The house wafted with delicious smells. All the food was prepared and setting in the kitchen, and Nina stood in the living room, waiting to hear the doorbell. She smoothed her brown dress and noticed her hands were shaking.
She figured she had a right to be nervous; she wanted this dinner to go perfectly. She didn't know how her family would handle the news of the engagement. It was nerve-racking enough when Snow Miser and she had told their family up north. Now, they were going to tell the people she had known most of her life.
Snow Miser walked into the room in his human form, wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt and dark blue pants. He took Nina in his arms and kissed her lips. "You look gorgeous," he told her.
"I'm so nervous."
Snow held her hands. Seeing they were shaking, he looked concerned. "Honey, everything is going to be fine. I'm going to be right there with you. This is OUR announcement, remember?"
Nina took a deep breath. "I know. I'm just scared how they're going to react."
He hugged her. "Whatever happens, we'll stick together."
At that moment, the doorbell rang. Nina took a moment to compose herself, then opened the front door and saw Marilyn and Richard standing outside. Smiling, Nina welcomed them in with a hug. Snow Miser stood at her side and shook their guests' hands.
"As soon as Mr. Bennett and Melvin get here, we'll do the tour," Nina stated.
"They don't know who you really are?" Richard asked Snow Miser. "I'm asking because you're in your human form."
"Not yet."
"We'll tell them in the future, but right now isn't a good time," Nina added. "For now, call him Sam, Heat Miser Harold, and Tingler Timothy."
With this understanding, Nina's mother and stepfather sat on the couch. Soon afterwards, the doorbell rang again. This time, Mr. Bennett and Melvin were there, smiling brightly. Nina and Snow Miser greeted them with the same expressions.
When the hosts and guests said their hellos to each other, Nina stated, "Well, everyone's here, now. How about we start the tour, then we'll eat?"
Snow put his arm around her back. "Great idea, honey. I'm starving!"
The couple proceeded to show their guests all the rooms in the house. Each room had been dusted, repainted, and redecorated. When they were nearly done, Marilyn exclaimed, "This looks like a completely different place!"
Richard agreed with his wife, adding, "It looks much more homey than it did when you first moved in."
Mr. Bennett asked, "So, does this mean you two will be living here full-time?"
Nina and Snow Miser looked at each other before Snow responded, "No. We have a place up north, but we'll definitely be around more often."
The last room they went to was the kitchen. Heat Miser was putting the finishing touches on all the food while Tingler was getting the silverware out. Nina asked, "Is everything ready?"
"Yep," Heat replied, turning around. He kept his eye on Melvin as Snow Miser and Nina concluded the tour. Nina looked at Heat, then asked Melvin, "Mel, could you help us set the food out?"
"Sure, Nina," Melvin replied. "I'd be happy to."
Melvin and Heat brought the food out to the dining room while Tingler set the table. Nina and Snow Miser directed where everyone could sit, then helped with the food.
Soon, everyone was seated at the rectangular table. Nina and Snow Miser sat by each other at one end. Marilyn and Richard sat on Nina's right, on the right side of the table. Mr. Bennett and Melvin sat on the left side of the table, with Mr. Bennett sitting closest to Snow Miser. Heat Miser and Tingler sat on the other end of the table, and Heat Miser was closest to Melvin.
Everyone helped themselves to the food, passing around dishes. During this time, Nina asked Melvin, "So, Melvin, you said you were leaving next Friday?"
"Ah, yeah," Melvin replied.
Nina looked at Heat Miser, indicating that he should join the conversation.
"Oh! Where are you going?" Heat asked.
"Japan. I'm going to do a story about a typhoon they just had and try to help clean up and give out food and stuff."
Heat's normal frown disappeared, and his expression softened. "That's...That's very noble of you."
"It's not much. It would have been better if it never happened at all," Melvin shrugged and frowned.
Mr. Bennett put a hand on his son's shoulder. "You're doing something by helping, though. It will mean a lot to those people."
Melvin nodded, still unhappy. Heat looked down at his plate, feeling guilty for making him somber. Melvin noticed Heat's expression and immediately cheered up and said, "But I still like the fact that I get to travel. I get to see all kinds of interesting places and people, just like Nina does."
Nina smiled. "But you get to write about them and find out more details. I'm just a lost wanderer."
Snow Miser kissed Nina's cheek. "Not so much anymore, and you're not lost. I found you."
Nina smiled at her fiancé. She then squeezed Snow Miser's hand under the table. Snow gave a single nod, and they stood up. "Everyone, we're glad you all could make it tonight," Nina said. "The reason we asked you to come here wasn't because we wanted to show you the house."
"We actually wanted to announce our engagement," Snow Miser said, holding Nina's hand again. "Nina and I are getting married."
That split second after the announcement was agonizing. Not knowing how anyone would react, Nina's heart raced, but she tried to keep a smile on her face.
Marilyn, Richard, Mr. Bennett, and Melvin looked surprised, but soon, they all congratulated the couple with joyful expressions. Nina sighed in relief while Snow Miser rubbed her back. "See? It's okay," he whispered in her ear.
Before Nina and Snow could sit down again, Nina's mother asked, "Do you have a ring?"
