Cold Secrets
-M. Lauren
Epilogue: Two Years Later
Eager hands were pulling her up from the bed before her eyes had even opened. A groan escaped her lips as her feet hit the cold floor. Fighting a yawn, Elsa soothed a hand over her tired face.
"What's going on?" she asked raspily.
Honeymaren dropped her hold on Elsa. Standing before her, she bounced over her toes. "Come on, come on, come on! He won't last long!"
Pouting while she did, Elsa slipped Honeymaren's discarded shirt over her arms. "This is not quite the birthday morning I had in mind," she mumbled, and fastened the buttons up to her chest.
"Quit your complaining and hurry up!"
She had barely finished when Honeymaren was dragging her by the hand once again.
Elsa was pulled from her bedroom and into the light of day. The living room, which they now shared, was spotless despite the chaos of toys that had existed there the night before. Holiday decorations still adorned the fireplace. The Christmas tree remained lit in the corner, and before it sat a large gift box with a lid and giant blue bow.
Elsa lowered her eyes and turned to Honeymaren. "Christmas was two days ago."
She watched Elsa's arms cross. "Were you not the one stubbornly reminding me only two seconds ago that today is your birthday?"
Elsa didn't move. "I don't like surprises…"
"-and I don't care!" she fought and pushed Elsa forward by her shoulders. "Just open the damn box!"
Drawing in a deep breath, Elsa lowered to her knees. She spared one last glance at Maren before reaching out to slide her fingers beneath the lid. Before she could release it, though, the top of the box was being thrown clear across the room. Ryder stood inside with his hands raised straight into the air.
"Elsa!" Ryder shouted. "I'm in the damn box!"
"I see that!" She beamed and lifted Ryder onto her hip as she stood. She turned sharply to Honeymaren and deadpanned, "You put your son in a darn box?"
A folder revealed from behind her back, and she extended it between them. "Our son," Honeymaren grinned.
Eyes lowering, Elsa took a step away from her. Her hands tightened around Ryder and she tilted her head. "Excuse me?"
"Our son," Honeymaren stated again. She opened the folder and held it up for Elsa to see.
Elsa's frown continued to deepen. She glanced over the document in front of her and her jaw went slack. "Certificate of Adoption?" she whispered, allowing Ryder to slide down her waist and back onto his feet. "I- I don't understand… You want me to adopt your son?"
A hand raised to cover Elsa's mouth as her eyes glazed. At the sight, Honeymaren felt her chest expanding. "You've been like a second parent to him for over two years now. I thought… well... why not make it official?"
She was frozen to her feet. Elsa's wild stare was tracing over Honeymaren's face, and searching for any sign that she might be joking. When she found none, her knees went weak. Elsa blindly stumbled backward until she was seated at the edge of the couch.
"It's only if you want to," Honeymaren assured her. "I'd never want to pressure you into being in his life anymore than you see you fit."
Words stuck to her tongue as Elsa dropped her hand. She blinked and shook her head. "Adopt Ryder?" she asked again.
Honeymaren slowly nodded. "It would mean so much to both of us if you would..."
Though confusion filled his tiny face, Ryder staggered over to Elsa. He placed a hand on her leg and his brow furrowed. "Elsa's gonna be my mommy, too?"
He wasn't asking Honeymaren. He was asking Elsa directly. His question had her losing her breath and tears sliding along her cheeks.
When she brought herself to move, Elsa was sweeping Ryder from the floor. She hugged him to her chest and cried openly into his hair. "Yeah, bud… yes... I'll be your mommy, too…"
Honeymaren dropped the folder to the couch and swiftly pulled Elsa to stand. Her lips landed against her forehead, arms wrapping at her waist. Ryder groaned between them, but neither woman cared.
"Can you handle one more question?" Honeymaren asked, wearing a smile large enough to block out the sun.
Elsa's jaw wavered, and she gave, what appeared to be, a baffled nod.
Nudging Ryder, Honeymaren flashed him a grin. "Go ahead, Ry," she prompted.
Both she and Elsa turned to watch him struggle to open the pocket on his button down. His little legs kicked and squirmed over Elsa's hip, and she held him even tighter.
Ryder's fingers slipped inside his pocket and he retracted a diamond ring.
"Will you marry my first momma?" he asked, his head tilting to the side.
And Elsa nearly lost it at the sight.
She was nodding, and her happy tears flowed harder.
Cheers,
M.
Upcoming work...
Milk and Mountain Sorrel
-M. Lauren
PROLOGUE
There were two things of which Maren was absolutely certain-
The first being, she hated Elsa Arend. Maren hated her more than anyone else on the planet, and hate was quite the strong word for an eleven year old. From her posh clothing to her proper way of speaking; Elsa Arend was the worst kind of person to exist. How dare her family allow Elsa into their home! It made no sense to Maren why her older brother, Finn, would want to spend all of his time crushing on a girl who was so high-maintenance.
Girls were gross, but then again… so were boys. Really, it was people whom Maren had a problem with.
The second thing she knew for sure was that she loved her older brother. Finnley Tor Nattura. He was the best brother a sister could have, and way better than the one Maren had shared the womb with.
Finn was smart and funny, and he always let Maren tag along, even when she was being her annoying self. He helped her with her homework, he never complained that she was in the way, and he let her assist with the repairs on his truck.
Maren guessed that's why Finn was her favorite person on the planet. If she grew to be half as cool as him, Maren thought she'd be doing all right.
Finn's only flaw... was his taste in girls. That's right. Her older brother's crush on Elsa Arend was terribly disturbing. Watching him fawn over her; the visual set Maren's teeth on edge. She was supposed to be Finn's Number One Girl! That's what he'd always told her, at least.
When Elsa Arend arrived in the rural mountain town of Northuldra, two weeks prior, Maren assumed they'd fall right back into their old ways. Elsa's mother, Iduna Arend- she'd grown up here. Iduna and her own mother, Astri, had been best friends since birth. Both Elsa and her sister Anna were sent to spend their summers in Northuldra as an escape from Arendelle City. This was their home away from home now, and always had been.
As kids, Maren and Elsa used to play well into the night, exploring the forest and finding the tallest trees to climb. She'd been looking forward to her visit up until the very minute Elsa had stepped onto their front porch.
It was her! Maren was certain of it. The bright blue eyes and very fair skin- it was definitely Elsa Arend. But there was something so different about her as well...
Elsa no longer wore her hair down. She pinned it back into a stiff bun, and dressed in fancy lace skirts. And there was no way she planned to run around the forest in her shiny black shoes. Climbing trees? Never going to happen with those painted nails! Gosh, who was this teenage girl?
Anna, however, she looked the same as she always did. In dirty sneakers and her casual shorts, yes... Anna would play with her.
But losing Elsa as a friend hurt worse than Maren expected. She loathed the changes one school year had brought to her, but Finn… Well, he loved them. Her brother had spent their entire visit so far trying to impress Elsa Arend. He held the door for her. They took long, boring walks.
And one night, Maren had even caught the two sneaking out of bed to talk by the fire.
It was awful...
Not only had Elsa changed and promptly shoved Maren aside, but she was stealing Maren's best friend away, too.
That's why Maren hated her... (To be continued)
See you soon,
M.