Second Chances in the Snow

3.

Chapter 3: Finding the Pieces

The evening air is crisp as the last remnants of daylight fade into a blanket of stars. I stand at the kitchen counter, my hands moving automatically as I prepare dinner, but my mind is elsewhere. The past few hours have felt like a whirlwind. Ben’s excitement about the snowman had been contagious, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth seeing him so happy. But every time I look at Brian, a quiet storm stirs inside me—something I can’t ignore, something I can’t name.

I glance out the window, watching Brian and Ben through the misted glass. They’ve finished the snowman, or at least the base of it. The snowman is already taller than Ben, and the two of them are laughing, rolling snowballs into place, their faces flushed with the cold.

There’s a knock at the door, and I snap back to reality, startled by the sound. For a moment, I hesitate, unsure who could be visiting. I glance at the clock—it's still early, but maybe it's a neighbor or someone from the village.

“Mom, it’s Aunt Lily!” Ben’s voice rings out from the living room.

I breathe a sigh of relief, walking to the door. When I open it, Lily is standing there, wrapped in a thick scarf and coat, her cheeks rosy from the cold.

“Hey there,” she says with a smile, stepping inside. “I came by to see if you needed anything. It’s getting cold out there.”

I laugh softly. “I think we’re all set, thanks. Ben’s been keeping us busy with his snowman project.”

Lily raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “A snowman, huh? I bet Brian’s been the one giving him all the ideas.”

I nod, feeling a small knot form in my chest. “Yeah, they’ve been working on it for hours. It’s a masterpiece, according to Ben.”

Lily steps into the living room, and I follow her. Ben runs up to her, holding out his mittens. “Aunt Lily, come see! We made the biggest snowman in the whole village!”

Lily laughs, crouching down to his level. “I’m sure you did. You two always go big. I’m impressed.”

As she hugs Ben, I feel a strange sense of nostalgia wash over me. Lily and I used to do everything together, back when life was simpler. Before the divorce. Before everything changed. I miss the way we used to be, but I can’t seem to find the words to say it.

“So, what’s been going on around here?” Lily asks, her eyes glancing from me to Brian. I catch the subtle shift in her gaze as she notices Brian standing by the window, still working on the snowman. I can feel her curiosity building, and I try to ignore it.

“Not much,” I say quickly. “Just... the usual holiday stuff.”

Lily raises an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. You sure about that? Because I think there’s something more going on. Am I wrong?”

I shift uncomfortably, my fingers tightening around the coffee mug I’ve just set down. “Lily, it’s... complicated.”

She crosses her arms, her expression turning serious. “Complicated? You don’t need to explain anything to me, Jane. But don’t tell me you’re still holding on to that whole ‘it’s too complicated’ excuse. You’ve been through a lot, I know that, but sometimes you have to face things head-on. Especially when it’s... him.”

I don’t have to ask who “he” is. It’s Brian. I feel my stomach flip at the mention of his name, and I glance over at him, still working on the snowman with Ben. He hasn’t looked at me yet, but I know he’s aware of the conversation happening in the room.

“I don’t know if I can, Lily,” I say, my voice quieter now. “I’ve spent so many years pretending I’m fine. But I’m not sure... I’m not sure if I can go back to that.”

Lily sighs, her eyes softening. “I get it, Jane. I do. But you can’t let fear hold you back from something you might want. You’ve spent so much time protecting yourself, but sometimes you have to let your guard down. You deserve to be happy.”

I swallow hard, her words resonating deeper than I want to admit. “I don’t know if I can take that risk.”

She puts a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You won’t know until you try.”

Before I can respond, the sound of Ben’s excited voice interrupts us. “Mom, Brian’s telling me about the time you two tried to build a snowman that was bigger than the car, and you had to get the neighbors to help because it collapsed!”

I can’t help but laugh at the memory. It’s a silly story, but it’s one of the good ones, one of the times when everything felt light and carefree.

“That’s right,” I say, my voice soft. “We thought we were going to make a snowman that could win awards. But we ended up with a pile of snow and a lot of bruises.”

Lily laughs, her eyes twinkling. “Sounds like a classic Jane and Brian adventure. I don’t think you two ever could do anything halfway.”

I turn to look at Brian, and our eyes meet across the room. For a brief moment, the world feels still. The weight of everything between us is undeniable, but it’s also... familiar. There’s a softness in his gaze, a kind of understanding that I can’t quite explain.

I clear my throat, breaking the silence. “I should get started on dinner,” I say, trying to shift the mood. “Ben, why don’t you go wash up and help me set the table?”

Ben groans, but he does as I ask, heading to the bathroom with a dramatic sigh. I watch him go, feeling a slight sense of pride at how quickly he’s grown, how independent he’s become.

Lily stands beside me, watching me carefully. “You okay?” she asks quietly, her voice filled with concern.

I nod, though the answer doesn’t feel entirely true. “Yeah. Just... a lot to think about.”

“Is it Brian?” she asks bluntly, not waiting for me to give a long-winded response.

I nod, unable to deny it. “It’s always been him, hasn’t it?”

Lily smiles knowingly. “It’s been him from the start, Jane. You’re not fooling anyone. But you’ve got to decide if you’re going to keep running away from it or if you’re ready to face it.”

I’m about to respond when Brian calls from the living room. “Dinner’s ready, everyone. Hope you’re hungry.”

Lily’s lips curl into a playful smile. “I’ll take that as my cue to leave the two of you alone. But just remember, Jane—you don’t have to have all the answers right now. But you’ll never know until you give it a chance.”

I watch her walk away, her words lingering in the air like a whisper. Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s time I stopped running.

Dinner passes by in a blur of conversations and laughter. Ben is thrilled by the story Brian tells about his childhood, and I find myself more relaxed than I thought I would be. It’s easy to fall into the rhythm of things when Brian’s around, easy to laugh and talk like nothing has changed. But every time his gaze flicks over to me, I feel that familiar spark. The same one I’ve tried to bury for years.

After dinner, we all head outside to see the snowman in its finished glory. It’s taller than I thought it would be—taller than the car, as Ben had promised. The two of them stand back, admiring their work, and I can’t help but smile. It’s a simple thing, but seeing them like this feels... good.

“You did a great job,” I say, walking up to them.

Brian grins, his cheeks flushed from the cold. “We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

“Yeah, we do,” I reply, my voice quieter than I intended. I feel the weight of his words sink in, like they mean something more than just the snowman we’ve built together.

Ben steps between us, holding his arms out wide. “You two are like superheroes! You’re the Snowman Team!”

I laugh, the sound echoing in the still night. And for a moment, I feel something shift inside me, something light and hopeful. Maybe I’m ready to start facing the things I’ve been avoiding. Maybe I’m ready to let myself believe in second chances.