Chapter 5: Roses in the Snow

Clinton came down the walk with the roses held out in front of him.

I got out of the truck and stood where I was.

Stian stayed behind the wheel with the engine running, and Ellie appeared in the doorway with a dish towel over her shoulder.

"Dawn," Clinton said. "Please. Five minutes."

"You can have them here."

He glanced at the street, the neighbor's shoveled walk and the two people watching him.

"Out here? In front of everyone?"

"You drove three hours to have it on a porch. This is the porch."

He lowered the roses.

His eyes were red, and his sweater had a coffee stain on the cuff.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I handled it badly. I should have fought for you with her. I know that."

"Fought who?"

"My mother."

"Then it's true," I said. "She asked you to leave me out."

"She's under a lot of pressure. Dad's knee, Kendra's wedding. She wants things calm."

"I asked a simple question. Did your mother say she didn't want me there?"

He did not answer for a moment, and I watched him decide.

"Yes," he said. "She did."

Ellie made a small sound in the doorway.

I took out my phone.

"What are you doing?" Clinton asked.

"Calling her."

"Dawn, don't."

I pressed Marjorie's name and the speaker button, and the phone rang twice in the cold air.

"Dawn, sweetheart!"

Marjorie's voice came over the porch, bright and warm, with a clatter of dishes behind it.

"Are you all right? Kendra said you'd gone off somewhere and I've been so worried."

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