Chapter Sixteen: First snow

Snow blanketed Dalton in white by morning, turning the small town into a picture-perfect postcard. Ellie stood at the window in Jack's flannel, mug of coffee warming her hands. The world outside looked untouched, silent, and full of new beginnings.

Jack came up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. "This is your first Dalton winter."

She leaned into him. "It's beautiful."

They spent the day snowed in, wrapped in blankets, talking about childhood winters, forgotten dreams, and the odd quirks of small-town living. Ellie took photos of Jack shoveling the walk, grumbling the whole way, and made a snow angel that had Ruthie howling with laughter when she came by.

But with the snow came something unexpected—a knock at the door that evening.

Jack answered it, then froze. "What the hell?"

A man stood on the porch, older, lean, and familiar. His coat dusted with snow, his eyes weathered.

"Hello, little brother," the man said. "Didn't think I'd find you here after all these years."

Ellie stepped forward, eyes widening.

"Your brother?"

Jack nodded slowly. "I thought you were—"

"Gone?" the man smiled. "Yeah. Me too."

They stood in silence until Jack stepped aside. "Come in."

As the door shut behind them, the warmth of the house closed in, and Ellie realized that every love story comes with roots—and some of them must be untangled before new ones can grow.

The snow kept falling, but inside the house, the past and present were meeting at last.