Chapter 490 Playing in the Snow
Esme grinned at Sawyer.
Rachel squatted down, affectionately patting his head. "You're Sawyer, right? Good boy. How about we hit the snow after breakfast, huh?"
"I can only play after I finish my homework," Sawyer declared firmly.
"You got it," Rachel confirmed, meeting his resolve with a high-five.
She rose to her feet, scanning the room. "Mom, where's Nicholas?"
"He's out there crafting a snowman for you," Esme responded.
In that moment, Rachel pivoted and spotted Nicholas by the door, beaming. Excited, she dashed over and peeked through the doorway, catching sight of the snowman in the yard.
Nicholas had procured a carrot, affixing it atop the snowman's head, creating a resemblance to Olaf from "Frozen." The figure was petite and adorable.
Anticipation bubbling, Rachel nudged the door open, eager to rush out. Nicholas intervened, snagging her wrist. "It's chilly. Layer up."
Observing Esme setting out breakfast, he suggested, "Hold on. No rush, let's eat first."
"Yeah, let's fuel up first before we hit the fun stuff. Can't have you fainting on us," Esme chimed in with a playful tone.
Rachel devoured her breakfast, her excitement palpable for the snowy adventure awaiting her.
Caught up in his studies, Sawyer seemed tempted to join the outdoor frolics soon after. Noticing the kid's longing look, Rachel inquired after finishing her meal, "Sawyer, ready to dive into the snow now?"
Sawyer raised his gaze, pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "You and Uncle Nicholas go ahead. I'll join you after I finish. I'm almost done."
Rachel chuckled at Sawyer's 'Uncle' designation for Nicholas, causing a brief scowl to flicker across Nicholas's face.
Slipping on her coat, Rachel tugged Nicholas outside, where the diminutive snowman in the yard stood intact, its stick arms waving.
With her phone in hand, Rachel snapped shots of the scene, then prompted Nicholas to capture a few shots of them together.
Seizing a moment when Nicholas was distracted, Rachel leaped onto his back. Nicholas swiftly secured her legs, ensuring her safety, as she gleefully squealed, prompting a smile from him.
They twirled around the yard like carefree children. Rachel playfully needled him, whispering into his ear, "Can't you handle carrying me, 'Uncle Nicholas'? Feeling the burn?"
Her warm breath mingled with the cold air, fogging up Nicholas's ear, evoking a sudden intensity in his gaze. In a husky tone, he murmured, "You'll have to put my stamina to the test to find out."
Despite his serious tone, Rachel couldn't help but chuckle internally. Blushing, she attempted to dismount, but Nicholas twirled her around once more, eliciting a mix of thrill and fear from her.
After a series of spins, Nicholas gently returned her to the ground. Still reeling from the whirlwind, Rachel lightly tapped his chest. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."
Breath slightly labored, Nicholas leaned in close to her ear, his voice low, "Satisfied with my endurance?"
Rachel's face turned beet red.
Luckily, Esme called them inside to make the steak, and Rachel quickly ran in. Nicholas watched her with a smile and followed.
Seeing Rachel's flushed face, Esme asked, "Rachel, why is your face so red? Did you get cold? Keep your coat on."
Rachel hung up her jacket, covered her face with her hands, and said, "No, I'm fine."
She went to the bathroom to wash her face. Once the redness subsided, she came back out.
Suddenly, Sawyer looked up and asked, "Aunt Rachel, are you and Uncle Nicholas getting married?"
Rachel was taken aback and instinctively replied, "Sawyer, why Aunt now?"
Sawyer looked a bit embarrassed, then softly explained, "Mrs. Ximena said you and Uncle Nicholas are a couple. I can't call you just 'Rachel'."
"Alright," Rachel said cheerfully. If Sawyer kept calling her 'Rachel' and Nicholas 'uncle,' Nicholas would definitely frown again.
"So, are you getting married?" Sawyer asked, tilting his head.
Rachel's face turned red again. Before she could answer, Nicholas turned to Sawyer, smiled, and nodded. "Yes."
Rachel was stunned and turned to look at Nicholas, who was smiling brightly.
Bringing Nicholas home to meet Esme was indeed a step towards their future marriage.
Rachel looked at Nicholas, who was still focused on frying the steak, and smiled.
That night, she posted a story with a picture of the snowman they built, captioned, "This year's snow didn't miss me."
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