#ac 14

Amy has already moved on. She’s running along the pavement then darting onto the road, spinning and skidding onto the ice. Her arms are raised above her head and she’s laughing her big laugh. Simon hears the sound bubbling in her chest. Every time falls she laughs even harder, throwing her head back, all teeth. The snow is soaking into the bottom of her dress and through her coat but in this moment, she’s protected from the cold by her own happiness. She gets straight back up every time and does it again, faster and faster, with more elaborate spins and twirls.

They’re waiting for Kieren to arrive. Snow has started to fall again and Simon is more irritable than ever. He’s never really liked the snow. It just makes it harder to get anywhere.

“There he is!” Amy almost screams as she rushes up the street and slides straight into Kieren. They both tumble but after a moment of stunned silence they’re both laughing. Amy is up on her feet and dragging Kieren up with her. She links their arms together and drags him back down towards Simon and the bungalow.

Simon can’t help but to smile at the way Kieren’s impossibly long eyelashes catch the snow. Kieren smiles back, watching as each little snow flake that falls onto Simon’s dark hair sits for a moment, then melts away, as if it were never even there.

“What’s happening guys?” Kieren asks as Amy rushes off again, coming to a stop in front of some untouched snow. She scoops it up into her arms and turns to face them again, grinning ear to ear, “We’re having a snow ball fight!”

Before either of them can even register what’s happening, Amy is on them. She flings the pile of snow at them, and they watch as it goes in every which direction. It barely makes it to their feet but Amy is undeterred, and scoops up a few handfuls more to throw at them again.

They move out of the way this time, although Kieren feels a snowball hit him straight in the centre of his back. He grabs some snow as he runs, then turns around and throws it, hitting Amy on the shoulder. It bursts as it hits her, and errant droplets splatter on her cheek. She wipes it off with cold-numbed fingers and chases after him. Simon watches them from the side lines, happy, for once in his life, to be forgotten. The whole street is filled with Amy’s laughter.

Simon watches Kieren intently. Notices the way all his laughs are quiet, and end in a smile. The boy is absolutely awful at snowball fights. He’s all gangly limbs. It becomes apparent that Kieren can’t aim to save his life, and that his long gazelle legs only seek to slip out from underneath him. He’s soaked and starting to shiver but still he’s smiling his rare smile and Simon can feel his heart constricting in his chest. And that’s when the snowball hits him in the face.

He’s yet to regain temperature feeling yet, but he certainly feels the impact of the compacted snow as it makes contact with his cheek. He brushes it off hurriedly, replacing it with his trademark frown. He’s about to complain, when something stops him. It’s the sound of Kieren laughing. It’s a big laugh, loud like Amy’s though at a lower pitch. Amy herself is celebrating. Running in circles in the road and whooping like there’s no tomorrow.

Simon heaves out a sigh and almost contemplates joining in, but he doesn’t. It’s enough for the others that he has finally stopped frowning. (Amy will tell the story for Christmases to come; it is a true Christmas miracle.)

They head indoors not long after this. Amy and Kieren are still shaking, but from the cold rather than their laughter. They take off their wet jackets and all bundle up on the sofa in a bunch of blankets. Amy tugs on an alarmingly festive jumper, noting that for once, Simon isn’t the one with the most obnoxious knitwear. She jingles the bells on hers for emphasis.

Simon is sent to the kitchen to make hot chocolate for everyone. When he comes back into the room, mugs in hand, he notices Amy and Kieren curled up on the sofa. Amy’s head is on Kieren’s shoulder. They look happy, and comfortable. Simon again feels a pang in his chest, and almost drops the hot chocolate. For all the things he’s lost, he’s gained so much more - his new family.

They’re watching some old animated film, about Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. It’s something that he’s certain he used to watch with his mother, when he was young. He hands them the mugs, and they smile at him. Nobody says anything. They simply settle back down into their positions on the sofa. Simon joins them, hesitantly at first, but then moves in close to Kieren. Kieren’s spare hand finds his and they smile at each other. No words necessary.

Amy watches them, out of the corner of her eye and smiles to herself, a small, peaceful smile. Then she’s back to her brash self again.