Cold Secrets

-M. Lauren

Chapter Five

"So, where exactly are you taking my daughter again?"

Anna didn't sound as angry as she did skeptical. Elsa, attempting to be the good aunt that she was, called her sister to let her know they would be leaving the house for the day. Unfortunately, she forgot the three hour time difference between there and California. Elsa couldn't imagine she would enjoy a wake up call explaining someone was taking her daughter out for coffee either.

"We are going to the coffee shop on campus…" she tried again. "Then, I'm not sure. I thought we'd go to the park, or perhaps the zoo- Whatever we decide, it will be fun!"

Anna hummed sleepily. "Taking me up on the offer to use Millie to sell yourself, I see?"

Elsa blinked. Her teeth grit. Is that what I am doing here?

"No, of course not." she promised to herself and Anna. "You suggested getting out of the house, and that's exactly what we are doing."

"Uh huh," Anna tutted. "I still think you're up to something, dear sister."

Rolling her eyes, Elsa crossed the street. She had Millie belted into the stroller, who was babbling to herself as they went. Elsa had her phone precariously perched between her shoulder and ear. She fumbled briefly getting back onto the sidewalk, and caught the phone in her hand.

"Listen, I was just trying to be nice and let you know we would be going out today. No more teasing me, alright?" She heard her sister laugh.

"Okay, okay, but only because it's early..."

Smiling, Elsa shook her head. "I will call back later and you can tell me all about your party."

"Mmhmm, sounds great. Love you…" Anna began to doze back off.

"We love you, too." Elsa giggled, and when no reply came, she hung up the phone. "That mom of yours is a silly one. That's for sure."

Millie looked up as her aunt's voice surfaced overhead. She clapped her hands together madly and swung her feet in the air.

"Yup, and you are definitely her kid…"

Looking down at her watch, Elsa internally groaned. She was running behind, and it was at no ones fault but her own. Millie's dress had stained after breakfast. Berries discolored her face and hands. Elsa's own pants had taken a hit, and she was forced to change as well. Now they both were in dresses. They were the fastest outfits she could think to put on. The night before, Elsa had already spent hours over the limited items in her closet. She knew it would have been counterproductive to start that process back up again that morning.

For herself, Elsa had selected a tan khaki dress, and paired it with a black sweater. It was nearly the same as any outfit she would wear for school. However, she had selected her black flats in lieu of heels. Millie, on the other hand, that was where all Elsa's attention had gone. She was all dolled up in her yellow fall dress, with white lace bloomers underneath. The little hair she did have, was combed down and was laying flat.

And hair was, of course, the first thing Honeymaren noticed that morning. Although... it wasn't Millie's who had stolen the show.

She handed Elsa a coffee. "Someone finally decided to lose the bun."

"Excuse me?" Elsa's head turned before placing her cup in the holder.

"Your hair, goof. I've never seen it down before. I like it."

"Oh…" Elsa was blushing, but Honeymaren had turned her back.

She kicked at the locks on her own stroller before leading them away from the cafe.

"Are we all set?" she asked.

Elsa looked down at Millie who had yet to notice the newcomers. She had the diaper bag, keys, wallet, phone. Her head bobbed as she checked them over.

"Yes, I think we are..."

Honeymaren stepped ahead of them, leading the way for their walk. Her eyes circled back over her shoulder coyly, and she gave Elsa a quick once over. Honeymaren waited to smiled until her head was back facing front. Elsa wasn't sure what that look meant, but it had her feeling confused.

"Where are we going?" she hurried faster, joining her side by side.

"You really don't like surprises, do you?"

Elsa frowned. Her eyes lowered at the hair covering Honeymaren's cheek. "I thought this day was about Millie and Ryder?"

"-and a little bit for you..." Honeymaren smirked.

Needing a distraction, Elsa fumbled for the cup of coffee. She tasted it to her lips and smiled instantly. Pumpkin spice, as always. When Elsa pulled the cup away, she noticed Honeymaren staring intently at her face. She wore the same dark expression Elsa had caught on her just moments before.

"What?" Elsa lowered the cup, brushing nothings away from her clean face.

Honeymaren laughed. "I'm surprised you came, is all."

"Really, why is that?"

