

Later, they cuddled on the couch, curled up in the blanket from his bed. The wood crackled in the fireplace that Ash had chopped himself.

He turned to her thoughtfully and asked, “How did you get here, Nova?”

“What do you mean?”

She blinked and looked around at the cabin, becoming distressed. Ash sighed and took her hand.

“I’ve been here for ten years, Nova. Watching… Waiting...”

“I don’t understand.” She swallowed.

“Don’t you, though?”

“Wha… what do you mean?”

Ash cupped her cheeks.

“I never left, Nova.”

“No!” she cried.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, but this time, Ash was there to brush them away.

“What did you wish?”

“I didn’t want to live without you anymore. I wanted to be with you forever.”

“And we will be. Inside our snow globe.”