Frostbite

I stop what I’m doing to look at my brother-in-law. He’s decked out in the T-shirt I got for him. He laughed when he saw BIL written across the front in pink letters. I laughed harder when I opened up a package that was labeled from Santa Claus.

Inside was a white button-down shirt. On the back, stamped in black letters, are the words Artistic Genius. On the front, in the same black ink, a small SIL is on the collar.

Rocco told me that I should take Santa’s hint and wear it when I’m working in Calder’s studio.

“You always supported my work, Rocco.” I lean forward, resting my hand on Calder’s knee. “If it wasn’t for you buying that painting from me, I might not have pursued my passion.”

He nods. “I’m always here if you need me.”

“The same goes for me,” Dexie chimes in. Her hand drops to the star-shaped pendant on the necklace she’s wearing. It was my gift to her this Christmas. “Open it, Rae. I can’t wait to see your face.”

I glance over at Calder. Dressed in a dark suit, he looks every inch the gentleman. He was insistent that he wanted to wear a suit and tie to our Christmas Eve celebration. I didn’t argue. Instead, I slipped into my red pantsuit because I know how much he loves it.

Finally, pulling the last piece of tape free, I open the rectangular box and peer inside.

“You got me an envelope?” I ask with a chuckle.

“I promise you there’s something very special inside.”

Curiosity sets my hands to work. I carefully rip open the envelope before sliding a single piece of white paper out.

Dexie jumps to the edge of the seat. “I’m freaking out. Open it.”

Rocco laughs. “She’s getting there. Give her a minute.”

I take that minute to look at the faces of my family. I wish my mom could be here, but she’s found someone this Christmas too. A doctor she works with invited her to have dinner at his home in Aspen. She took the chance because that’s what we all need to do. Dive in headfirst, and hope that when you emerge from the murky waters, light will be waiting for you.

After I glance at Dexie and Rocco, I look at Calder again.

I stare at his brilliant blue eyes. They are the same eyes that held me captive during the snowstorm and gaze into mine when we make love.

They are the eyes of a gifted artist and a visionary. One day, I hope our children will have the same color eyes as Calder.

I take a breath and carefully open the paper in my lap.

At first, I can’t register what I’m looking at, but then it hits me. My eyes fill with tears.

“Is this real?” I look at Dexie and Rocco. “This is real?”

Dex tears up. “When your nephew is born, we want you to be his godmother.”

“It’s a boy?” I ask. “You know that it’s a boy?”

“We couldn’t wait any longer.” Rocco laughs. “We both thought we knew the gender, and we were right.”

“What will his name be?” I ask as Calder grabs my hand.

“Bryant Walsh Jones.” Dexie looks at Rocco. “Bryant Park holds a special place in Rocco’s heart and Walsh, well that’s us.”

I smile. “It’s perfect.”

“What’s perfect is that you’ll be here to watch him grow up.” Rocco kisses Dexie’s cheek. “The more family we have around us to love our boy, the better.”***We walk into Calder’s studio at ten minutes to midnight. Our evening was spent with my family. After we opened gifts with Dexie and Rocco, we crossed the street for a big meal with Rocco’s family.

It was overwhelming in the most wonderful of ways. Calder felt comfortable. I could see it in the way he stepped into every conversation with ease. He smiled at me constantly, and when the evening was winding down, he helped Marti with the cleanup, insisting that he was going to create a sculpture for her birthday.

I know he will.

As he takes my coat from me, he feathers kisses over the back of my neck. “I love this pantsuit.”

“You love my ass in this pantsuit,” I counter.

“I love all of you in that pantsuit.” I hear him take a breath. “I love you.”

I turn to face him. “What?”

He smiles. “You heard me, but I’ll say it a million times if need be. I love you, Raelyn Walsh.”

Resting my hands on his chest, I look into his eyes. “I love you, Calder Frost.”

He stares at me. His gaze travels my face as if he’s seeing it for the first time.

“I want you to marry me one day.”

The words don’t scare me. They only offer comfort and hope. I know I belong with him. I know he’s my destiny. “I want the same thing.”

“Move in with me.” He looks around the studio. “You’re here almost all of the time. Work here. Live here. Be here…with me.”