Cherish sucked her cheeks in at Simon’s answer as all eyes fell onto them. Her brown eyes widened before she lightly kicked him in the shin and cleared her throat.
Although his answer wasn’t the whole truth, the most memorable moment for him was the hot tub. That and New Year’s, but he didn’t want anyone else to know those details.
Immediately, Simon Sr. perked up along with Jack who chuckled, “I’m not surprised.” He commented.
Jack didn’t make the situation better and so Cherish clasped her hands together, “Playing in the snow with the babies was amazing. Especially how shocked Jr. got when he ate the snow.” She answered.
Miriam smiled to herself and nodded as though to agree, “Yes, that was an adorable memory, wasn’t it?” she asked.
Continuing their discussion through dinner, the group knew they had to wake up and leave early in the morning. This prompted them all to say their goodnights and head to bed prematurely. Unfortunately for Simon, his answer backfired. The cogs in Margaret’s head already began to turn. Mistletoe? So, her plan had worked and now, she was on to phase two. She couldn’t help but watch how they both interacted with each other for the rest of dinner as she pieced together what was to come next.
Once he’d showered up for the night, Simon took a risk and knocked on Cherish’s door. Drying off her face, she was dressed in a t-shirt and underwear. He hadn’t gone to her room in a couple of days and felt a flit in her stomach as he opened the door, “May I stay?” he asked.
She knew, by now, that he wanted to sleep next to her again because, with her, is when he slept best. Smiling to herself warmly, she looked at him through her hair and nodded, “Of course you can.” She answered as he shut the door.
Within moments they were laying side by side with him curled up against her as usual. Exhausted, Simon was asleep before he could say goodnight. Cherish repeated each memory in her head that led up to them in that moment. She’d experienced so many firsts with the family that, she couldn’t think of a life before them.
Jasmine and Jr. were growing to be both respectively beautiful and handsome. Neither wasn’t lacking in the love of a parent they’d lost because Simon took on the role of father and she a mother. Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years were all wonderful and amazing experiences. To be honest, she didn’t want the good times to end. She wanted time to freeze so she could stay there, in that moment, in the arms of the most important man in her life; forever.
Unable to sleep, she noticed small, white flakes falling outside of the moonlit window. She pushed Simon’s arm away from her body and crossed the bedroom. She wanted to see the view one last time before it’d be no more.
Waking up in the middle of the night, Simon furrowed his brow and reached around the empty space in front of him. Patting his hands against the mattress, he sat up and rubbed his face with a groan, “Cherish?” he asked in a husky voice. Seeing that the bathroom light was off, he got out of bed and sleepily pushed his glasses onto his face before he went to look for her.
Downstairs, she leaned against the back of the small sofa with her arms crossed. Her eyes swept over the vast expanse of the white washed mountains and sighed to herself. Everything was so beautiful and complicated all at the same time. Lost in thought, she hadn’t realized Simon had found her; staring out of her favorite spot in the entire house.
He wandered across the room where he saw the puff silhouette of her hair illuminated by moonlight. Approaching closer, he was concerned for a moment because she was sitting in the dark alone. His gruff voice cut through the silence and echoed behind her, “Are you okay? It’s late.”
Startled, Cherish’s head snapped in his direction only to visibly relax a second later. She nodded before turning her body to face him and tugging on the end of a curl, “I’m fine. I just couldn’t fall asleep. I wanted to see the view one last time before we go and die in a fiery ball of hell.” She answered.
Walking around the couch, he groaned and leaned his head back once he sat on the cushion. Looking out the window and watching the view, he sighed and rolled his gaze to her.
Staring at his face, she leaned over without thinking and rubbed a palm along his head and the side of his face, “What are you doing up? You’re driving us in the morning. You should get your sleep.” She whispered.
His eyes were half lidded as a goofy smile appeared on his features beneath her caress. He rubbed his eyes of sleep before he cleared his throat, “Mm, I was asleep until I found someone important was missing. I came looking and…ta-da.” He said while motioning at her. He had no reason to be up and they both knew it. Waving her closer, he held out his arms, “Indulge me for a bit.” He whispered as he made space for her.
The end of Cherish’s tongue flicked along her lips. Going against her better judgement, she wanted to be held by him and it’d seemed like the only time they’d get without the parents, babies, or during sleep. Scooting closer, she pressed her torso against his side and rested her head on his chest. Enveloped in the warmth of his embrace, her bare legs tucked beneath her body and against the cushions.
Simon sighed against her
