Snowman

Mrs. King’s eyes twinkled. “Well,” she said conspiratorially, “he’s tall, dark, handsome, and single!” Laurie wanted to roll her eyes... This is a sweet winter romance by Carol Douglas...

As Laurie gazed out of the picture window she grimaced. “Not more snow,” she mumbled to herself. Sighing, Laurie turned from the window remembering a time when she adored snow and was always wishing for a white Christmas. Now, the snow and approaching holiday only had her wishing the snow would stop. In the past, she always had a feeling of excitement when she watched lacy snowflakes fall, hoping that it would snow enough to be good for packing snowballs and building a snowman. Memories of building a snowman with her ex-husband, Dean, intruded into her thoughts. They would laugh at their handiwork and outfit the snowman with her gardening hat while giving him an old straw broom in his tree branch hand. Then they would come inside and sip hot chocolate together in front of a cozy fire.

Exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve in front of their sparkling Christmas tree while snow fell outside, was a real life Christmas card. But since divorcing two years ago, snow only represented the tedious task of shoveling the driveway so she could back her car out to go to work. And not only did she shovel her own driveway, but Laurie shoveled the one next door for her neighbor, Mrs. King, so that the dear old woman’s visitors who took her to doctor appointments or shopping could maneuver in and out. Mrs. King was such a sweetie that Laurie really didn’t mind helping her. The only problem was that Laurie’s muscles usually screamed in protest when the job was done.

Sighing, Laurie pulled on her boots, wrapped a scarf around her neck and shrugged into her thick coat. After she pulled on the wool cap and mittens she felt like the abominable snowman. Going out through the garage, she grabbed her shovel. Stepping out onto the driveway, the eerie silence that a heavy snow brings gave her pause while she adjusted her eyes to the sight of her neighborhood blanketed in white.

Then she heard it. The rhythmic scrape, scrape of another shoveler out there. Glancing next door, Laurie was surprised to see a man shoveling Mrs. King’s driveway. He was tall and she could see white snowflakes landing on his dark hair as he methodically took great shovelfuls of snow off the old woman’s driveway. ‘Who is he?’ she wondered.

Then it clicked. A couple of weeks ago she had taken a casserole over to Mrs. King and the elderly lady had asked, “Have you met the new neighbor?” Mrs. King was referring to the person who had moved into the house next door to hers on the opposite side. “No, not yet,” Laurie answered. Mrs. King’s eyes twinkled. “Well,” she said conspiratorially, “he’s tall, dark, handsome, and single!” Laurie wanted to roll her eyes. This was not the first time her friend tried to nudge her toward a man. The poor dear thought Laurie needed a mate again. “Really?” Laurie said with a minor show of interest for Mrs. King’s sake. Mrs. King nodded. “Wouldn’t hurt a bit if you introduced yourself. Take him one of your delicious casseroles as a welcome to the neighborhood.”

“I’ll think about it,” Laurie said smiling at the elderly woman. The conversation was playing in Laurie’s mind now as gazed at her fellow shoveler.

Watching as he was rhythmically scooping large piles of snow with such ease from Mrs. King’s driveway, Laurie had the most incredible urge to pack a snowball, throw it at his back and shout, “Welcome to the neighborhood!” Chuckling to herself, she began shoveling instead. As she worked, her thoughts drifted to the hot bubble bath she would treat herself to when she went inside. Cozying up to a good book and glass of wine by the fireplace would be the icing on the cake. Lost in thought, she jumped when a thud of snow hit her in the back.

“Oh, sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” came an apology. Laurie turned seeing the chuckling snow shoveler leaning on his shovel.

“You’re on!” She shouted packing snow into a ball and throwing.

They battled until Mrs. King opened her front door waving to them and calling, “Cameron, Laurie, I see you two have met! Come in for some hot chocolate when you’re done.” Before either of them had a chance to reply, the door was shut.

Laughing, the snowball assailant extended his hand.

“My name is Cameron. I live in the house next to Mrs. King.”

“Nice to meet you Cameron,” Laurie said feeling warm even in the frigid air. “I’m Laurie and I live here,” she gestured, “next to Mrs. King too!”

“She’s a great lady,” said Cameron, “she tells me you make a mean casserole!”

Laurie blushed and wondered what else Mrs. King had told him about her.

“It’s very nice of you to shovel for her,” she said.

Cameron laughed, “I’ll shovel for you too if you’ll give me a casserole!” he said.

“Deal!” said Laurie, and shook his hand.

“I guess we’d better speed this up then,” said Cameron. He began shoveling Laurie’s driveway.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that!” Laurie protested.

“I don’t mind,” he grinned. “Besides, I want that casserole!”

Later, when they were cozily sharing hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, and laughter at Mrs. King’s kitchen table, Laurie found her melancholy mood melting away. She was really enjoying the company of her neighbors. Mrs. King served them with an air of satisfaction and as if she were waiting on royalty. Cameron kept both ladies laughing, and Laurie acknowledged to herself that Mrs. King was right about him being tall, dark, and handsome. When it was finally too late to stay any longer Laurie sighed and said, “Thank you for the hot chocolate and cookies Mrs. King, but I really must go. The alarm only lets me hit snooze a couple of times before I get ready for work in the morning.”

Cameron stood up. “Let me walk you to your door,” he said.

Laurie laughed, “Thanks, but it’s only next door! I can manage.”

“Nonsense!” interjected Mrs. King. “A lady should always have an escort home in the dark.”

Cameron smiled and Laurie wanted to roll her eyes. “OK then,” she said, “and thank you.”

As they trudged through the snow to her house, Laurie felt a tingle inside. She had to admit that she hoped to see Cameron again. Chuckling to herself she thought about Mrs. King and her obvious matchmaking plan.

“Want to share the joke?” asked Cameron lightheartedly.

“I was just thinking about Mrs. King and her old-fashioned ideas,” said Laurie.

“I kind of like them,” said Cameron as they reached her front porch. “Wonder what she thought of us pelting snowballs at each other? Must have been a sight!” He paused, “I’d like a rematch on the snowball fight. Or we could build a snowman. Of course, we’d build it in Mrs. King’s front yard.”

Laurie looked up in surprise. Cameron’s blue eyes looked like the sheen on the snow.

But they were anything but cold.

“I’d love to,” she said.

“You’re on” said Cameron with a big smile.

Once inside, as Laurie looked out the picture, she sighed. Funny, the snow didn’t seem disappointing anymore. Now it looked magical glistening in the moonlight. ‘Maybe I’ll build a snowman after all,’ she thought smiling.

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