Beverly closed the book with its final sentence. Yet, she didn't make a move to get up. Any kind of motion was impossible with her comforter and three other blankets over her lap, and a child barricading her in on each side. The bedside lamp glowed over them, adding to the atmosphere of the bedroom... restful and snuggly. The fall of the flakes had brought twilight soon enough and she and Glenn had eventually got the boys to wind down for the final ritual of the day.
Kaley was of course down for the night, and Glenn was working. It soothed him like the bedtime story had soothed her sons from arguing. Only Ivan was asleep though. Brandon, no surprise, had taken the book from her. Probably to replace with the one about the dinosaur crashing Christmas dinner. Beverly eased back into her pile of pillows, simply basking in this cocoon of warmth. It truly is the little things, Lord.
It was an old truth, but never one to grow tired of. Beverly glanced up as Brandon pushed himself farther in. She pulled his bear, Sandy, out of the way to keep from being squished. She patted down his tan fur, though it was pointless. All their children had one, but Brandon's was the most beat up; or perhaps the most loved. Beverly went back to eyeing Brandon with the book. "Another one?"
"You can read." Brandon waved her off, head against her chest. "I just wanna look."
Just look? Beverly kept herself from repeating. Brandon wanted never to just look at anything. She occupied herself with grooming Sandy while watching Brandon turn the colorful pages. She absorbed the quiet; wondering what was on his mind.
"She looks like you, Mom." Brandon referred to the story's little girl. Beverly continued to tug with Sandy's ear. "That's me, huh?"
Brandon nodded. He then pointed to the angel beside the girl. "Do angels actually have faces?"
Wow, he was being thoughtful tonight. Beverly hoped this wasn't a scam to keep from going to bed. "I suppose... angels don't look like anyone else on earth."
Ivan stirred and snorted. Beverly moved a hand through his hair. It soothed him and he settled. There was another page turn and Brandon pushed himself closer to Beverly. He spotted Sandy and grabbed his paw, and consequently Beverly's fingers. She let him squeeze them, his focus split between her fingernails and wedding ring. A penny for his thoughts, Father... Please!
His hand, rough and tough with hours of play, covered the pale, pink ribbon over Sandy's chest. That was thanks to Glenn's mother, who'd stepped in more then once when they'd needed her. Beverly finally squeezed Brandon's hand back. "We had a good day, didn't we."
"Yeah," Brandon sighed out of his deep thought. "And I'm happy with you again."
"You are." Beverly held back tears.
"So..." Brandon tilted his head. "Can I watch some Spacemen?"
There it was! Beverly drove a tickle into his tummy. "No!"
Thankfully teeth had already been brushed, so the battle into bed only took ten minutes. Beverly cancelled any thoughts of no school tomorrow, kissed them both, then found her downstairs. She smiled at the sight of the candles, the only light framing the dining room. Outside, it was still cold, but they were sheltered from it in here. Beverly sat down were she could appreciate the shadows better. A few quiet minutes passed before Glenn walked out of the den. He seemed surprised to find her there. "What're you doing?"
Beverly turned her head with a smile. Glenn's eyebrows raised. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Beverly promised, wiping at her cheeks. "I just... really love snow days."
THE END
P.S. Many thanks to my sister, who loves snow days as much as me, and helped me create these characters!
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