Alder

T he drive down the mountain still requires my full attention, even though road crews have cleared the main road since our last snowfall. The anniversary of Ray’s death is today, and I’m not looking forward to spending all evening with my family like I usually would. I love them and know they mean well, but insisting I come down for dinner tonight, knowing that I would rather be alone, is getting to me. Compacted with the fact that my second run-in with Silverthorne’s newest resident has left me with feelings I’m not interested in dissecting. I’m not in my usual fun-loving state.

I pull onto the evergreen-lined drive, all dusted with snow. It’s scenic, and I’m fortunate to have grown up the way I did. Along with two loving parents and siblings who would do anything for me, I grew up in a beautiful home in a beautiful state. Some people dream of leaving their hometown, but I’ve never felt that way. I like where I live, and I really like my life. This may be a hard day for me; missing someone never gets easier. I know the pain from missing Ray will, but I’m grateful for the life I have.

Walking up the front steps of The Holloway Ranch, I hear laughter coming from inside. I sigh, giving myself just a moment before opening the door.

“Hey, everyone!” I call once I’m inside. I hear little feet running my way, and I feel my lips stretch into a smile. Hazel, my older brother Knox’s two-year-old daughter and my favorite human in the world, comes running around the living room corner straight for me. “Hazey!” I yell excitedly and crouch to catch her. Her face is lit up like the fifteen Christmas trees Mom has in the house. God, I can’t believe I get to be this little miracle’s uncle.

“Muncle Aldie!” she screeches as she hits my chest. I fall backward, acting as if this tiny little girl has taken me out. To be completely honest, she has the power to. There isn’t a member in our family who isn’t wrapped around her finger. I see Knox out of the corner of my eye as we fall to the floor.

“Hey, little brother,” he calls from where he’s leaning against the wall. We’re the same size technically, but I am five years younger.

“Knox, what are you feeding her?” I demand. “She’s gotten too strong. Did you see how fast she took me down?” I ask him dramatically. Hazel giggles and smacks at my chest. “Ohh! Haze, please have mercy on me.” I beg.

“Okay!” she agrees and slides off me to stand by my side, offering me a hand. “I help you!” she says, and she doesn’t even know how much she already is. I take her little hand in mine and stand.

“Thank you so much for your help,” I tell her. She doesn’t feel the weight of my words. The last two years of having her in my life have been my most treasured. From the moment I looked into her sweet brown eyes at the hospital, I knew I’d protect her at all costs.

“You welcome. I wanna hold you,” she says, reaching up at me. I bend and pick her up, propping her on my hip.

“How’s your day been? Were you out on the mountain?” Knox asks as I walk toward him with Hazel.

“No, I was planning to be, but this morning Jack called, and I ended up at the resort teaching kids classes.” I can’t keep the annoyance out of my voice.

“Today?” he questions.

“Yep, I had just made it home when he called, and he sounded desperate,” I tell him.

“And the rest of the day?” he probes.

“Fine,” I say too quickly.

“Really?” I’m starting to feel like a well-done piece of steak with all the grilling.

“Honestly? It’s been a weird day. The resort has a new hospitality manager, and she’s,”—I pause, collecting myself—“she’s something,” I finish. I’m unsure how I feel about my last exchange with Ivy right now, so I’m not sure how to tell someone else. I also don’t want to let it slide that I met her last night. I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a kiss-and-tell kind of man.

“She, huh? Sounds like you’ve had an interesting day,” he says.

“That’s one way of putting it,” I tell him with a sigh. “She’s kind of a brat,” I blurt out, but I can feel myself smiling. “She ripped me a new one for accidentally running into her on the bunny hills today.” It was a little more than running into her, but Knox doesn’t need to know that. “She wouldn’t even let me get a word in while she reamed me out.” I’m getting a little worked up just talking about it again.

“Down, pease!” Hazel yells, diving forward. I kiss her sweet head and then set her feet on the hardwood floor so she can run to the next family member.

