“You do now!” Frank waves him over to where he’s already ripping tags off their gear. “Come on, Carter boy. Let’s get you suited up.”

He practically jumps out of my arms in his excitement to go meet his pseudo uncle. Frank’s been around so long, he’s practically family. The kids adore him.

“Lyle, this is incredible.” My sister walks over and gives me a big hug. “Thanks so much for doing this.”

“You’re welcome, sis.”

She can’t stop smiling. “I’m gonna go help Frank.”

Sammi gives her a strange look. “I bet you’ll go help Frank.”

“What was that all about?” I ask, pulling my wife into my arms while my sister storms off with her middle finger extended into the air.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head, rising to her toes and bringing her pouty mouth within a breath from mine. “This is so magical.”

“Good surprise?” I ask, pressing my lips to hers.

She kisses me back, gently gliding the tip of her tongue across my lips. “The best.”

We’re still wrapped in each other’s arms when the snow fall machines come on, taking the ambiance to the next level.

Li’l Bit smiles into my kiss, heating me from the inside. “How did it have enough time to pile up like this?” She sticks her hand out, catching the flakes as they fall. “We weren’t gone that long.”

I push her hair behind her ears, forcibly restraining myself from feasting on her mouth the way I’d like, which would be entirely indecent in front of our current company. “They used big fireman style hoses to blow it all over the yard. Didn’t really take long at all.”

“I’m sorry we missed it. I bet Carter would have—”

“Oh, Uncle Lyle…” Speak of the devil…

I release my wife and turn toward my nephew just in time to get nailed right in the nose with a snowball.

“It’s on, little man!” I make a freeform ball from the snow at my feet and take off after the little sneak, clobbering him in the back.

“I wanna play!” Annabelle rushes over with Lizzie, both wearing matching hot pink gloves and boots.

“If you start crying,” her mother warns, “you’re going inside.”

The little sassafras plants a hand on her hip, rolling her eyes. “I’m not gonna cry, mom. I’m not a baby.”

As if trying to prove a point, Carter nails her in the face with a blob of snow.

“Hey,” I say, when his sister’s face crumples and she bursts into tears. “Not in the face.”

“Yes, sir.” He pouts, his little lip quivering as if he too is about to spring a leak.

Not on my watch.