Under the Snowflakes

Eva Caldwell tightened her grip on the steering wheel as her childhood home came into view. The two-story house stood just as it always had, its wraparound porch draped with twinkling Christmas lights. Snow blanketed the lawn, where Lucas would undoubtedly build his first snowman tomorrow. She wanted to feel comforted by the familiarity, but instead, her stomach twisted with nerves. The SUV was packed to the brim with clothes and toys—the essentials she and Lucas needed to get by. Larger items, like the vintage rocking chair and the small dining table her grandparents had passed down, were on their way in a moving truck set to arrive tomorrow. Everything else from her old life was gone. The divorce had left her with little, but she reminded herself that what mattered was in the backseat—her son, Lucas. “Mommy, are we there yet?” Lucas’s small voice came from the back seat, full of anticipation. Eva glanced in the rearview mirror. Her three-year-old son clutched his beloved stuffed cow, "Moo," close to his chest. His brown curls bounced as he shifted, his wide eyes sparkling. “We’re here, sweetheart,” she said, pasting on a smile. “Ready to see Grandma?” “Yes!” Lucas squealed, his voice echoing in the small car. She pulled into the driveway, the crunch of tires on snow breaking the stillness. Before she could fully park, the front door opened, and her mother stepped out, waving eagerly. Wrapped in a knitted red scarf and her signature snow boots, Karen Caldwell still looked every bit the bustling matriarch Eva remembered. “Eva! Lucas!” her mom called, her voice carrying warmth over the frosty air. Lucas barely waited for Eva to unbuckle him before leaping out of the car, Moo tucked under one arm. “Grandma!” Karen knelt down, sweeping Lucas into a hug. “Oh, my goodness, look at you! You’ve grown so much, Lucas. And is that Moo? He came along, too!” “Moo goes everywhere with me,” Lucas declared seriously. Eva chuckled softly as she stepped out into the cold. Her mom reached out and pulled her into a firm hug. “Oh, honey, it’s so good to have you home.” Eva closed her eyes briefly, letting herself relax into the embrace. “It’s good to be here, Mom.” As Karen straightened, her gaze shifted to the loaded car behind Eva. A flicker of concern crossed her face. “Is this... everything?” Eva nodded, swallowing hard. “Pretty much. The truck will be here tomorrow with the furniture from Grandma and Grandpa. Other than that, this is it.” Karen’s expression softened, and she placed a reassuring hand on Eva’s arm. “You’ve been through a lot, honey, but this is a fresh start. We’ll get through it together.” The warmth of the house was a stark contrast to the chilly evening air. The familiar smell of cinnamon and pine wrapped around Eva like a comforting blanket. Lucas made a beeline for the living room, where the Christmas tree stood tall, shimmering with ornaments and garlands. “Grandma, look! It’s so big!” Lucas said, pointing at the tree as he plopped down on the rug. “Only the best for Christmas,” Karen said, ruffling his curls. She turned to Eva. “I’ve already started baking for the party, but we can finish decorating the tree together later. I saved some ornaments for Lucas to hang.” Eva nodded, grateful for her mom’s enthusiasm, though the mention of a party made her stomach flip. The last thing she wanted was to face a crowd. Between the divorce proceedings and navigating custody of Lucas, the last year had been exhausting. “Mommy, look! This one’s shiny!” Lucas held up a bright red ornament. Eva crouched beside him, brushing a stray curl out of his face. “It’s beautiful, buddy. Do you want to hang it on the tree?” Karen watched them with a soft smile, but her gaze held a glimmer of something Eva couldn’t quite place. “So,” her mom said after a moment, breaking the silence, “I thought you might like to know that Cole will be stopping by later.” Eva blinked, nearly spilling the cocoa her mom handed her. “Cole Matthews? Why?” Karen gave a knowing smile. “He’s back in town for the holidays, and he’s helping Ethan put up the Christmas lights tomorrow. I thought it would be nice for you two to catch up.” Eva’s stomach tightened at the mention of Cole’s name. Of course, she remembered Cole. He had been her brother Ethan’s best friend all through school—and a frequent visitor at the house. He’d also been at her wedding. She hadn’t seen him in years, not since everything had fallen apart. “Helping Ethan with the lights?” Eva echoed, trying to keep her voice steady. “Yes. Cole’s always been such a good friend to Ethan, and I thought it would be a nice gesture for him to lend a hand. Besides, Ethan mentioned that Cole’s back in town for a while. