Nicholas taps his heel repeatedly on the floor, waiting “patiently” for Bryan to return with Eloise. The snow is starting to pick up, leaving a thick layer on the ground.
‘Damn! What is taking so damn long?’
“I see them,” Anna calls from the window.
Nicholas hurries to the door and out onto the porch. His parents follow while Anna and April stay at the window.
Eloise’s arms are wrapped around her middle, and she has Bryan’s gloves on, looking like she’s freezing. As he walks down to meet them, he sees her blue, shivering lips muttering something.
“Did you have to carry her?” Nicholas asks, glancing at Bryan.
“Yeah,” he replies with a chuckle. “She laughed the whole time, so it wasn’t as effective as I hoped.”
“Cold yet?” he asks her. “Go have a shower before you freeze to death.” H
