That Was Then

Later

It's snowing out, fat flakes drifting lazily to the ground. Hiccup whines at the door, begging to go out and play. I know that as soon as I let him out, he's going to want to come right back in. I pull open the door and some of the snowflakes rush in as he rushes out. He dances around biting at the snow accumulating on the ground and looks at me as if to say "come play". I don't, but I do keep the door open, watching the snowflakes land on my fuzzy green socks. 

Mama pads in behind me in fuzzy slippers with two steaming mugs of what I'm hoping is coffee. I think she is going to say something to me about how we aren't paying to heat the outside like Dad would, but instead she joins me in the doorway and loops her free hand around my waist after handing me one of the mugs. I take a sip and it's the perfect temperature, warming me all the way down to my belly. 

Hiccup pounces on the snow and continues to try to entice us to come out and play for a moment before darting back in the house. He is going to want to go out again in ten minutes. The flakes are hypnotizing so we continue to stand there in silence, watching. Finally I shiver, it's contagious because Mama shudders too so we step back in unison and I slide the door shut. 

"Wanna watch a cheesy Hallmark movie that has the exact same plot as the last one we watched?" Mama asks hopefully. 

"Absolutely." Cradling my mug of coffee, I get comfortable on the couch. It is the third day of winter break from school and I haven't left my house, or even really my pajamas. This is our first time spending Christmas in Colorado instead of traveling. Mama hired someone to come decorate the house just after Thanksgiving, white lights everywhere, three Christmas trees, tinsel and fake snow cover the various surfaces of the house. 

The first night of break all of the girls joined us for our Hallmark binge; Vivi, Mara, Eden, Allie and Tatum. I even included Kya in the invite, passively through a group text saying "y'all should come by," but she didn't and I was more than okay with it. Caleb, Aiden and a few of their buddies stopped by too, but surprisingly had little interest in imbibing in the holiday romances with us. But they brought us pizza and sweet talked Abuela into making cookies. Vivi and Mara remained camped at my house the next two days and Vivi had only left an hour before. Mara had developed a shameless crush on Mama and insisted she would be back many times over the two week break. 

The house is quiet, Dad was at work, Abuela and Caleb presumably at their own home. It is just Mama and me. And Hiccup who is already sprawled on his back, three paws up in the air, snoring noisily. Mama sits at the other end of the couch, pulling my legs into her lap and turns on the tv. It's halfway through a movie but we fully intend to watch it anyway. 

Astrid sashays into the room, swishing her tail. She hovers over Hiccup for a moment until he snorts in her face and then she leaps gracefully onto the arm of  the couch. I hold my breath for a second, she is close enough to touch but I am sure she will skitter out of the room as soon as I exhale. She eyes me warily before creeping up the back of the couch. After pacing indecisively she finally jumps down onto my lap. Coffee sloshes out of my cup onto my sweater but I don't even care. She curls up and lets out a contented meow before closing her eyes. 

It is so good to be home.