Selma raised her head and threw Paige a smile and a wink.
“Vick, have you seen it?’
“Yes, Mom.”
“Where was it when you last saw it?”
Vick mumbled something low that almost caused his mother to burst out in laughter. Instead her lips twitched before she schooled her features into a slightly stern mask.
“I didn’t hear that. Say it louder.”
“It’s around Darling’s neck,” he jutted his chin up.
Victor took a quick look at his wife’s neck before focusing on his son.
“Victor, who is Darling?”
“It’s the snowwoman, Dad.”
“Vick are you telling me that you took my scarf and wrapped it around the neck of a snowwoman?” She placed a hand on the hip of her slight frame shaking from repressed laughter.
“I had to Momma!” The small boy that he was came out in his pleading eyes. “She is a guardian and your scarf will make her strong and powerful; she will be able to warn us when the bad man is coming. He wants Paige, Momma and if he can he will hurt you too.” He dashed at a tear rolling down his cheek.
All laughter left the room, every eye on Vick. Selma turned to look for her husband catching his back as he left the room. Cal, who was standing in the doorway, turned to follow Victor. Selma gathered Vick in her arms holding him tight.
Paige stood there not knowing what to do.
“Everything will be fine, Paige. The males have gone to do a perimeter check; it will help to make Vick feel better. They will even add to the power of the scarf,” she said the last in a much lower voice for Vick’s ears only. Ruffling his hair, she suggested he help her with dinner.
“Paige, would you like to come into the kitchen? This way you won’t be left alone in the dining room.”
Not really. She eyed the door for a minute, she was already running from a monster and now it looked like she had fallen into a nest of crazy but nice people. Her luck went from bad to worse.
“Thanks, although I am used to being alone.”
“Then maybe it’s time for that to change. Come on in.”
The feel of the kitchen floored her. It stretched out and wrapped its arms around her. A subtle warmth invaded her causing her shoulders to relax and her heart-beat to slow.
“This is amazing. I love the modern conveniences paired with an old time feel. I used to dream of a kitchen like this when I was younger. The kind I used to see on commercials a long time ago.”
Selma stopped and looked around her kitchen. “This is one of my favorite kitchen’s, I’m glad it’s back for Christmas.” The kitchen had a mind and a will of its own, Selma never knew what she would walk into but it was part of the house’s charm.
Paige stared at Selma before deciding her son raving about people coming must have thrown her off. She was probably concerned about him and talking without thinking.
“Where did Victor and Cal go?”
“They went to check the grounds; it will put Vick at ease. Although we are on the edge of our small town, we own so much land here it feels like we are isolated.”
Paige smiled, her last guarded thought put at ease by Selma’s response. “What are we having for dinner?”
“Good question. Victor cooked, I suggested pasta, but he said not everyone wanted that.”
Paige cringed at the thought of pasta. It had been days since she ate Thanksgiving dinner alone. Day old pasta and water, still the memory of it made her cringe.
Selma opened the oven. “Smothered pork chops, can you smell that, Paige?”
Paige’s stomach gurgled with hunger. She had never smelled anything that good before. Cal smelled good. She clamped down on that thought. She had refused to think of him when they were outside wanting to have some privacy to examine her body’s reaction.
“It smells delicious, if it tastes as good as it smells I’ll be in heaven.”
“Dad’s the best cook, you’ll love his food.”
“Darling, we’re back. There was no sign of anything remiss,” Victors voice came from the dining room.
“We’re bringing dinner out, have a seat.”
There was a flurry of activity as Selma directed Paige and Vick. Soon all the food was on the table. Victor came and took a seat, Cal leaned against the door jamb with his sunglasses still on.
“Are you coming to the table?” Paige asked, watching him. He drew her in; his gentleness with Vick amazed her. It was not something she got to see too often. The way he smelled made the secret parts of her come alive, but more than that—the way he treated her made her feel special and all they did was throw snowballs and make a snow woman. She wanted to see his face to give his body a complete picture in her head.