Page 59 of Falling Like Snow

Micah: so

Me: I’m in cozy pjs.

Micah: perfect

Me: Too cold outside

Micah: I’ll warm you up

Micah: pls

Me: Dream on, lover boy.

Micah: can’t believe you’d torture me like this. it’s cruel

Me: Guess you should have come to the reindeer farm.

Micah: I am a moron

Me: It would seem so.

Chapter Sixteen

A loud bang jolts me awake the next morning. For a second I wonder if it was a dream. But then the muttering of choice profane words floats up from downstairs.

The early morning sunrise seeps through my bedroom window, painting my bedroom in hues of pinks and orange as I crawl out of bed. I drag my feet downstairs and find Mom wrapped in her plush red robe, tossing a pair of boots to the side.

“What’s going on?” I ask with a yawn, startling her as she bends to pick up a lamp she must have knocked over.

She faces me, and I immediately know something is wrong. Her phone rings, and she swipes to answer it.

“Well?” she says without even looking to see who’s calling. After a beat, she sighs. “Yeah, okay.” A pause. “No, I agree. I’ll call it.”

She hangs up, her face tense.

“What’s wrong? Why are you up at… whatever ungodly hour it is?” I ask.

“Amanda and I have been weighing our options for today,” she explains. “Whether or not to cancel the snowman-making contest.”

I glance out the window. “But there’s still plenty of snow.”

“Yes, but it’s like ice—not packing snow. And beyond that, even at one o’clock, when it’s supposed to start, it’ll still be too damn cold out there. If you had school today, it’d be canceled. Hosting an outdoor event feels both irresponsible and pointless. Either people show up, can’t really build anything because the snow is so frozen, and I’m stressing that they’re going to end up with frostbite, or they don’t show up, and I have volunteers sitting outside, freezing for no reason.”

“So, you’re canceling?”

“I guess so,” she says, throwing her hands up. “I know we always advertise the events as ‘weather permitting,’ but I hate canceling things, especially since Fern’s videos have been blowing up and bringing people here from out of town for the weekend, specifically for the festivities.”

I love the idea of sitting around in the warm house all day, not worrying about Bramble Falls and making sure everyone is happy and having fun. And I desperately need to study for finals. But I can’t stand seeing Mom stressed and upset. And I do have an idea…

I exhale. “Okay, you call the Grants and get the barn booked for two o’clock—we’ll need some extra time if we’re going to pull this off. I’m going to brush my teeth and make some phone calls. Reconvene in thirty.”

“I’m sorry. What?”

“I have a plan. Just trust me on this. Book the barn.”

A slow smile spreads over Mom’s face. “I have the best daughter.”

“I know. But unlike the snowman-making contest, we’re going to need money.”