Her lips pursed, and Honeymaren shrugged. "You've got an uptight vibe about you; always with your hair in a bun, the professional clothes. Now you are here, looking like a human, and you don't even know where we are going..."

The confusion pulled from Elsa's face and replaced with something dejected. She told herself she didn't care what her coworkers or student's thought about her, but she knew that wasn't true. Sometimes Elsa believed she cared too much. She strived for perfection in every sense of the word. These last two days with Millie had been difficult; and all because she couldn't seem to get anything right. Perhaps that was why she agreed to go out with Honeymaren. Watching her parent Ryder would surely guide her aunty-skills along.

"I am glad you did, though." Honeymaren broke Elsa's thoughts.

"What?" She turned to her.

"I'm glad you decided to come. I didn't know if it was appropriate, or if you would even want to, but I'm happy that you agreed."

Smiling, Elsa faced forward and looked down at Millie. "Well, thank you for inviting us."

Millie was content in her stroller for the time being, it appeared. She had her juice cup, which she'd finished, and her plastic cell phone in hand. She babbled into the speaker. When no one replied, she wedged the phone into her mouth.

In his stroller, Ryder was much quieter. In fact, he was sound asleep. His backing was tilted downward, and his head held from the sun. He held a stuffed reindeer between his hands, which he drooled idly on its head.

"He usually sleeps through travel." Honeymaren explained, having followed Elsa's stare. "If it moves, he sleeps- cars, strollers, trains; you name it."

"The only time Millie sleeps is when it's time to get up in the morning. She is more miserable to wake than her mother." Elsa giggled softly.

"Hopefully she'll tire out for you today, and then both of you can get some rest."

Her brow arched to Honeymaren. "Are you insinuating I look tired?"

"I'm telling you, actually."

The two shared a laugh as they came to a crossing. Lights flashed over head, signifying the busy streetway. Elsa came to a stop, and her fingers clenched around the hand break.

"Will you tell me where we are going now?" She attempted to hide her nerves.

"We're not far." Honeymaren promised. "We cross here, and then follow Stonewall Circle to the end."

Elsa eyes lightened. "Are we going to the beach?"

"Maybe…" Honeymaren sang. She turned to flash Elsa yet another wink.

Elsa's fingers tapped against the handle. "You know, I've never been to a beach in Autumn before."

"It's a lot less crowded than it is during peak season, and that frees up some space for the younger kids. I couldn't stand taking Ryder here over the summer. I had one day, Ryder was about nine months old, barely walking, and this teenager knocked him out on the splash pad. There was blood everywhere. Ryder was a mess! No, I was the mess! That was the first time I realized cut lips look a lot worse than they actually are. The whole Emergency Room thought I was insane..."

Elsa stifled a laugh as they began to cross the street. "That sounds terrifying! I probably would have done the same thing."

"You get used to it," Honeymaren bat her off. "Besides, everything is scary in the beginning, but then you get more comfortable. I never wanted to be a parent... Now though, I wouldn't trade motherhood for anything in the world."

A brief smile tugged at Elsa's lips before falling away. She was slapped with a mixture of adoration and sadness. She couldn't quite put her finger on why. Elsa was enjoying hearing Honeymaren talk about her son and her experiences with parenting, but it also forced Elsa to acknowledge her own single, childless state.

As if she could read her mind, Honeymaren had silenced. The two said nothing as they started down the sidewalks of Stonewall. Despite the awkward feeling in the pit of her stomach, the views from the railing were enough to calm Elsa's anxious mind. Waves lapped at the rocky shore. A cool breeze trickled in off the water, and Elsa once again found herself enjoying their afternoon.

After a few minutes, she looked over to find Honeymaren walking with her eyes closed and head tilted back. Feeling the stare, her eyes quickly returned.

"Read any good books lately?" Elsa asked the first question that came to mind. She was already known for being a spy. It felt foolish to further prove Honeymaren's assumptions about her.

"A few, actually."

Elsa's eyes boggled. "You read more than one book at the same time?"

Honeymaren pulled out her phone. She thumbed around the display before turning it to Elsa. Confused, but curious, Elsa took the phone in her hand. Before her was a running list of novels; some of which she'd heard of, and others she wasn't certain were even written in English. The list went on and on for pages. Along the side, many items had been checked off.

