Rolling over to an empty space on his side of the bed, I stare up at the ceiling wearing a smile, knowing he’s probably downstairs making coffee and breakfast. Before joining him, I grab my phone and check my texts.
Cami: Looks like the private road to the cabin has been cleared! Mom and Dad are having the driveway plowed tomorrow! SO YOU GET TO COME HOME AND HANG OUT WITH ME!I don't know how I should feel about that news. One part of me is happy to leave, but the other half knows this means my time with Ryan is ending.
Kendall: Wow, that’s great! Not sure how I feel about leaving our bubble, though.Cami: Aww. It's gonna be fine. Trust me!Kendall: Haha okay. Whatever you say.My phone buzzes, and I see it's my mom calling.
"Hey, Mom!" I turn on a cheery tone.
"Kendall! Sweetie, how are you holding up?"
I walk to the window and look out. "Doing good! The St. James’ are having the driveway cleared tomorrow so we can finally drive out of here. Should be home in a couple of days. We need to head into town and restock the cabin for Cami and Eli’s honeymoon, but other than that, everything else is taken care of here for them."
"That's great, but I was referring to how you were doing. I know how important volunteering at the shelter is for you today. Wanted to check on you and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Also, your father is disappointed he won’t see you today. He asked me to send his love."
I smile. "Thanks, Mom. Tell him I love him too. Of course I'm upset, but there's nothing I can do. I came to terms with it a few days ago when I realized the snow was still falling." Now, if only I could accept that Ryan and I are going our separate ways sooner than later.
"You'll just have to make up for it over Christmas. I had teatime with Trish last week, and she told me about the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, so I adopted an entire tree."
I snort. "An entire one? Aren’t you just supposed to take one?"
"Yes, sweetie, but I thought it would be great to just take all five hundred. So if you need something to do when you get home, we have presents to buy and wrap. I know how much you love doing that."
"That’s awesome, Mom. I'll be happy to help," I tell her. She has a personal shopper who could do all of this, but I think I'd enjoy it, and perhaps, it’d take my mind off Ryan.
"If you need anything, let me know. We love you," she says again, then I end the call.
After I get dressed, I go downstairs where Ryan’s actually listening to Christmas music. He’s moving around the kitchen, preparing something. Leaning against the doorway, I watch him and notice how happy he looks. When he turns around, his eyes meet mine.
"Good morning," I say.
He grins. "Is it still morning?"
I look up at the clock on the wall and see it's just past ten. I slept in, but that's to be expected when I was up all night rolling between the sheets with him. I squeeze my legs together just thinking about it.
"Come see," Ryan says, pulling a mug from the cabinet, then pouring me a cup of coffee. I can't believe I've recently learned to drink it black. It's not my favorite, but it's better than nothing.
Once I'm close to the stovetop, I realize he's been cooking.
"What is all this?"
"Our Thanksgiving meal. The first one I've spent with anyone in the past five years." He shrugs. "I’m usually working."
"Aw. That makes me feel kinda special," I admit. "Having you cook for me makes it even better."
"We've got beans and cornbread. I even found a box of no-bake cheesecake too."
Moving closer, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him. "Thank you. Sounds delicious."
"You're welcome," he whispers against my lips. Ryan pulls away and stirs the beans again, then puts the lid back on.
"Wanna watch the parade?" I ask, my face lighting up.
Ryan turns the stove down to a simmer, and I grab my coffee. We go to the living room and sit on the couch, then he turns on the TV and holds me.
"When Cami and I were kids, our parents would bring us to watch the parade from the comfort of a condo so we didn’t have to stand in the cold. There's nothing like seeing those huge ass balloons in person," Ryan says.
"That sounds amazing. Growing up, my parents liked to fly us to Colorado and spend the holidays in the mountains. Watching it on TV is the only way I've ever seen it, but maybe I should add that to my bucket list," I say.
Ryan's fingers brush against my skin and goose bumps trail up and down my arms.