Watching her musing granddaughter, Millie shrugged and sighed. “That probably wouldn’t stop him from dropping in daily though. The boy has a heart as big as yours.” Jessica’s eyes refocused on Millie, and Millie swore she saw tiny tears in them. Sighing again, she added, “The two of you are almost a perfect match. I’m a very lucky woman, to be surrounded by such warmth.”
Jessica swallowed and looked away again. Her hand went up to her cheek, and if Millie didn’t know any better, she’d swear the girl was crying. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Millie peeked around to examine her face. “You all right, dear?” She might deny her unhappiness, but she couldn’t deny tears.
Brushing her cheeks in a telltale sign of crying, Jessica Marie gave her a sad smile. “Of course. I’m just…I’m leaving town for a few days…and I’m going to worry about you.”
Millie smiled and gave her a warm hug. “Oh, dear, don’t you worry your pretty little head about me. You go out and have a good time with the life you’ve been given.” They pulled apart and Jessica sheepishly brushed her cheeks dry again. “Where are you off to?” Millie asked, swiping away the final remnants of her tears.
Jessica let out a dreary sigh. “My roommates and I are going skiing next weekend. Things have sort of been…awkward lately, so we’re having a little vacation.”
She sighed again and Millie wasn’t sure if she was sighing over Millie being without her for a few days, or sighing over whatever girl spat had occurred. Knowing how catty girls could be sometimes, Millie brightened. She suddenly understood one of the reasons for her granddaughter’s mood lately. As Jessica started pulling out toppings for the potato bar they were having tonight, Millie thought about her upcoming ski trip.
It was a common thing for youngsters to do around here. Millie herself had frequently enjoyed the slopes in her youth. The whole family used to go up to the mountains when all her children were still around. Every single one of them had loved it. In fact, there was only one family member Millie knew of who didn’t ski. And he didn’t ski simply because he’d lived his entire life in an area that never received snowfall. But she knew for a fact that he wanted to ski, and what better way for him to learn, then under the tutelage of his cousin?
Brightening even more at the thought of the two young relatives cheering each other up, Millie turned to Jessica. “Take Kai with you, dear.”
Thinking Jessica Marie would jump on the chance to spend time with the cousin that she’d seemed to want all to herself just weeks earlier, Millie was very surprised to see her frown. “Um…well…” She suddenly looked uncomfortable and if possible, even sadder. “It’s a girl thing, Grams.” Shrugging, she looked at the ground.
Millie sighed softly. “I know, Jessica, but Kai has never seen snow up close, and I know he’s always wanted to learn how to ski.” Millie smiled, shaking her head. “When he was younger, he used to pretend he was slalom racing in the backyard.”
A ghost of a smile drifted across Jessica’s face, then she frowned again. “I don’t know…April will be there. You know they don’t see each other anymore?” Jessica started worrying her lip.
Millie nodded, remembering her earlier thoughts on that matter. Shrugging, she shook her head again. “Kai tells me that the relationship ended amicably. Surely she wouldn’t mind his presence for just a couple days?” When Jessica looked about to object again, Millie added, “Please? For me? Please take him. He’s been having such a hard time lately. He could really use the pick-me-up.”
Jessica’s eyes watered again. “He has?”
Millie frowned at her granddaughter. She seemed almost…hopeful that Kai was distraught. Slightly shaking her head, Millie figured she must be misinterpreting Jessica’s reaction. Why would she want her cousin to be down? Thinking of his tired eyes lately, Millie sighed. “Yes, he’s so…melancholy, this is just what he needs right now.” She nodded, her mind made up, if not her granddaughter’s.
Jessica started pulling potatoes out of the hot oven, her hair falling down to hide her face again. “Fine, I’ll ask him, Grandma.” Setting the spuds on a plate in front of Millie, Jessica began to carefully peel back the tinfoil encasing them. Studying her work, she shrugged. “He’ll probably say no. He’s…busy with stuff.”
Watching Jessica studiously unwrap the potatoes, Millie smiled. There was no way she’d let Kai not go on this trip. He needed a break from that job, and he deserved to have a little fun. And maybe, just maybe, he would reconsider things with Jessica’s roommate if they were holed up together in a cozy ski lodge all weekend. Yes, Millie knew from experience that the combination of softly falling snow outside and the glow of a warm fire on the inside, could lead to all sorts of…connections.