151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call
151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call
Elara laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to brighten the winter landscape around them. “Well, that’s very kind of him.”
“Uncle Beck talks about you lots,” Shanice added helpfully, making Beck wince.
Beck ended the call abruptly, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He turned to find Elara staring straight ahead, her face carefully composed once again.
“Beck! Where are you, man? I’ve been trying to reach you all day,” Lucas’s enthusiastic voice boomed through the speaker.
As evening approached, Beck set up the portable grill outside their cabin while Elara
indoors. helped Shanice warm up
Together, they began pushing snow, forming it into an increasingly large sphere. Beck joined in, helping them navigate the heavy ball across the clearing. He couldn’t help noticing how relaxed Elara seemed here, away from the city and all its reminders of her complicated life.
“The food’s ready,” she said, her voice unnaturally steady.
“From what I’ve seen today? Someone who laughs easily, builds impressive snowmen, and makes my niece feel like she’s the most important person in the world.”
“Does he now?” Elara glanced at Beck with amusement.
A shadow passed over Elara’s face, so brief he might have imagined it. “Yes” he replied softly. “When she was younger.”
Shanice tugged on Elara’s sleeve. “Who’s Cora?”
Just before the camera clicked, Shanice threw a handful of snow into the air, creating a shower of white flakes around them. The resulting photo showed all three of them laughing, surrounded by falling snow.
“Lucas, now’s not a good time,” Beck said firmly, his voice dropping.
“Go ahead and answer,” Elara said. “I’ll check on the food.”
“Perfect timing,” Beck said, accepting one gratefully. “The food will be ready in about
151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call
fifteen minutes.”
“Is that something you used to do with Cora?” Beck asked, walking over to join them.
“Stand next to him, Ms. Elara!” Shanice directed. “Uncle Beck can take our picture!”
“I can take it,” Elara offered, reaching for the phone.
“Look, Uncle Beck!” Shanice called. “Ms. Elara knows how to make snow hair!”
Beck tensed, already anticipating where this was heading. “It’s just a small place, nothing special.”
Shanice rushed over to Elara, pine cones clutched carefully in her mittened hands. Beck watched as Elara bent down to accept the offering, her face lighting up with a smile that reached her eyes.
Elara’s expression brightened immediately. “Yes, we’re expanding our AI integration services. My father’s company is partnering with us for the initial phase.”
“Hot chocolate is ready!” Elara called from the doorway, holding two steaming mugs.
“And who am I outside of my problems?” Elara asked, her voice soft.
“Actually-” Beck started.
But the easy atmosphere from earlier had vanished, replaced by the very tension Beck had hoped this weekend would help her escape.
“Sorry,” he muttered, checking the screen. “It’s Lucas Sterling.”
They worked together for nearly an hour, crafting a surprisingly impressiv snow figure complete with stick arms and a scarf Beck had brought along.
Elara was carefully placing thin icicles on top of the snowman’s head, creating a glittering crown.
“Wait, Beck-”
Beck nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. “Sometimes we need to step away from our lives to remember who we are outside of our problems.”
“Is she here too?” Shanice looked around, curious.
“Should we build a bigger snowman now?” Shanice asked, already abandoning their
151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call
small creation. “One as big as Uncle Beck?”
“My family used to vacation in Colorado during winter breaks,” Elara explained, brushing snow from her gloves. “I spent most of my childhood winters building snowmen and having snowball fights with my cousins.
“No, we’ll all be in it,” Beck said, setting up his phone on a nearby tree stump and activating the timer. He rushed to join them, standing beside Elara as the countdown began.
Beck nodded gratefully and accepted the call. “Lucas, hey.”
“Thank you, Shanice. These are beautiful,” Elara said. “What should we do with them?”
“Camping? In this weather? You’re insane,” Lucas laughed. “But that actually sounds amazing. I need to get out of the city myself.”
“What? Why not? Don’t tell me you’ve got company,” Lucas teased. “Some secret weekend getaway I’m interrupting?”
“Dad says you’re really smart about computers,” Shanice announced, patting more snow onto their creation.
“Now one with you in it, Uncle Beck!” Shanice insisted.
“That’s a great idea,” Elara agreed. “I think we need to roll a really big snowball for the
base.”
Beck felt a flush that had nothing to do with the cold. “I may have mentioned your accomplishments once or twice.”
Elara looked down at her mug, clearly touched by his words. Before she could respond, Beck’s phone rang loudly.
“It’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Let’s not let it ruin our evening.”
Beck recognized the careful neutrality in her tone. It was the same voice she used whenever Damien Thorne or Vivienne Dubois came up in conversation–measured, controlled, giving nothing away.
“We could decorate our snowman!” Shanice suggested, pointing to the small lump of snow they had started shaping together.
151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call
“She’s my daughter,” Elara explained, adjusting one of the pine cone eyes. “She’s a bit older than you.”
Beck observed from a distance as Elara knelt beside Shanice in the snow, helping her press the pine cones into what was becoming the snowman’s face. The sight stirred something in him. It had been a snap decision to invite Elara along on this trip, but seeing how quickly she had connected with Shanice, he knew it had been the right
call.
“Snow fight!” Shanice yelled, throwing a handful of powdery snow that mostly dissolved before reaching either adult.
“Maybe I’ll drag Damien along too,” Lucas continued. “God knows that man needs to relax. He’s been impossible since Elara left, though he’d never admit it.”
Beck’s eyes darted to Elara, who was flipping the burgers on the grill but clearly still within earshot.
“Maybe later,” Beck laughed, ruffling his niece’s hair. “Let’s finish Mr. Snowman first.”
“Listen, I’ve got to go. We’ll catch up next week,” Beck said hurriedly.
“This was a wonderful idea,” Elara admitted, leaning against the railing of the small porch. “I haven’t felt this… unburdened in months.”
Beck pulled out his phone as Elara and Shanice posed beside their creation. Elara’s cheeks were flushed from the cold, her eyes bright with enjoyment. He snapped several photos, capturing her genuine smile–something he rarely saw in the city. “Text me the location,” Lucas continued, ignoring Beck’s lukewarm respo” e. “I think I’ll join you guys tomorrow. Damien’s been driving me crazy with work all week, and I could use a break.”
“I’ve heard YodaVision is launching a new project soon,” Beck said, changing the subject. “Julian mentioned something about it at the club last week.”
Beck saw Elara freeze at the mention of Damien’s name, her back stiffening.
“No, not today,” Elara said. “She’s spending time with her father and grandmother.”
“Dad, can I give Ms. Elara these?” Shanice held up a small bundle of pinecones she had collected.
<
151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call
“I’m camping with Shanice,” Beck explained, turning slightly away from Elara. “Just a quick overnight trip.”
“You’re quite the natural at winter activities,” Beck commented as they worked.
Beck looked over at Elara standing a few yards away, her breath creating small clouds in the crisp winter air. “I’m sure she’d love that, sweetheart.”
“Elara…”
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