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I’ve got the hot chocolate on

“The church is having a New Year’s Eve party.” Charles said.

“That sounds like fun. Can we go to that, Veronica?”

“I don’t know. I like hanging out at the house and popping popcorn and watching movies in my jammies.”

“Those fuzzy ones with the feet and the flap in the back so you can go potty?”

“They don’t make them in my size.”

“Says you.” Bryce held up his phone. He had a website pulled up with grown-up footie pajamas in men’s sizes.

Charles laughed aloud. “The party is going to have all that but I think jammies are going to be frowned on.”

“We’re going.” Marella said. “I think you should come along, Ronni. It’s going to be fun.”

“I don’t know. I guess.” She said in answer to the begging expression on Bryce’s face.

“We’ll have a great time.” Charles said. “What better way to ring in 2020 than with our family all together?”

“Can’t argue with that.” Bryce said. “Besides, these pajamas won’t be delivered until at least the Third.”

“I have pajamas already, Bryce.”

“I think we need to judge them. Who wants to judge Veronica’s comfy jammies?” Bryce raised his hand. So did her parents.

“Not a chance.”

“You’ve been outvoted. Run along with your supermodel self.”

She put her fists on her hips and stuck her tongue out at him. “I’ll show you comfy.”

“What were you two really doing last night?” Charles asked.

“Charles!”

“Oh, she was trying to get this away from me.” He pulled up her profile picture on his phone. “World War Three couldn’t get this away from me.”

They looked at the picture and began laughing.

“What is that for?” Marella asked.

“Well, when she calls, that picture will pop up so I know who’s calling.”

“And that’s the picture you want to see?” Charles laughed.

“She already makes me smile, but that picture is absolutely priceless.”

Veronica returned wearing snow pants and a parka. “What’s priceless?”

“You are, baby girl.” Charles said, dabbing the tears from the corners of his eyes. “Your snow boots are in the coat closet.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“Going somewhere?” Bryce asked.

“You were admiring the snow so much, I figured I’d give you a crash course.”

“Well, you’ve got a definite advantage. I don’t have any snow gear.” Bryce said, tucking his phone away.

“Problem solved, dear one. You can wear my stuff from junior high.”

“You have got to be kidding.”

“You’re about the right size. They might be kind of tight. Mommy, can you get those out for him?”

“Ronni, you’ve got to be joking.”

“Not at all. Mr. Wescott is going to get a lesson in upstate snow and he’s going to get it now.” She said sternly as she zipped and buckled her snow boots. “I’m going to get started making snowballs. You get yourself dressed.”

She was frolicking in the waist-deep snow as she waited for Bryce to come outside. She put the finishing touches on an array of snowballs when she heard the storm door bang shut. She turned to find him standing on the back porch.

As ordered, he was wearing her junior snow gear. As expected, it just about fit him. The radiant pink snow pants ended just above the shiny pink galoshes exposing almost an inch of bright yellow long johns at the knee. The parka was rubber ducky yellow with sky blue faux fur. The hot pink mittens completed the outfit perfectly. “Happy?”

“Very!” She said as she lobbed a snowball right at his face.

“Bob and weave!” He yelled as he dove into the snow as if it were a swimming pool.

She laughed so hard she began snorking as he disappeared into the snow. “Marco!”

He popped up and yelled, “Polo.” A snowball exploded off of his bright yellow shoulder.

“Marco!”

“Hey, take it easy. This coat is really tight.” A snowball pelted his hood and he dove down into the snow.

“Marco!” She waited with a snowball in hand. “Marco!” She looked around the yard. “Bryce?”

He popped up behind her and beaned her with a snowball. “Polo!”

She laughed so hard, she fell to her knees and began snorking.

“What’s so funny?” He asked.

“You…” She laughed. “You were tunneling around like a mole man!” She keeled over and made awkward snow angels as she rolled around laughing at him.

“Okay, Miss Wiseacre. Show me some more snow tricks. What else have you got for me?”

They spent hours outside messing around in the snow.

“Come in, you two.” Marella called out the door. “I’ve got the hot chocolate on.”

They headed in and took off their snow gear. The sight of Bryce in her neon yellow long underwear started her laughing again. Charles and Marella just shook their heads and smiled.

“I did the wash while you two were out there. Bryce, you go change into something less ridiculous. Are your knees alright?”

“A couple extra minutes in the shower will take care of that. No problems.” He headed upstairs.

“He’s a really good sport.” Charles said.

“And such a nice young man.” Marella said.

“I know. I didn’t appreciate it until he offered to come home with me.”

“He offered to come with you?”

“Daddy, he was worried about me. He wanted to make sure I got safely out of the city. Here, I’ll show you the texts.” She squinted at the icon next to his name. “What’s this?” She opened his contact entry to get a better look at the picture. It was him. It was him standing in her kitchen in that preposterous snow outfit. She started laughing.

“What did he do?” Marella asked.

Veronica kept laughing as she handed her mother the phone.

“He’s a keeper.” Charles said with a smile.