"There you go sweetheart." He said as I waddled with the scarf and carrot. He picked me up and swung me around, causing me to giggle. The snow tickled my small nose and I gave a sneeze. His laugh erupted from his chest and I loved how deep it was. "Now carefully place the carrot on Mr Snow. Yes, that's right and wrap the scarf around him so he doesn't catch a cold." I did as I was told and the carrot ended up looking funny which made me give a toothy laugh. Proud of myself I gave Mr Snow , the snowman a hug and took my father's hand. His was big against mine, which made me feel safe. My mother opened the door and laughed, "doesn't Mr Snow look good?" She said and gave me a kiss on my cheek. "I gave him a nose all by my self." I said and she gave me a hug. "I'm so proud of you, getting big. Would you like a muffin?" I nodded enthusiastically and I watched my mom, pretty brown hair and hazel eyes, hand me a warm chocolate chip muffin. I bit into the warmth smiling at the sugary taste on my young tongue.

I sat up abruptly, sweat running down my face. That dream always made an appearance this time of year. I checked my phone and sighed at the time. Twenty past four in the morning, might as well get up. The Cancun seafront was hot and I could see a trickle of orange in the distance, letting me know that the sun was on its way. The ocean's waves were calming to my beating heart and I pulled out some juice and drank it straight from the box. I needed a shower. I stepped under the running water, washing away all traces of the dream. I couldn't run from it, hadn't able to since he died. I washed my chocolate brown hair and climbed out, wrapping a towel around my torso. By tomorrow morning I'd be back home, for the first time in eleven years. I went back to my room, packing the remaining toiletries and pulled on some comfortable cotton undies and pulled up some jeans. Keystone's snowfall would of already started a few months back, it being somewhere in Colorado, which meant it would be freezing there. I pulled on a polar neck, memories of dressing for the cold came back to me and I shook my head.

My grandmother had passed on months ago but my grandfather hadn't been able to keep thier hotel up and running. It was what they'd worked so hard during thier lives for, it was all he had left of her. Grandpa Jackson called, asked me to come back to help him, telling me that he heard that I was good at running those kinds of businesses. I'd left there at the age of sixteen after getting an opportunity for studying abroad and learning the ins and outs of running a five-star hotels. It had hurt to leave, but it was my way of coping after my father's death when I was eight. My father had been my everything until one day, after Christmas, the cops came to our house and telling us that he'd had a terrible accident. He'd Instantly died. I bit my lip, shoving the emotions down as far as it would go. I wouldn't think of that, I was going to help grandpa and probably going to finally get some closure. I hadn't even been able to attend my mother's funeral five years ago after she'd had a heart attack. The rules of my studies abroad stated that during the assignments I wasn't allowed to skip at the time so I was forced to choose.
My hand began to sting and I realised I'd caught my hand in the zip of my boots and I cursed silently. I checked my wrist watch and decided that I had enough time to blow my hair before I go. I frowned at myself in the mirror, I was tanned and my pupils were dilated too much. I took a deep breath. It wasn't going to be so bad. I picked up my suitcases and boxes, making my way out of the hotel and down to my SUV. I got in and got myself ready for the drive. Fourty-six hours to Keystone and I put the car in reverse and began my long drive. I stopped for a coffee and something for breakfast and turned on the radio, drawing out the raw memories that started making its way into my train of thought.

My SUV plowed through the snow and I could see the familiar sign board in the distance which for some reason made me smile broadly. I heard a terrifying scratching sound before a loud pop which made me yell. I held the steering wheel tightly as the car came to a hard stop, forcing me to hit the hooter loudly. "Okay Olivia, you've got this." I mumbled and threw on my coat before stepping out into the cold snow it seemed so foreign to me now and I taken back to when I was a kid making snow angles. The trees around me were covered in snow like a winter wonderland. I waddled slightly, getting used to the layers of clothing and giggled for the first time in years before falling back into the thick snow I laughed and began making snow angels. Forgetting what I was actually supposed to be doing I sat up and took off my gloves, feeling the cold pieces of ice in my hands. Nothing felt better than home, I remembered why I'd hesitated so much before leaving. I felt like a little girl who'd gotten her Christmas present early, it was only a week until then but it felt so good to be home. I laid back onto the snow and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, a man was looking down at me with curious eyes. I got a fright and got up quickly. "Now that is not something you see every day." He said, his voice was deep and rough. He had on a dark brown coat with jeans and boots on. He eyed me as I stood up, blushing in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry it been a while." I mumbled and he chuckled. "No need to be sorry, you reminded me of someone I used to know that's all." He said and I noticed that he was built like a house, I could see it through the clothes, big and masculine. I laughed nervously before remembering why I'd come out in the first place. "Could you help me? I think I burst a tire, I'm not sure." He nodded and we went around to the front of the car where I could see pieces of the tire scattered. He went on his haunches and took a look at the tire before looking at me. "It's bad, your axel snapped because your car isn't built for the cold. I can give it tow to my shop. Though I can only take a look at it after new years." I bit my lip. "Is there no other way we can get it fixed faster?" I begged and he shook his head, standing up. "I am the only garage here. I'm sorry but you'll have to wait." He said and dusted off his hands on his legs. He went to his pick up truck and rode it closer to my SUV before getting out and beginning to hook up the vehicle. Funny. I thought. I never even heard him pull up. I shrugged and read the words on the side of his pick up. Noah's Pickup and Repair. I frowned, Noah. My heart suddenly began to speed up and I went around to where he was bent. "So the person who I reminded you of, is she your girlfriend?" I asked, curious. If this was the same Noah that I used to play with when I was eight, who stole my heart as a teen and who eventually took my virginity the last night I was here, I was going to be in trouble. "Yeah, you did." He said with a smile and I felt my own smile face slowly frown. It wasn't him.
"Can I give you a ride to where you need to be?" He asked with a charming smile that stole my heart all over again.

