Second Chances in the Snow

2.

Chapter 2: Old Flames, New Beginnings

The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the kitchen, warm and comforting. I try not to glance over at Brian too often as he sits at the small kitchen table, his broad shoulders hunched forward as he watches me. I can’t help but feel the tension in the air between us, thick and heavy, despite the cheerful humming of the coffee machine. There’s so much I want to say—so much I want to ask him—but the words don’t come. Not yet.

“Here you go,” I say, placing a steaming mug in front of him. I try to smile, but it feels forced.

Brian looks up at me with a soft expression, one I haven’t seen in years. “Thanks.” He picks up the mug, inhaling the aroma before taking a slow sip. “I’d forgotten how good your coffee always was.”

I can’t help but smile at that, even if it feels a little bittersweet. “I remember you always liked it strong,” I say, leaning against the counter. “You never did like the weak stuff.”

Brian chuckles, a low sound that stirs something in my chest. “I still don’t. Some things never change.”

I nod, feeling the weight of the moment settle over us. It’s strange to be here, in this house, with him. So much time has passed since we were close—since we were the people we once were. It feels like another lifetime. I can hardly recognize the woman I was back then, and yet, sitting across from Brian now, I can’t deny that the years haven’t dulled whatever connection we shared. There’s something between us, something still there.

“So... how’s everything been with you?” Brian asks after a few moments, his voice breaking the silence. “You look... good. Really good.”

I swallow hard, trying to focus on his words instead of the way his gaze lingers on me. “I’ve been okay. Busy, mostly. You know how life is. The divorce was... hard, but we’re managing. Ben’s adjusting, and that’s what matters.”

He doesn’t say anything right away, but his eyes soften as he watches me. “I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been. I’m sorry.”

His words, though simple, feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t expect him to say that. And yet, somehow, it means more than it should. I clear my throat, trying to push the sudden lump in my throat away. “It’s okay. It’s... it’s been tough, but we’re doing the best we can.”

“You don’t have to pretend it’s fine, you know,” Brian says gently. “I know it hasn’t been easy.”

I look away, staring out the window at the falling snow. “I’m not pretending. But... I have to be strong for Ben, for my family. That’s all that matters.”

There’s a long pause, and I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, like he’s waiting for something more. But I’m not ready to let myself fall into old habits, not yet. Not when there’s so much history between us, so much pain we haven’t talked about.

“Do you still miss it?” Brian asks quietly, his voice almost hesitant.

“Miss what?” I turn back to him, confused for a moment.

“The town,” he says, gesturing around the room. “The village. The life we had.”

I chew on my bottom lip, the question catching me off guard. Do I miss it? Do I miss the girl I was, the life I thought I would always have? For a moment, I’m not sure how to answer.

“Sometimes,” I say slowly. “I miss the simplicity of it. But... everything’s different now. Things change, Brian. People change.”

His face tightens at the mention of change, and I can see the sadness in his eyes. “Yeah, they do.”

The words hang in the air, but I can’t bring myself to say more. Instead, I turn my attention back to the kitchen, trying to busy myself with small tasks, anything to break the growing tension between us.

Ben’s voice calls from the living room, loud and excited. “Mom! Look what I made!”

I can’t help but smile at the sound of his enthusiasm. I quickly stand up and head into the other room, Brian following me. Ben is standing proudly in front of a half-built snowman in the living room, a few scattered pieces of snow and buttons on the floor. His grin is wide, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“It’s not much, but it’s a snowman!” Ben says, his voice full of pride.

Brian laughs softly. “It’s a good start, buddy.”

Ben beams up at him, clearly pleased with the praise. “Do you think we can finish it? Can we make it taller, like the one at the town square?”

Brian kneels down to Ben’s level, his face softening as he looks at him. “Sure, we can. How about we go outside after we finish the coffee and get some real snow? That way, we can make it the biggest snowman in the village.”

Ben jumps up and down, his excitement contagious. “Yeah! Let’s do it! Thanks, Brian!”

I stand in the doorway, watching the two of them interact, and for a moment, I feel a strange ache in my chest. I haven’t seen Ben this excited in a while. He’s always been a bright kid, but it’s been harder for him lately, with everything that’s changed. Seeing him so happy—seeing Brian be a part of that—fills me with a warmth I can’t ignore.

“You’re really good with him,” I say quietly, my voice betraying the emotions I’m trying to hide.

Brian looks up at me, his expression sincere. “He’s a good kid. I remember when he was just a baby. He’s grown up so fast.”

“Yeah, he has,” I reply, my voice softer than I intend. “It feels like yesterday that I was holding him in my arms, and now he’s... so independent.”

Brian nods. “Kids grow up fast. It’s one of the hardest things about being a parent.”

I watch as he ruffles Ben’s hair and the two of them start to talk excitedly about the snowman. I can’t help but feel a pang of something deep inside me, something both painful and familiar. Brian was always good with kids, and the way he interacts with Ben... it’s natural. It’s easy.

And then, just like that, I realize that I’ve been holding my breath the entire time. It’s been so long since I’ve felt like this. Since I’ve felt comfortable around him, since I’ve allowed myself to let my guard down.

The tension between us still exists, but there’s something else now, something that’s hard to ignore. A quiet understanding. A hint of something more.

After a few moments, I clear my throat and try to break the spell. “Well, I should get started on dinner. You two can keep working on your snowman if you want. I’m sure Ben will need all the help he can get.”

Brian chuckles. “I’ll help him. I’m pretty good at this snowman stuff.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I say with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Just don’t make him too tall. I don’t want to have to spend the next hour scraping the roof off the car.”

Ben giggles, clearly delighted by the idea of building a massive snowman. “We’ll make it taller than the house!”

I laugh, the sound feeling strange in my own ears, but I don’t stop it. For the first time in a long while, it feels good to laugh. To forget about everything else, just for a moment.

As I head into the kitchen, I hear their voices fading as they head outside. I stand by the window for a while, watching them. Brian helping Ben with the snowman, the two of them laughing and talking like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I don’t know what to make of it. I don’t know what to make of Brian being here at all, but I can’t deny that something feels different now.

Maybe it’s the holiday season, or maybe it’s just the fact that Brian is here, but I find myself hoping for something more. Something I can’t quite name.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. There’s no point in thinking about it. There’s no point in letting my emotions get the best of me. But as I turn back to the stove, I can’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, things can be different this time.