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.” Eva swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. “Mom, how does he even know I’m here?” Karen hesitated for a moment, her expression softening. “Well, I may have mentioned to his mother that you were moving back home for the holidays. You know how she is, and I suppose word spread.” Eva groaned inwardly. She had hoped to ease into her return, but it seemed like everyone in town already knew her business. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” her mom said gently, seeing Eva’s discomfort. “But you two used to be so close when you were younger, and I thought it might be nice to have a familiar face around.” Eva didn’t respond right away, her mind spinning. The thought of running into Cole—especially under these circumstances—felt overwhelming. But her mom’s hopeful expression made it hard to say no. “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Eva said after a pause, forcing a smile. “If he’s helping Ethan, then I guess I’ll see him.” “Good,” Karen said brightly. “He’s a great guy, Eva. I’m sure he’ll be happy to catch up.” Eva was about to respond when she heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway. A voice rang out, calling through the house. “Mom? Who’s here?” The voice was familiar, warm and lighthearted. It was Ethan, Eva’s older brother. He came around the corner with his wife, Lily, and their two kids in tow. Ethan was holding his son, Ben, a toddler about the same age as Lucas. Lily was chasing after their daughter, Sophie, who was busy running around, trying to show everyone the drawing she’d made. “Eva, you made it!” Ethan grinned, stepping forward to give his sister a hug. “It’s been too long.” “I know,” Eva said, returning his hug. She glanced down at the kids. “How are my favorite little troublemakers?” Ben, his cheeks flushed with excitement, immediately ran up to Lucas. “Lucas! Come play!” Sophie, clutching her drawing, held it out to Eva. “Look, Auntie Eva, I made a picture of the snowman!” Eva took the drawing, grinning at the joyful enthusiasm. “It’s beautiful, Sophie. You’re quite the artist!” Lily, who had stepped in behind them, smiled warmly. “It’s so good to see you, Eva. Welcome home.” Eva’s heart squeezed as she looked at her sister-in-law, who had always been a constant source of support, even when things were hard. “Thanks, Lily. It’s... it’s good to be back.” Ethan turned to Karen, his expression a little more serious now. “Mom, you didn’t tell me Cole was stopping by tonight. Is that going to be... awkward?” Karen smiled knowingly. “I think it’ll be fine, dear. You know Cole.” The mention of Cole sent a ripple of discomfort through Eva. She forced a smile and tried to focus on her family, but her mind kept drifting back to the past, back to him. Back to a time when everything had felt simple, before the heartbreak, before the divorce, before life became tangled in regrets and unanswered questions. As Lily chatted with Karen about Christmas plans, Eva found herself retreating into her own thoughts. Her fingers curled around her mug, the heat from the cocoa seeping through the ceramic. She hadn’t expected Cole’s name to come up—not so soon, not after everything. "Ethan, I really think it's fine," Karen chimed in, noticing Eva’s distracted gaze. "They're both adults now. I'm sure they'll have a nice conversation." Ethan shot Eva a quick, almost apologetic glance, sensing the tension that hung in the air. "Yeah, I guess," he muttered, but there was an uncertainty in his voice that matched Eva's feelings. "How long has he been back in town?" Eva asked, trying to keep the conversation light. Her heart was beating a little faster now, and she could feel her pulse in her throat. She didn’t know if she was ready to face him, but she didn’t want to seem like she was running away either. "Just a couple of days," Karen replied. "I think he’s staying with his mom for the time being. You know how it is with the holidays. Everyone comes home." Eva nodded, though she barely heard her mom’s words. Instead, her thoughts were racing. She hadn't expected to return to her childhood home under these circumstances, let alone run into Cole. She thought she had put that chapter behind her, but the thought of seeing him again, of facing the history between them, was like a punch to the gut. "Hey," Ethan's voice broke through her thoughts, his tone a little softer now. "We'll be here for you. You don’t have to talk to Cole if you don’t want to, okay?" Eva gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Ethan. I appreciate that." But deep down, she knew that avoiding Cole wouldn't change the past. She could run from the small town, from the people who remembered everything, but she couldn't escape herself. And the past? Well, it had a way of catching up.