"Yeah. I need to get the Johnson's hotel." I said as we got into the pickup which roared to life and I smiled sadly. Noah probably moved on, left the town and met a nice girl who could be everything I couldn't and I didn't blame him. We turned onto the main road of Keystone and I watched the houses and small shops deep in the snow go by. Happy families walked by, enjoying the snow and Christmas lights which made me smile. I fell in love with Keystone all over again, the snowy mountains in the distance and the small community of people who desired nothing but to stay happy in thier small town. We pulled up to a familiar building, only now the paint was peeling and the plants had started coming the walls. "The old man's wife just died a few months ago. He hasn't been out much since. He's very nice though, heard his granddaughter is coming to town to help him out." He said before looking at me as though he was looking into my soul. He knew it was me, it was him. "Noah, it's so good to see you." I said and he leaned over wrapping a hug around me. "Olivia." He said, as though it strained him to say my name. "I've waited for you." He murmured softly, his hand was in my hair and looked at me. I smirked, "and your girlfriend?" He laughed, a full stomach laugh. "Nah, you know I was only joking." He said with a full grin. I felt it, the feeling of being home. Noah was my best friend and we'd grown up together and grown closer after my father's death. I looked into his dark eyes, there was so much that was left unsaid after that night and I felt that pull again, the urge to draw closer.

"We need to talk." He said and I nodded. "But not now, grandpa needs me." We got out of the truck and started grabbing my things from the SUV and I began walking up the old wooden steps of the hotel. I rang the doorbell and heard shuffling before grandpa Jackson opened the door. He smiled and we embraced in a hug, "So good to see you dear." He said and smiled at Noah behind me. "How are you boy?" He said and I could see grandma's death had taken a toll on him. "I'm good Mr Jackson." He said as they shook hands before he led us in. The place was coming apart and I was afraid it would come down on us. I turned to grandpa and gave him a smile. "This place is about to come apart gramps. Maybe we should find another hotel for the night?" I suggested and he scoffed. "I've been living in this place for years, if it's coming down then I'm going down with it." He said and I went to him, placing my suitcase carefully. "Yes, that was before I came here. You phoned me to help, now let me help. Now get some supplies together for a few nights." He mumbled incoherently and I watched him shuffle to his room in his reindeer sleeping pants and thick jersey that I knew grandma had made him. I turned to Noah and we went back to the car to drop my luggage back in there. "You guys could always stay with me? I renovated the place a few years back and it looks really good." He said and I looked at him, hesitating. "I don't want things to move too quickly. I've just gotten back and I need some time." I said and he nodded in understanding.

Once in the car, grandpa looked at me in the mirror and said, "If I'm not here then you could take me to the home in town. They don't charge the elderly and they have bingo tonight." He tapped his walking stick on the floor of the car. "I don't know gramps..." I started. "Olivia, you will not take bingo away from me." He was stern and I sighed, giving up. "Okay, but I'll visit you." I said and he didn't reply. The ride was quiet besides the two men talking about Noah's business and grampa talking about seeing Sarah Mcgreen with only a towel on. Who thought old people still thought about those things? It made me laugh hearing them talk. We checked grampa into a room and the people were very glad to see him still alive. We got into the truck and Noah started it up. "I can't let you be by yourself in a hotel Olivia." He said and I recognised the route we taking towards his house and I didn't complain because I knew he only was looking out for me. We stopped in front of his old house that was now painted light blue instead of the old mustard yellow it used to be and next door was my old house. I opened the door slowly, getting out and walking towards the picked fence. Noah came up to me, holding out some house keys. "You want to go inside?" He asked and I looked at him, frowning. "You own the old house?" I asked him. "I don't. I'm babysitting for the family who lives there now. I feed the hamster and parrot that they have" he said I felt my emotions crawl to the surface before shaking my head. "I'm not ready." He nodded and we walked back to the car to collect my things.

"Things haven't changed much since I was here." I said as we walked up the steps to his house. He turned the key and let me in. "People in this place don't change, which is why I chose to stay. It's simple and everything I need." He said and I took a look around. Just like he said, simple. His living area was plain with a single lounge suite and table. There was a TV and a Christmas tree decorated nicely witch a black rug underneath it all. His kitchen wasn't much different with white cupboards and black countertops with an island in the middle, household appliances stood on the counters which was spotless. "This way." He said and we climbed the steps, equally lifting the weight of my luggage. "The room at the end is mine and next door to it is going to be yours. Not that I'm trying anything on you, just that it has it's own bathroom and fire place for the cold." He opened the door for me and I saw the nude themed room which felt warm and I smiled. "It's perfect. Thank you for having me stay here." I said and placed the box on a work table across the bed. I looked at him as he put the rest of my things down and leaned on the doorframe. "We used to be best friends Olivia. It was never the same after you left and I admit it, I missed you." He said and I could hear the sadness in his voice. I went to him and wrapped my arms around him, carefully not getting too close. "I missed you too." I whispered and I felt myself melt when we wrapped his arms around me. My heart was beating too quickly, the attraction I'd felt when I was sixteen came rushing back to me like a boulder and I felt myself grow hot. As if he was feeling it too, we pulled away and he cleared his throat. "I'll see you in a bit, I'm just taking your sad excuse for a SUV down to the garage." He was smirking at me, taunting me and I laughed, slapping him on the arm before watching him jog down the stairs.