By morning, the storm had finally stopped.
The world outside Cabin Six was still coated in thick, glittering snow, but the sky had brightened into a pale winter blue. Sunlight caught on icicles hanging from the eaves, turning them into glass prisms.
Bella stepped outside with a steaming mug of cocoa, admiring how quiet everything felt.
Clean.
New.
Like a blank page waiting for a story.
Footsteps approached behind her.
"Careful," Ethan said softly. "Ice under the snow."
Bella turned to find him leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he'd run his hands through it one too many times. He looked less guarded today, like the storm had softened something in him.
"Morning," Bella said.
His eyes crinkled just a little. "Morning."
Lily's excited voice suddenly burst through the cabin:
"Daddy! Bella! The roads opened! The roads opened!"
Bella gasped. "Really?"
Ethan nodded. "Rangers plowed the main trail. We can make it into town."
Relief washed over her, but it was quickly followed by something else—an ache she wasn't expecting.
Going into town meant reality.
People.
Signals.
Decisions.
It also meant she wouldn't be trapped in this cabin with Ethan and Lily anymore… and strangely, that made her chest feel heavy.
⸻
They bundled up and walked the narrow path carved into the snow. Lily hopped excitedly between her father and Bella, her hands tucked in both of theirs.
The small town was gorgeous under the morning sunlight—quaint shops with frosted windows, strings of Christmas lights sagging under heaps of snow, a giant fir tree in the park waiting to be decorated.
People were outside shoveling walkways, clearing cars, and greeting each other with warm smiles.
Bella felt eyes following them—curious, friendly.
Ethan noticed and leaned toward her slightly.
"Small town thing," he murmured. "Everyone knows everyone. And everyone notices everything."
She chuckled. "So they think… what? That we're together?"
Ethan froze—for a fraction of a second.
Then he cleared his throat. "They know I keep to myself."
"Oh," Bella said softly.
But she didn't miss the flicker of something in his eyes—something that wasn't annoyance.
Something like… uncertainty.
As they approached the little general store, the door swung open and out stepped Ruth—the same older woman who had checked on them during the storm.
"Well, look who survived the blizzard!" Ruth said warmly, dusting snow from her coat. "Ethan, honey, heard you had a full house last night."
Ethan stiffened slightly. "Uh—yeah. Cabin double-booked."
Ruth's knowing smile grew. "And this must be Bella."
Bella blinked. "You… know about me?"
Ruth winked. "In towns like ours? News travels fast."
Ethan groaned under his breath. Lily giggled.
Ruth leaned in closer to Bella. "He doesn't bring people around often. Actually…" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "He doesn't bring people around at all."
Bella felt heat rise to her cheeks. Ethan shot Ruth a mild glare, but she only laughed.
"Don't worry, dear," Ruth continued. "We're happy to see new faces. Especially those who bring out a little light in our quiet mountain man."
Bella's heart stuttered.
Ethan cleared his throat loudly.
"Ruth, the generator fuel—"
"Oh, right!" Ruth said cheerfully. "Follow me."
Ethan gave Bella a look—one that said please ignore everything she just said—and she nodded, biting back a smile.
⸻
Inside the store, Lily darted to the candy section, leaving Bella and Ethan standing in the narrow aisle of winter coats and mittens.
Bella picked up a pair of fluffy earmuffs. "These are cute."
Ethan glanced at her over his shoulder. "You like anything that looks soft."
"How do you know that?"
He paused. "I… pay attention."
Bella's breath hitched.
Before she could respond, he reached out—hesitantly—and brushed a bit of frost from her sleeve.
"You should stay warm," he murmured.
Her heart thumped painfully.
Why did such a small gesture feel like so much more?
Lily returned with a handful of candy, proudly announcing, "Daddy, I think Bella should pick a candy too so we match!"
Ethan raised a brow. "Match?"
"Yes! If she's our roommate, she needs snow candy."
Bella laughed. "Snow… candy?"
Lily nodded seriously. "White ones."
Ethan grumbled, "That's not a thing."
"Yes it is! Right, Bella?"
Bella held up a pack of white peppermint drops. "Apparently, yes."
Lily beamed triumphantly.
Ethan shook his head, muttering something about conspiracy.
Bella couldn't stop smiling.
He had softened.
He had opened up.
And it was her.
Not the storm.
Not the routine.
Her.
⸻
On the walk back, the sky dimmed as clouds rolled in again. Snowflakes returned — gentle, swirling.
Lily walked ahead kicking snow.
Bella stole a glance at Ethan. "This place suits you."
He kept his eyes on the path. "It's quiet. Predictable."
"You like predictable?"
"Most days."
"And the other days?"
His jaw tightened slightly. "The other days, I don't know what I like."
Bella's breath caught.
He glanced at her then, eyes shadowed but open.
"You're… different," he said slowly. "Since you've been here, things feel—"
He paused, searching for a word he wasn't used to sharing.
"—lighter."
Bella felt warmth spread through her chest, battling the cold winter air.
"I feel it too," she whispered.
For a long moment, they just looked at each other, snow falling softly around them.
Then Lily shouted from ahead, "Bella! Ethan! Look! Snow bunnies!"
The moment broke, but not in a bad way.
Ethan exhaled—almost a laugh—and shook his head. "Snow bunnies?"
Bella brushed a hand over her hair. "Your daughter is adorable."
"She's persistent," he corrected, but the pride in his voice betrayed him.
Bella stepped closer, lowering her voice. "She's a reflection of her father."
Ethan's breath hitched—almost imperceptibly.
He didn't answer.
But he didn't need to.
Sometimes silence said more than words ever could.
⸻
Back inside the cabin, Bella helped Lily arrange the snow candy into little bowls while Ethan stacked firewood. Snow drifted lazily outside. The air felt warmer than yesterday—not from the fire, but from something else settling gently between the three of them.
Lily curled into Bella's lap again, tired from the outing. Ethan watched them from the doorway, unable to hide the softness in his eyes.
He wasn't pushing her away anymore.
He wasn't guarded.
He wasn't distant.
He was inviting her into their small world without saying a word.
Bella met his gaze.
He looked away too slowly to hide the truth.
Something was changing.
Something was growing.
And this time… neither of them tried to stop it.