151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    raughed, a genuine sound that seemed to brighten the winterndscape around them. “Well, that’s very kind of him.”


    “Uncle Beck talks about you lots,” Shanice added helpfully, making Beck wince.


    Beck ended the call abruptly, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He turned to find ra staring straight ahead, her face carefullyposed once again.


    “Beck! Where are you, man? I’ve been trying to reach you all day,” Lucas’s enthusiastic voice boomed through the speaker.


    As evening approached, Beck set up the portable grill outside their cabin while ra


    indoors. helped Shanice warm up


    Together, they began pushing snow, forming it into an increasinglyrge sphere. Beck joined in, helping them navigate the heavy ball across the clearing. He couldn’t help noticing how rxed ra seemed here, away from the city and all its reminders of herplicated life.


    “The food’s ready,” she said, her voice unnaturally steady.


    “From what I’ve seen today? Someone whoughs easily, builds impressive snowmen, and makes my niece feel like she’s the most important person in the world.”


    “Does he now?” ra nced at Beck with amusement.


    A shadow passed over ra’s face, so brief he might have imagined it. “Yes” he replied softly. “When she was younger.”


    Shanice tugged on ra’s sleeve. “Who’s Cora?”


    Just before the camera clicked, Shanice threw a handful of snow into the air, creating a shower of white kes around them. The resulting photo showed all three of themughing, surrounded by falling snow.


    “Lucas, now’s not a good time,” Beck said firmly, his voice dropping.


    “Go ahead and answer,” ra said. “I’ll check on the food.”


    “Perfect timing,” Beck said, epting one gratefully. “The food will be ready in about


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    fifteen minutes.”


    “Is that something you used to do with Cora?” Beck asked, walking over to join them.


    “Stand next to him, Ms. ra!” Shanice directed. “Uncle Beck can take our picture!”


    “I can take it,” ra offered, reaching for the phone.


    “Look, Uncle Beck!” Shanice called. “Ms. ra knows how to make snow hair!”


    Beck tensed, already anticipating where this was heading. “It’s just a small ce, nothing special.”


    Shanice rushed over to ra, pine cones clutched carefully in her mittened hands. Beck watched as ra bent down to ept the offering, her face lighting up with a smile that reached her eyes.


    ra’s expression brightened immediately. “Yes, we’re expanding our AI integration services. My father’spany is partnering with us for the initial phase.”


    “Hot chocte is ready!” ra called from the doorway, holding two steaming mugs.


    “And who am I outside of my problems?” ra asked, her voice soft.


    “Actually-” Beck started.


    But the easy atmosphere from earlier had vanished, reced by the very tension Beck had hoped this weekend would help her escape.


    “Sorry,” he muttered, checking the screen. “It’s Lucas Sterling.”


    They worked together for nearly an hour, crafting a surprisingly impressiv snow figureplete with stick arms and a scarf Beck had brought along.


    ra was carefully cing thin icicles on top of the snowman’s head, creating a glittering crown.


    “Wait, Beck-”


    Beck nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. “Sometimes we need to step away from our lives to remember who we are outside of our problems.”


    “Is she here too?” Shanice looked around, curious.


    “Should we build a bigger snowman now?” Shanice asked, already abandoning their


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    small creation. “One as big as Uncle Beck?”


    “My family used to vacation in Colorado during winter breaks,” ra exined, brushing snow from her gloves. “I spent most of my childhood winters building snowmen and having snowball fights with my cousins.


    “No, we’ll all be in it,” Beck said, setting up his phone on a nearby tree stump and activating the timer. He rushed to join them, standing beside ra as the countdown began.


    Beck nodded gratefully and epted the call. “Lucas, hey.”


    “Thank you, Shanice. These are beautiful,” ra said. “What should we do with them?”


    “Camping? In this weather? You’re insane,” Lucasughed. “But that actually sounds amazing. I need to get out of the city myself.”


    “What? Why not? Don’t tell me you’ve gotpany,” Lucas teased. “Some secret weekend getaway I’m interrupting?”


    “Dad says you’re really smart aboutputers,” Shanice announced, patting more snow onto their creation.


    “Now one with you in it, Uncle Beck!” Shanice insisted.


    “That’s a great idea,” ra agreed. “I think we need to roll a really big snowball for the


    base.”


    Beck felt a flush that had nothing to do with the cold. “I may have mentioned your aplishments once or twice.”


    ra looked down at her mug, clearly touched by his words. Before she could respond, Beck’s phone rang loudly.


    “It’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Let’s not let it ruin our evening.”


    Beck recognized the careful neutrality in her tone. It was the same voice she used whenever Damien Thorne or Vivienne Dubois came up in conversation–measured, controlled, giving nothing away.


    “We could decorate our snowman!” Shanice suggested, pointing to the small lump of snow they had started shaping together.


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    “She’s my daughter,” ra exined, adjusting one of the pine cone eyes. “She’s a bit older than you.”


    Beck observed from a distance as ra knelt beside Shanice in the snow, helping her press the pine cones into what was bing the snowman’s face. The sight stirred something in him. It had been a snap decision to invite ra along on this trip, but seeing how quickly she had connected with Shanice, he knew it had been the right


    call.


    “Snow fight!” Shanice yelled, throwing a handful of powdery snow that mostly dissolved before reaching either adult.


    “Maybe I’ll drag Damien along too,” Lucas continued. “God knows that man needs to rx. He’s been impossible since ra left, though he’d never admit it.”


    Beck’s eyes darted to ra, who was flipping the burgers on the grill but clearly still within earshot.


    “Maybeter,” Beckughed, ruffling his niece’s hair. “Let’s finish Mr. Snowman first.”


    “Listen, I’ve got to go. We’ll catch up next week,” Beck said hurriedly.


    “This was a wonderful idea,” ra admitted, leaning against the railing of the small porch. “I haven’t felt this… unburdened in months.”


    Beck pulled out his phone as ra and Shanice posed beside their creation. ra’s cheeks were flushed from the cold, her eyes bright with enjoyment. He snapped several photos, capturing her genuine smile–something he rarely saw in the city. “Text me the location,” Lucas continued, ignoring Beck’s lukewarm respo” e. “I think I’ll join you guys tomorrow. Damien’s been driving me crazy with work all week, and I could use a break.”


    “I’ve heard YodaVision isunching a new project soon,” Beck said, changing the subject. “Julian mentioned something about it at the clubst week.”


    Beck saw ra freeze at the mention of Damien’s name, her back stiffening.


    “No, not today,” ra said. “She’s spending time with her father and grandmother.”


    “Dad, can I give Ms. ra these?” Shanice held up a small bundle of pinecones she had collected.


    <


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    “I’m camping with Shanice,” Beck exined, turning slightly away from ra. “Just a quick overnight trip.”


    “You’re quite the natural at winter activities,” Beckmented as they worked.


    Beck looked over at ra standing a few yards away, her breath creating small clouds in the crisp winter air. “I’m sure she’d love that, sweetheart.”


    “ra…”


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