“She didn’t mind talking to the owner like that?” he asks, surprised. Yeah, about that.

“I didn’t exactly tell her who I was,” I confess, and Knox’s eyebrows raise slightly. Disapproving. “I know, but she was just so…” I trail off, not finding the right word.

“Huh. Sounds like she might have gotten under your skin a little. You’re not usually one to let something like that get to you,” he muses. Like I don’t already know that.

“Yeah, well, there’s something about this one. She’s got this raspy voice that drives me fucking nuts,” I tell him.

“Uh-huh. And I thought it was Rhett who was oblivious,” he mumbles, putting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. “That’s attraction, bud,” he whispers, and I don’t roll my eyes, but that makes me want to. She’s hot. Gorgeous. A little mean, but I don’t mind that. Of course I’m attracted to her. She’s also going to be working with me.

“Nope. That’s not a thing. She’s decidedly off-limits and not exactly my speed.” Knox laughs at that.

“Sounds like she left quite the impression,” he concludes, and I shrug.

“Maybe. Where is everyone?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Mom, Dad, and Lo are in the den, finishing the last Christmas tree out of the six Mom’s put up this year. Winnie and Rhett are on their way. Winnie’s stopping by the bakery to get some cranberry scones and cinnamon rolls.” That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Best cinnamon rolls ever .

The door cracks open just then, and a giggle fills the space. Turning, I see wild curls slung over my brother’s shoulder as he shuts the front door behind them. Snow shakes loose as he bends and sets three tote bags down then Winnie. She’s laughing, but he grabs her face, smiling, and kisses her quiet. I smile at that. It’s really good to see them.

“Hey, where’s my kiss, Winnie?” Rhett shoots me a dirty look at that. I love pissing him off. I actually attribute him finally making his move with her to me pissing him off. Winnie smiles at me and winks. She’s always down to play a game with me.

“Rhett, calm down. I haven’t kissed in…” She pauses as if she has to think about the fact that we have never kissed. Rhett’s jaw may not survive how hard he’s clenching it. A laugh bursts from me. “…ever!” Winnie finishes, and we’re both laughing as Rhett takes a breath. “I love that you still get jealous even though I’ve agreed to marry you,” she tells him, waving her hand that now holds a big shiny diamond on her slim ring finger.

“Ha ha. You guys are hilarious,” he finally gets out.

“We really are,” I agree. “How is engaged life? Are you making your big house a home?” I ask, knowing Winnie has already started all the renovations.

“It’s turning out so beautiful, ! You’ll have to come have dinner with us and see it all,” she confirms.

“Absolutely, just say when.” I let her know.

“Never,” Rhett chimes in, and it makes me laugh again.

“Okay, tough guy. Need help carrying any of Winnie’s baked goods?” I don’t even mean for that to sound as suggestive as it does, but I’m cut another dirty look from my little brother. “ The cinnamon rolls! Come on, Rhett. Mind out of the gutter.” Again, I’m fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

“Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes!” Mom’s voice carries from the other room. Mary Holloway is one of the best people you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting. She and Dad are easily the blueprint for marriage and commitment. I walk around the corner and see everyone starting to gather in the kitchen. Dad is getting something from the oven, and when he turns around, I catch a glimpse at his apron. Tonight’s is “This Guy Rubs His Own Meat.”

“Dear god, who bought Dad that apron?” I ask, not sure if I even want to know.

“That would be me,” Mom says. No. I definitely did not want to know. We all laugh though. I love that my parents are still in love with each other. Some kids grow up saying “eww, gross” every time their parents hold hands. That would have been exhausting in our house.

“Hey, Baby Lo.” I hear Rhett greet our sister.

“Rhett, I’m twenty-seven. Baby Lo has run its course.”

“Never!”

“No, it hasn’t!”

“It never will.”

The whole family chimes in on that, even Hazel. I chuckle.

