Once Upon a Snowball Fight

CHARLOTTE

As we stood on the front porch, I leaned into Jackson’s embrace, feeling the warmth and security. In the short time at his parents’ house, we had shared countless jokes.

Now, the intense gaze he fixed upon me revealed his feelings—the same ones I had for him, or at least I hoped.

“I’d like to see you again.” I licked my lips this time, and Jackson noticed.

He ran his thumb along my cheek and kissed my lips softly. “I’d like that very much.”

He covered my mouth once more and deepened the kiss. Our tongues dove and clashed against each other. After what seemed like minutes of kissing, we broke apart, both of us gasping for extra air.

“So was that kiss worthy enough to get me to second base?” He smirked. The cheeky bastard made me smile.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. “Jackson, thank you for everything.”

He placed a soft kiss once more on my lips. “Anytime, gorgeous.”

“Oh, and Jackson. Yes, it was worthy.” I closed the door on him with a smile on my face.

Jackson walked back across the street singing, which made my heart fill with happiness. But that was short-lived when I heard Mom and Dad arguing in the kitchen. She went on and on about me turning up with my boyfriend, whom they had never met before.

She didn’t like the way Jackson spoke to her. “Just stop, Patricia. If Charlotte is happy, that is all that matters.” Dad let out a frustrated sigh.

“How can you say that, Tom? That man is no good for her. I can see it right away.”

“You mean you didn’t see a flashy car arriving with some big businessman stuck to her arm?” Dad hit the nail on the head.

“Well, she works in that big corporation, and what is she in there? A secretary for Mr. Simpson.” Mom half screeched out.

“She’s not a secretary; she is his personal assistant, and she works hard.” Dad fought back. I loved him for that.

“Where is she, anyway? I told her to be back.” Mom became agitated, and I thought about creeping upstairs.

“Just let her have some time, Patricia. You are always on her case. Why do you think she never enjoys coming home?”

“She is just so ungrateful sometimes.”

Dad huffed at Mom; no matter what he said, she had it set in her mind. I heard Dad escape into his little study. He had been the town’s lawyer for so many years and, now retired, he missed getting out and meeting people.

“You are late.” The voice made me jump even though I was a grown woman. Mother always knew how to scare me.

“I was just saying goodnight to Jackson.”

I watched Mom’s eyes widen. She realized who he was. “What in God’s name were you doing with him? We have banned him from entering this house. Do you not recall how they treated us, how they treated you specifically?”

“That was years ago, and you were the ones who invited him in, made him a cup of tea, belittled his family in front of him. He was sweet and kind; he gave me a lift back because the piece of shit car I had broke down. Jackson and his family have been nothing but nice to me.” I raised my voice to her for the first time.

The shock on Mom’s face said it all, then I received a sharp sting to my cheek. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again, do you hear me?”

I turned and ran up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest as I slammed her door shut. I kicked off my boots and slipped into bed, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth.

My anger toward my mother for her treatment of me only matched the loathing I felt for this place. The only reason I came back was for Dad and also to escape the broken relationship I had with Scott. With it being Christmas, I had nowhere else to go.

I hadn’t had any messages or even a phone call from Scott yet. When I thought about it, Scott and my mother were so alike in some ways. The material things mattered more to them than the people they loved.

Only when people were about did I look like I was getting all the love and attention a child would crave; the same with Scott. Behind closed doors was completely different. Mom was cold toward me.

Even Dad never stood up to her, and I could never understand why he didn’t just leave. Lying in bed, I cried. My stomach grumbled, and I was tired, but I didn’t dare go downstairs now.

So I lay there thinking about Jackson and the moments we had shared. When I first saw him, he took my breath away. I didn’t want to admit to myself that right away he did things to me that Scott never did.

Scott was your typical young businessman trying to climb the ladders of the company he worked for. I had never even thought about falling for anyone in the company, but Scott kept asking me out until I gave in and said yes.

Our relationship was one of work and some comprised a little of love, enough that made me agree to move in with him. I worked hard as Mr. Simpson’s personal assistant and loved the job. I was his lifeline most of the time, so getting the time off was hard.

Mr. Simpson knew I was dating Scott; personally, he didn’t think Scott was good enough for me. Mr. Simpson had a loving and very understanding wife who had suggested letting me have some time off.

Reluctantly, he agreed, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for me, as after Scott had proposed. All I wanted to do was get away. I had packed up the car with the few items I had and took off.

Now I was dreaming about Jackson and some of the childhood memories we shared. He was a pain in the ass to me, but he was cute enough to get away with it most of the time. Now he was drop-dead gorgeous, funny, loving, sweet, and thoughtful.

Holy crap, I was already in love with Jackson Forbes.