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Stormi glanced outside to gauge the weather conditions and felt her heart soar. There was snow blanketing the horizon for as far as the eye could see. She loved this first snow of the season, as winter allowed the ranch to slow just a bit. Although, this winter Noah and Margaret would marry, along with Belle and Jake. She would take on a bit more responsibility as they all took time away from the ranch.
All that would come in time, but today she was going to be the first to tread a trail across the pristine white blanket. Pulling on her boots and heading for the door, she put on a jacket, slung a scarf around her shoulders, and finally applied gloves to her hands.
She saw Grayson’s SUV pulling up about that time and waiting patiently for him to park. As he opened the door, she surged forward, toward one of the doors. As she opened it, she had to smile at the bundled up puffy snowsuits that the girls had on.
“Unka Gray said I could make snow angels,” Phoebe said, with big eyes at her.
“Do you like snow angels?”
“We tried in the park, but it was brown,” Emma volunteered.
Stormi wasn’t sure what she was trying to say.
“One time back in New York, they went to a park and tried to make snow angels, but it was much dirtier than here,” Grayson translated.
“Well, I think we are some of the first people out this morning, so I know the perfect spot,” she volunteered.
As she came alongside Grayson, she whispered, “You do realize the snow isn’t very deep and won’t last long.”
“I know, but you should have seen their faces when they realized it snowed. I couldn’t resist.”
She giggled. “You know they have you wrapped around those tiny fingers, right?”
“I do not understand what you mean, Ms. Kazinski. I see you with one or the other of them most days,” he said, raising a teasing eyebrow at her.
“Fine, they are just so much energy and fun,” she said, as the girls ran ahead into a tiny snowbank next to the B&B.
It was probably the deepest snow because of the buffering of the wind here, creating the best banks of snow against the building.
“Can I make an angel?” Phoebe asked.
“Go right ahead,” Grayson laughed, as the little girl fell backward, trustingly into the snow.
“Wait for me,” Emma replied to her sister and turned to fall backwards.
The giggles and waving arms did their best to make a mess of the fresh snow fall. The snow was just a few inches, and their warm bodies melted much of it, but you wouldn’t know that by the joy radiating from them.
“I hope you brought extra clothes, they are going to be soaking wet,” Stormi said to Grayson.
“Never leave home without two or three outfits in the backpack. I thought they got cleaner after they were out of the toddler phase, but if there is anything wet, sticky, or messy nearby, they seem to find it.
“They are learning and exploring. I think it is a noble thing that you are so low key about the mess; it makes them feel free to explore their world. Long term that more fully informs their personality and choices,” Stormi said, watching the girls.
“Stormi, can you help me,” Emma held out a hand as she could not right herself.
Stormi moved forward and took her hand, and the one her sister was holding up. She pulled them cleanly up, so as not to disturb the angels in the snow. The bottoms had a bit dirt exposed, but they definitely looked like angels.
“Can you take a picture?” Emma said to Grayson.
He whipped out a cell phone from his back pocket and snapped the scene.
“Can we show Ms. Braize?”
“Definitely.”
“They like Ms. Braize?” Stormi asked him.
“Yeah, they love the nursery here and the routines. She, in particular, seems to be a fan favorite. Though I have not seen her out at the different activities, which I find odd as she is close to your age.”
“Unfortunately, she has a rough home life taking care of a brother that has some issues, and her mother is aging. I think working with the kids is all she has by way of escape each day,” Stormi explained. “She is a true angel caretaker to so many, though; I hope someday her situation changes for the better.”
“Well, she has done wonders with the girls. Even when Phoebe was having meltdowns, she was patient and would sit and talk to her as if she wasn’t screaming and thrashing about.”
“I have heard nothing but positive about her. I probably should stop myself and get to know her again, as we were friends in high school. It has just gotten so busy,” she said sighing. “That isn’t an excuse, though. I will make an effort.”
“I didn’t mean to shame you or anything. It was just she seems like one of you, and yet I never see her except for at the nursery, which is odd, most everyone else I run into all over the place.”
“Understood. I’m glad she has been so good for the girls,” Stormi finished just as they reached the nursery doors.
“I will see you all a bit later; I have to check on the foal,” she said with a smile. “I would love a copy of that picture,” she said to Grayson.
“Definitely,” he said, and watched as she began to move away. He looked at the girls and then back to Stormi as a thought that had been nagging him for a while took hold in his head.
“Stormi,” he said, loud enough to capture her attention.
“Yeah,” she turned with a smile.
“We are making pizza tomorrow night, another messy endeavor if you have an interest in joining in.”
Stormi looked at him and cocked her head as if trying to work something out. “Dinner?”
“Didn’t you say that was what you needed to make a decision?”
Stormi’s face broke out in a huge grin then. “I did. I will be there, if you text me your address.”
“Consider it done,” he said, returning her grin.
As they walked inside and were greeted by Ms. Braize, he was still smiling.
“How are my two favorite girls today?”
“We made snow angels,” they chirped in unison.
“Awesome,” she said, glancing up at Grayson.
“How is your mom doing?” he asked the woman, who blinked twice before standing with a thankful smile his direction.
“She was having a good morning when I left, thank you,” she finished truly looking as if no one ever asked her such things.
“I don’t know if I’ve told you thank you, but the girls are doing wonderful because of you,” Grayson volunteered.
“They are a joy,” she said, at the same time helping to remove the coats from the squirming bodies. “I look forward to seeing them every day.”
He nodded, feeling better in that tiny pay it forward moment. Ms. Braize looked happier in that interaction than she usually did. It meant something he realized when someone recognized you, and not just the job. Just one more lesson this place was teaching, he thought, following the girls bounding into their classroom.
