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Chapter 1: The Snowmen
A/N: A short fluffy, introductory chapter to an idea that is beginning to come about in my head. Thanks to storyfan45 for getting me to think about Alexander and Elizabeth Radford a little bit more. Maybe some minor spoilers for Grace and Nick, but this story will be mainly the four Radfords—Cassie, Sam, Elizabeth and Alexander. Comments are gold!
Spring was on its way to Middleton, but hadn't made it quite yet. Most of the snow had melted and the snow people that stood in front of the Nightingale-Radford house were getting smaller and smaller despite the Radford twins' attempts to keep them from melting away. Seven-year old Elizabeth studied their work intently and seriously as if she was solving a puzzle on how to keep their creations from disappearing.
"Alex," she questioned. "How are we going to keep Frosty and his family around longer?"
"Uh Lizzie, Mama and Daddy did tell us about what happens to snow when it gets warmer," her brother said with a grin on his face.
Elizabeth looked at her little brother by five minutes and knew he was right—knew their mother and father were right. This young Radford, however, liked to do things to get things done, particularly when she perceived something as unpleasant. And, in her mind, a melting snow family was certainly that!
Cassie Nightingale-Radford stepped out of Grey House looking to check on her two youngest children. She missed her older daughter Grace, who was still studying medicine, and step-son Nick, who had gone to Chicago with his girlfriend, Molly. As much as they were both missed by their whole family, Cassie knew things with them would be well.
She was just coming upon her youngest children when, while still working on their task, they said in unison, "Hello Mama." She smiled as they turned around, their father's grin on their faces, and ran towards her for a hug. They are becoming quite the Merriwicks already, she thought holding them tight.
"What are you two up to?" Cassie asked her precocious young son and daughter.
"Oh nothing, Lizzie is just trying to stop snow from melting," Alex answered, with what sounded to her as a hint of sarcasm.
"Alex," his sister responded seriously.
He shrugged, looking at his mother. Cassie smiled and knelt down to face Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, you know what Daddy and I said about melting snow."
"Yeah, I know," she said wearily. "I just all our work will go down the drain."
"Lizzie…" her mother began.
"Mama, I'm serious!"
"I get that," Cassie smiled. "Believe me, I do. Look, Sweet Pea, that's Mother Earth doing what she does best. It's her job. We have to let her do it and not interfere; not change things more than we already have."
"So, I should stop," she said, a bit deflated.
"For this winter, yes. When the snow returns again, we can build a new snow family, as a family next year, ok?" Cassie said gently rubbing her hands over her daughter's arms."
"Yeah, ok," she said hugging her mother.
"How about we head over to Grey House. There are cookies and hot chocolate," she said hoping to tempt her children inside.
"Alright, yummy!" Alexander said excitedly as he ran towards the Bed and Breakfast.
Cassie stood up and reached out for her younger daughter's hand. Looking at her, she said, "Come on, let's join your brother before he eats all the cookies."
The little girl smiled and let her mother lead the way.