"What is this?" She asked, returning the phone to Honeymaren.

"The Modern Library's Official Classic Lit record." she stated, matter of factly. "There are over two hundred books on it, and I am going to read them all."

Blinking, Elsa slowly turned her head. "Is there an award for after you complete it?"

"No," Honeymaren scoffed. "I just like books, remember?"

Honeymaren's shoulder teased her arm, and Elsa wondered how she could already be blushing again? "Well, I think finishing all of those books should come with an award."

She shrugged, uncaring. "You'll have to make it for me, then, because unfortunately those who care about Classic Lit are quickly dying out."

Honeymaren's eyes turned back to the walk.

Elsa pondered her silently for a moment. "If you finish that list, I will make certain you get an award."

She smirked, chuckling at Elsa. "Don't make promises you don't intend to keep, Snowflake."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Elsa promised.

A hand settled over her stomach. Deep down inside of her, her intestines uncomfortably clenched. Upon hearing the new nickname, Elsa was both excited and scared. It stirred something new inside of her, and Elsa was certain she wasn't ready for it just yet.

Their walk came to a halt at the start of a pier. Evading it, Honeymaren turned off the crosswalk and led them down a sandy path. The path bordered by mountain-like dunes. Elsa struggled to keep up as the sand built under the stroller's wheels. Millie let out a disgruntled huff while the seat rocked and rattled her around.

They didn't go much further than the end of the path. When the beach opened up to overlook the sound, Honeymaren came to a halt. She pulled off to the side and laid out a blanket. Elsa looked at her skeptically before deciding to join.

"Can I help you with anything?" she offered.

"Nope, take a seat."

Millie's hands latched onto the stroller bar and she whined out of desperation.

Elsa came to stand in front of her. Smiling, she lowered down to the seat. She freed Millie from the restraints, and Millie immediately crawled up into her arms. She bounced eagerly in Elsa's hold, excited to be in both her hands and out of the stroller.

Returning to the blanket, Elsa came to sit. Millie's eyes drew up at the stranger, and confusion struck her brain.

"Finally realized we weren't alone, hm?" Elsa's hand ran over the back of her niece's head.

Millie sat in her aunt's lap, content to play the newcomer by ear.

Honeymaren returned to Ryder, and pulled his sleeping body from the seat. His blue eyes popped wide. Brows, raised and tightened. His head relaxed cautiously against his mother's chest, and he held his small body close to her's.

Honeymaren came to sit beside Elsa and Millie. She relaxed back on her hands, looking out at the waves. Ryder didn't move. His eyes stayed strict on the two strangers. If either he or Millie recognized each other from school, they didn't show it. Instead, they continued to cling to the laps beneath them.

Elsa's lips pinched to the side. "Hello, Ryder... It's nice to meet you."

His brows wavered hearing the woman's melodic tone.

"You hear that, Ry? Elsa says, hello." Honeymaren placed her hand to her son's back.

Grinning, Elsa continued. "You are certainly a handsome little boy."

Upon hearing her words, Ryder quickly turned his head from the stranger. Honeymaren's hand stroked along his back. "I'm sorry about that. He can be shy when meeting people he doesn't know. I'm sure he'll warm up to you in no time."

"It's alright," Elsa assured her. "I have the benefit of having known Millie her whole life. And I'm not big on strangers either, so I know how he feels..."

Honeymaren leaned forward, keeping Ryder tucked against her chest. She pulled a cooler bag from the sand and dragged it onto the blanket beside them.

"This should help," she told her.

Honeymaren unlatched the bag and pulled out a small tin of goldfish. Instantly, both Millie and Ryder turned to watch what she was going. She set it between them. Their eyes followed. Giggling, Honeymaren opened the tin and watched both children scoot from their laps.

"I told you." she teased.

"You're a natural." Elsa commended.

"Goldfish and kids are like women and wine- neither can really exist without the other."

"I'll keep that in mind on the way home." Elsa giggled, her eyes scanning between the kids and Honeymaren. "I'm running out of those rice puffs Millie likes."

"Oh god!" Honeymaren mocked. "Not those! Have you seen how far they roll?"

"Yes!" Her laughter heightened. "I spent all of Thursday night on my hands and knees cleaning them off my kitchen floor!"