"Yes. Let me go get it." Nina went to the bedroom and got the ring out of her nightstand and returned to the dining room. She wore it on her left ring finger, showing it off, proudly. The silver band and diamonds in the shape of a snowflake gleamed under the ceiling light.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" Marilyn cried out.
"And it's very fitting," Richard mentioned, glancing quickly at Snow.
Nina stared at her engagement ring before looking up. "I'm so relieved I don't have to hide this anymore. I was just starting to get used to wearing it before I had to take it off."
"I'm thrilled for you two and wish you all the happiness in the world," Mr. Bennett sincerely told the couple.
Melvin asked, "When's the wedding?"
"December 23," Nina answered.
"That's really close to Christmas."
"It's a special day for us," Snow stated.
"Where will it be at?"
"We'll, uh, let you know when we work that out," Nina said.
"Well, congratulations and good luck."
"Thank you all," Snow Miser said, and he kissed Nina's lips. "We couldn't be happier."
After they were done eating dinner, Heat Miser brought out his cake. It was chocolate with chocolate icing, and the top and bottom both had a small shell border. Setting it on the table, he cut it and handed the first piece to Melvin. "I made this myself. I hope it turned out well."
"It sure looks good!" Melvin exclaimed, taking the plate.
Heat passed around plates of cake. Once everyone received a piece, they ate.
Heat Miser received nothing but praise for his work. "This is delicious!" Melvin was the first to comment.
"Yeah, Harold. You really outdid yourself," Nina said.
Heat gave a soft, pleased smile. "Thank you."
"Hey, I've got a great idea! Why don't you make our wedding cake?" Snow suggested after swallowing a bite.
Heat looked at his brother, shocked. "You're serious?"
"Absolutely! If you can make a simple cake into a work of art, I can only imagine what you'd do with a wedding cake. What do you think, angel?"
Nina enthusiastically nodded. "I think it's a great idea if Harold is okay with it."
"I'd be honored," Heat told them, sincerely.
After the meal was done, everyone except Nina's mother and stepfather and Mr. Bennett put the food and dishes in the kitchen. One by one, Nina, Snow, and Tingler left the kitchen, leaving Heat and Melvin by themselves. When Heat noticed they were alone, he got out the plate of cookies he had set aside. Back facing Melvin, he hesitated. Then, he turned around. "Melvin? I made you something."
Melvin turned toward him after putting some dirty dishes in the sink. "You did?" he asked, curious.
Heat handed him the plate. "I baked you some cookies. I hope you don't mind. "
"No, not at all," Melvin accepted the gift, surprised. "Thank you. What's the occasion, though?"
Heat wrung his hands. "Well, I just hoped...I thought you might like them."
"Do you mind if I have one now?"
"Go ahead."
Melvin ate one of the cookies, and his eyes widened and twinkled. "These are better than the cake! You made these just for me?"
Heat nodded. "You really like them?"
"Like them? I love them! These are the best cookies I've ever had!"
Heat sighed in relief and smiled a little. "I'm so glad. I was worried they wouldn't turn out right."
"They're perfect. How about we go outside and eat a few together?" Melvin suggested. "I need some fresh air."
"Sure," Heat agreed, and the two went outside and sat on the front steps. Melvin set the plate down in between them.
"Boy, this is a pretty swell night. My friend is getting married, AND I got a great gift. Also, this weather is perfect," Melvin said, picking up a cookie.
"Almost. It could be a lot hotter."
"You like hot weather?"
Heat nodded. "Over 100° is what I'd consider ideal."
"Wow! You'd like the summers here, then. It's gotten up that high before. Where are you from, anyway?"
"Up north," Heat replied, nervously, not wanting to reveal too many details about himself.
"Oh, no wonder you like it so hot. You must be miserable being in a cold area. It does get colder the further north you go."
"Yeah. So, tell me about you," Heat said, trying to take the focus off himself.
"Oh, there's not much to tell; I'm not really an interesting guy."
"I beg to differ. I'd like to hear anything you have to say."
"Well, okay. You know I'm a journalist. I sometimes travel out of the country to cover big events, but usually, I stay in this area. In my spare time, I write stories and help Dad out with the store."
"You must be pretty busy all the time," said Heat.
"There's no point in me having a lot of downtime; I like to keep myself occupied."
Heat nodded. "You say you write in your spare time?"
"Yep, only different kinds of stories than what I write at my job. I write fiction for fun."
"I'd like to read some of the things you've written, if you'd be okay with showing me," Heat told him.
"I don't have anything on me right now, but Dad has some of my news articles hanging up in the shop. If you want to, you can stop by in the morning, and I can bring one of my short stories for you to read."
Heat Miser smiled, pleased. "I'd really like that."
Melvin reached for a cookie at the same time Heat did, and their hands touched. They both pulled away, chuckling nervously. "Go ahead," Melvin said.
"No, you," insisted Heat. "They're yours."
Melvin beamed at him, then picked up a cookie and ate it. "We really should go back inside, or they'll wonder where we ran off to," Melvin stated after he finished the cookie.
Heat nodded, agreeing. "I don't want my brother coming out here and bugging us. See you tomorrow?" he asked, hopeful.
"You got it," Melvin replied, going back inside while Heat Miser held the door open for him.