Chapter 5: A Frosted Past
956 Words
The snowstorm passed by the next morning, leaving Evergreen Falls glittering under a bright winter sun. The square looked like a postcard, its freshly fallen snow undisturbed save for a few footprints near the gazebo.
Despite the calm outside, Lila’s mind felt anything but serene. Ethan’s warmth, his easy laugh, and the way he had looked at her last night played on a loop in her head. She had come back to Evergreen Falls for her mother and Sophie—not to confront a decade of unresolved feelings.
Sophie’s cheerful humming broke Lila’s train of thought. She was seated at the dining table, carefully coloring a picture of a Christmas tree.
“Mommy, can Ethan come for dinner tonight?” Sophie asked, looking up with hopeful eyes.
Lila nearly dropped the coffee pot she was holding. “What? Why?”
“Because he’s nice,” Sophie said with a shrug. “And Grandma said she’d make turkey.”
Lila glanced toward Diane, who was bustling around the kitchen with a knowing smile. “Mom...”
“What?” Diane said innocently. “It’s Christmas. We should spread some cheer—and maybe reconnect with old friends.”
Lila groaned, but Sophie’s excitement was hard to resist. “Fine,” she relented. “But don’t get your hopes up, Sophie. He might be busy.”
Later that day, as Lila strolled into the town square, she spotted Ethan near the gazebo, double-checking the light fixtures.
“Hey,” she called, her breath visible in the chilly air.
Ethan looked up, a grin spreading across his face. “Hey. What brings you here?”
“I just... wanted to check on the lights,” Lila said, though the excuse sounded flimsy even to her.
Ethan raised an eyebrow but didn’t press her. “Everything’s working fine. Guess I didn’t ruin them after all.”
Lila chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I, uh, wanted to ask... Sophie was wondering if you’d like to come over for dinner tonight.”
He blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Dinner?”
“She’s been talking about you nonstop,” Lila added quickly. “It’s not a big deal—just something casual.”
Ethan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’d love to.”
That evening, the Montgomery house was filled with the smell of roasted turkey and cinnamon. Diane had gone all out, setting the table with festive linens and lighting a few candles. Sophie had insisted on making place cards, proudly setting one labeled “Ethan” beside hers.
When the doorbell rang, Lila felt a flutter of nerves she hadn’t expected.
Ethan stood on the porch, looking effortlessly handsome in a dark sweater and jeans. He held a small bouquet of winter flowers in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other.
“These are for your mom,” he said with a sheepish grin, holding out the flowers.
“And these are for Sophie,” he added, handing her the chocolates as she squealed in delight.
“And what about me?” Lila teased, crossing her arms.
Ethan smirked. “You get my sparkling company.”
She rolled her eyes, but a smile crept onto her face.
Dinner was a surprisingly comfortable affair. Diane kept the conversation flowing with stories about the town, and Sophie’s chatter filled any silences.
“So, Ethan,” Diane said as they finished dessert, “what have you been up to all these years?”
Ethan hesitated, glancing at Lila before answering. “I stayed in Evergreen Falls. Opened a construction business a few years ago. It’s kept me busy.”
“And no wife? No kids?” Diane pressed.
“Mom,” Lila said sharply, shooting her a warning look.
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “No, ma’am. Just me.”
Lila felt a pang of guilt, remembering the life they had once imagined together.
After dinner, while Diane cleaned up and Sophie dozed off in the living room, Ethan and Lila found themselves alone on the porch, bundled against the cold.
“This feels familiar,” Ethan said softly, his breath visible in the frosty air.
Lila smiled faintly. “It does.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the quiet of the snowy evening wrapping around them.
“Why did you leave, Lila?” Ethan’s question came out of nowhere, his tone gentle but firm.
She stiffened, the warmth of the moment evaporating. “You know why.”
“Do I?” he asked, his gaze steady. “Because I’ve spent the last ten years wondering if I pushed you away.”
Lila sighed, her shoulders slumping. “It wasn’t just you, Ethan. My dad had just passed, and everything felt... heavy. I needed to find myself, to figure out who I was outside of this town.”
“And did you?” he asked, his voice soft.
She looked away, her eyes stinging. “I thought I did. But then Sophie came along, and everything changed.”
Ethan stepped closer, his presence warm despite the chill in the air. “You could’ve called. You didn’t have to go through it alone.”
Lila met his gaze, her voice trembling. “I didn’t know how to face you, Ethan. Not after everything.”
He reached for her hand, his touch gentle. “I never stopped caring about you, Lila. Even when you left.”
Her heart twisted at his words, but the weight of the past still loomed between them.
“I don’t know if we can go back,” she whispered.
“Maybe we don’t have to,” Ethan said, his voice steady. “Maybe we can start over.”
- Writer