Honeymaren's palms raised at her side. "Welcome to parenthood." she announced.

Elsa held her smile until she couldn't anymore. She didn't want to correct Honeymaren, and remind her that she was Millie's aunt. Yet, her statement brought back the same feeling she'd had before. It was the subtle reminder that Elsa was not quite sure where her life was headed. If motherhood was in her future, it was further from sight than Elsa would hope for.

"At least you will be well-prepared when you have children of your own."

Elsa realized her eyes had drifted to the blanket. She pulled them back and softly smiled. "I suppose that's true…"

Honeymaren groaned. Her fingers pulled through her hair. "I said something dumb, I can see it. I struck a nerve. God, I'm sorry!"

"No, no," Elsa assured her. "I just have an awful habit of going too far into my own head."

Leaning forward again, Honeymaren pulled out another container from the bag. "Luckily, I have something I think you will enjoy, too."

She opened it and held it out Elsa. Looking inside, Elsa's curiosity peaked.

Instantly, her eyes drove wide. "M&Ms?" she questioned, confused, and Honeymaren nodded. "But they're my favorite..."

"I know," she teased Elsa with a grin. "You bring them with you when you grade sometimes."

The hand she'd used to reach forward suddenly froze. Elsa turned her gaze, staring at Honeymaren hard.

"And here you are telling me I'm the spy!" Elsa stole an M&M before crossing her arms in defiance.

"There's a difference though, Snowflake- I've never been caught while I'm spying."

Her excitement faded to confusion. Elsa shook her head. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"What? Snowflake?" She watched Elsa nod. Honeymaren drew her shoulders into a shrug. "It's your skin. It reminds me of winter somehow."

"But not my hair?" Elsa found herself teasing. Her own response surprised her, and caused her heart to lurch beneath her ribs.

With a laugh, Honeymaren leaned into her briefly. "That too, Snowflake. That, too."

The rest of their afternoon passed with ease. The children eventually moved off goldfish and onto the sand. Honeymaren taught them how to build a sandcastle. Neither seemed to care, though. They had much more enjoyed knocking them down after they were built for them.

As they continued, short hours seemed to fly by. They ran through snacks and drinks, and Elsa polished off the M which receiving a world of teasing from Honeymaren.

When finally, their playdate was forced to come to an end.

"Unfortunately, it's about time I head out." Honeymaren explained as she began to pack up her things.

"Of course!" Elsa assured her. "I wouldn't want to monopolize your whole day."

"It's not that..." Honeymaren hummed silently. "We would stay here all night with you if we could, but it's Ryder... He's at his dad's tonight, which means we have to get going before we're late."

Elsa frowned, but wouldn't press for more. There was something off about Honeymaren now, and it was separate from her typical, 'hot cold' demeanor.

"No worries," Elsa assured her. "I'm thankful we got to spend the time together that we did."

Smirking to herself, Honeymaren turned to Elsa after zipping the cooler shut. "Speaking of spending time together…" Her eyes circled the sky. "What would you say if I asked you to go out with me on Friday night?"

"Friday night?" Elsa gawked. Her eyes turned wide faster than she could reel them in. "As in, with just you? As in, a date? Is that what you're insinuating?"

Honeymaren laughed. "Yes, Snowflake, as in a date."

Her hands began to fidget in her lap. Elsa's eyes drew down to her niece. "Why would you think to ask me that? Well…no, nevermind... I don't think so. But I do appreciate you asking me…"

"Okay." Honeymaren shrugged.

She stood with Ryder against her hip before sitting him in the stroller.

"You're not mad?" Elsa questioned. She pulled Millie to stand at her side.

Honeymaren shook her head. She snatched the blanket and the cooler from the sand and placed them both in the bottom basket.

"Nope, I'm not mad, and do you know why?"

Elsa merely blinked.

"-because the next time I ask you, you're going to say yes."

"Is that so?" Elsa took a cautious step backwards. "And why do you think that?"

With Ryder situated in his seat, and her things packed away, Honeymaren placed her hands on the stroller. "-because you want to, Snowflake."

She flashed her a quick wink, sending a chill down Elsa's spine.

Elsa watched her walking away. Her eyes glued to her back, and her heart beat erratically in her chest.

Cheers,

-M.