Christmas in Pine Island: A small town holiday romance

know?” Morgan whispers as she sidles behind me, arms looping around my waist, her cheek resting against my back.
I lay my hands over hers, rubbing some warmth into them. “Good at what? Picking on little rugrats?” I shoot a playful look over my shoulder at her, but my fiancée’s beautiful eyes are filled with warmth.
She shakes her head. The corners of her mouth twitch upward faintly. “No, at being fatherly. It’s a good look on you.”
I'm not a dude who gets embarrassed easily, but something about the way Morgan made that comment makes my cheeks start to flush. Thankfully, before anyone can notice, the front door of the lodge swings open yet again.
“Co-Co!” a tall brunette cries as she enters the lobby.
Co-Co’s head whips around and she shrieks. “Go-Go!”
We all turn to watch three people enter the lodge. I recognize them instantly from the family photographs.
A thin, well-dressed woman who looks like Co-Co’s taller clone shakes snow from her chocolate brown hair while the green-eyed man at her side helps a little girl remove her thick, puffy jacket. The little girl shyly turns away when she sees all of us watching, burying her head in her father’s side.
Co-Co hurries past us to throw her arms around the woman who can only be her sister. The two girls hug tight before Co-Co turns to scoop the little girl into her arms.
“I’m so glad you guys made it!” Co-Co says, eagerly. “I didn’t think you were coming so early.”
“I wanted to give us plenty of time in case the roads were bad,” says the man who looks strikingly similar to Ethan.
“Well thank goodness you did,” Co-Co exclaims. “I don’t think I’ve stopped to take a breath yet.”
The new guests look around the crowded lobby as if just noticing us for the first time. The man frowns. “I thought you said you weren’t busy?”
Ethan, who’s just joined the group shrugs. “Babe, why don’t you introduce our family to our guests who will be joining us for Christmas?”
“Oh! Right!” Co-Co says, hustling her family across the lobby to the bar. Morgan and I walk over to join them to be polite. “Everyone, this is my sister, Margot, but you can call her Go-Go. That’s her husband, Owen, also known as Ethan’s big brother. And of course, this is the most amazing little girl in the world,” Co-Co says, bouncing the cutie she’s still holding, “Ava!”
Ava squeals with laughter, drawing Ryan’s attention across the lobby. He comes jogging over with Darcy hot on his heels. The little dog hops up onto her hind legs and begs for some attention, which she readily receives from Margot and Owen while Ethan continues introductions.
“Go-Go, Owen, meet, Eric, Morgan, Donovan, Chloe, Stacy, Jake and Ryan.”
Margot’s mouth drops open. “Holy crap! You’re Eric King and Morgan May! And babe,” she turns to Owen, “isn’t that the football player you have a man crush on?”
Owen’s face flushes scarlet and I can’t help but laugh. “It’s okay,” I say. “I had a man crush on him when we first met, too. That is until he killed my fantasy football dreams!” I tease.
Jake shrugs. “That’s what you get for not drafting me.”
“I cannot believe you guys are here staying with us!” Margot gushes. “Why did no one tell me this?”
“Because we’re discreet about our guests’ privacy,” Ethan warns.
“I can be discreet,” Margot pouts. The sassy brunette turns back to me and Morgan. “I mean, you’re totally my favorite celebrity couple, but I’m thrilled to share the lodge with you this Christmas.”
“Good,” I chuckle. “We’re just looking for a nice holiday getaway.”
“Then you’ve come to the perfect place!” Margot says, bouncing up on her toes. “No one here will bother you a bit. Our family has been celebrating quiet Christmases here forever. Though I have to warn you, we do get a bit cheesy and break out old home movies if we have too much eggnog.”
“My family used to do that, too!” Stacy exclaims.
I can already see those two are going to be fast friends.
“Don’t encourage her,” Owen playfully teases his wife.
Margot waves him away, eyes gleaming. “I bet we still have some old ones lying around.”
“You dust off the VCR and I’ll bring the wine!” Morgan adds.
My eyes drift from the women, who are now in deep conversation about embarrassing holiday traditions. I’m watching Ryan, who’s watching Ava. He’s hesitantly making his way closer, his eyes locked on the little girl. It’s clear he’s enthused about having another little kid his age around to play with.
“Hi!” Ryan says, shyly. He scuffs one of his boots against the ground and then sticks out his hand toward Ava just like he’s seen Jake do when meeting someone new. “I'm Ryan. Want to play?”
Ava appraises his outstretched hand for a moment before giggling and shaking it. “I'm Ava. I'm six!” she announces proudly before holding up six tiny fingers.
Darcy yaps as if adding her own input, her tail wagging feverishly back and forth. She’s loving having these kids around to play with.
Soon enough, the two kids are rubbing the dog’s belly and giggling excitedly about Santa visiting soon and what presents he might bring.
The rest of us make ourselves comfortable in the bar where I get some apple cider to warm my belly. I sink into a deep leather chair that wraps around me like a hug as I savor the festive beverage. It’s a flawless blend of apples and spices. It’s pretty damn near perfect if you ask me, even without the bourbon everyone else has spiked theirs with.
“It’s so great that Ryan’s here,” Co-Co says to Stacy and Jake. “I always feel like poor Ava is bored listening to us adults reminisce during the holidays.”
“Yes,” Margot chimes in. “I’m so happy she has someone to play with. It reminds me of when we were little, Co-Co. Remember how much we loved making cookies together?”
“Omigod! Yes! We should totally do that. Maybe this afternoon?” She looks at the group. “Would anyone like to join?”
“I think