“Sorry, sis. Baby Lo stays,” I tell her, and she shakes her head but grins. She’s a really good sport. Being eight years younger than Rhett, she got just about anything she wanted. With three older brothers who let her paint their nails and do their hair, she didn’t want for much. Knox even let her put makeup on him when she was maybe four. That never happened again, but the fact that it happened at all is a small miracle. He’s such a fucking grouch, or he was. Then he had Hazel, and now we see his soft side more.

“Dinner!” Dad gets our attention, and we all go to sit at the big table in the dining room. It’s set with red napkins and gold candlesticks. It looks like Christmas exploded in here. There’s a big window at the head of the table that normally looks out over the countryside. Now, there’s a fifteen-foot tree you’ll have to look around to see that view. Tom and Mary Holloway love the holidays. We all do. There’s the tree lighting ceremony in town, and the high school always puts on a production of A Christmas Carol . This year two of the boys on the hockey team are in it, so we’ll all be there in the front row to support.

Mom and Dad have always instilled a good sense of community in us kids. We support this town when we can and know we can count of them when we need it. I needed it in the past and they really came through for me. Losing someone can change you, and when I went through the darkest year of my life, there was no shortage of helping hands.

“Alright, everyone, dig in,” Mom announces, and we start filling our plates.

“How are things at the bakery, Winnie?” Lo asks from across the table.

“Really good. I’m excited to have a booth at the Tree Lighting Festival. I have so many holiday recipes to try out and a spiced plum cider I’m going to have,” she tells her animatedly.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you—” she starts in on asking her about ideas she has for the hotel, and I look over at Knox. He’s helping Hazel cut up some of her food while Rhett makes faces at her, making her giggle. I smile. I may not have been looking forward to coming here this afternoon, but being here with them has been what I needed .

After our meal is finished and all the plates have been taken to the kitchen, my dad stops me on my way back from taking some trash out.

“, how are you, son?” I could tell him that I’m fine, but he’d see right through it.

“Better now that I’ve gotten to spend time with all of you, but it’s hard knowing Ray would have been here with us. I miss him and I don’t know if the guilt I have will ever subside,” I admit. I know the accident wasn’t my fault, logically, but sometimes logic doesn’t stand a chance against the ache that death leaves in your soul.

“I don’t think it will ever be easy, but just know that we’re all here for you. Always.” His steadfast declaration isn’t the first I’ve heard from him.

“Thanks, Dad. I’m doing okay,” I let him know. “I do need to get going though. It’s getting late, and I don’t want to hit any black ice at night.”

“Alright, be safe getting home. Love you, son.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

After all the goodbyes have been said, I’m taking home two cinnamon rolls and a picture that Hazel drew for me. A valued possession that I’ll be putting on my fridge. Driving up the mountain at night is so quiet. I look down on the town I love, and, yes, I do love it, but I’m looking forward to being home in my cabin for the night. It will be nice to have some solitude and avoid everyone.

That thought is the last one I have before my life is derailed for the second time today by the same person. Flashing taillights off the side of the road catch my eye. The vehicle's owner is standing beside it, arms crossed over her chest, shielding her eyes from my headlights. She may not have been thrilled to see me this morning, but the redhead on the side of the road right now has absolutely been starring in my thoughts since I left her bed this morning. I slow down and pull off to the shoulder just past her. I hop out of my truck and walk toward her, fully expecting the fire from earlier in the day. She doesn’t seem to have a problem with voicing her displeasure.

Getting closer to her, I still like a deer in her headlights. I was prepared to be met with more of the sass and spice from earlier. The last thing I expected were watery eyes and a red nose. She’s sniffling. The instinct to wrap her in my arms comes over me, but I push it down, afraid she may claw my eyes out if I get too close. I settle instead on removing my wool-lined coat and sliding it over her shoulders. Slowly, so she can stop me if she wants. She doesn’t.

“Hey, it’s alright. Need some help?” I ask her, and she makes a noise that, if I had to name, would be a sarcastic snort.

“Now, why would a woman, who’s new to town, doesn’t yet know her way around, and is stranded on the side of the road, need any help?” There’s the fire.