Winters Thaw

Epilogue


“Remember your sixteenth birthday?”

Sienna glanced at Hope, wondering why on earth her cousin was thinking of that after all these years. Spring was making an early appearance. The icy cold winter had thawed early this year, Mother Nature turning on the heat in March rather than waiting for April. She and Hope were taking advantage of the sunshine, sitting in the back garden.

Vivi was worried about the fact her bulbs were blooming early. She was certain a cold spell would come and ruin her colorful spring garden.

Sienna sighed. “Hell yeah I remember. We all got in big trouble. Jake still likes to tease me about the time he and Dad had to carry four giggling, drunk-ass girls down from the hayloft.”

Hope giggled. “My head ached for days after that.”

“What made you think of that?”

Her cousin shrugged. “I don’t know. Life just seemed a lot simpler at sixteen.”

Sienna nodded. “You can say that again. I was so sure of myself back then. Had my whole future figured out.”

“Then Daniel showed up.”

Sienna grinned. “And tossed everything I thought I wanted out on its ear.”

“I don’t think I ever realized it before, but I’ve never seen you in love. Not really. I like the way it looks on you.”

Sienna wondered if she should contradict her cousin. She had loved Josh. Truly loved him, but maybe it was semantics. Given the way she felt about Daniel, she could understand the difference between loving someone and being in love. It seemed like a short distance separated the two. In reality, they were as close as California and New York.

Hope was quiet for a few moments. Sienna noticed the sadness that had taken up residence in her cousin’s eyes for weeks creep in again. “What’s wrong, Hope? Are you still worried about Vivi?”

Hope nodded. “Yeah. Of course. But I don’t see that feeling going away anytime soon.”

“It’s more than that. Isn’t it?”

Hope sighed, rubbing her eyes wearily. “I still wish for what I wanted at sixteen. But I’m afraid maybe it’s just a silly girl’s dream. Something impossible.”

Sienna knew what Hope wanted. While she longed to reassure Hope it wasn’t unattainable, she knew the odds were rather slim. Hope had grown up in an unconventional home, but one that worked. Uncle Silas, Uncle Colby and Aunt Lucy were meant to be together. While their love was different, it didn’t make the union any less special, perfect.

She reached out to grasp Hope’s hand. “You’re beautiful, smart and sweet. I don’t doubt for a minute that when you find love, it will be beyond your wildest dreams.”

But Hope wanted more from her. Sienna could see it. She needed Sienna’s assurance that there might be two men out there who would claim her heart and give her the life she desired more than anything.

Offering those words wouldn’t be fair. If Sienna had learned anything this winter, it was that what you wanted didn’t always match up with what you got. But that didn’t make the prize any less sweet, any less magical.

“Hope. I think you’re going to have to go with the flow on this one. You can’t force it. Love comes where it comes. And we just have to make sure that when it shows up, our heart and our eyes are open enough to see it. To feel it.”

Hope smiled, her face clearing. “You’re right. I need to shake off these winter blues. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing. And hope springs eternal.”