He continued wiping her face. “You just gave me a heart attack, but I’m glad you’re amused.”
She moved his hand from her face but kept hold of it as she looked him right in the eyes. “Why did you freak out?” she asked quietly.
“I thought I’d knocked you out with a snowball,” he said, tilting his head.
“Not then.Earlier.Why did you freak out when I kissed you?”
His sigh was highlighted by the slump of his shoulders, and he only managed a small shake of the head before Josh’s voice interrupted them.
“Anna!” he shouted. “Tamara said I can play in the snow, too.”
“He’s going to freeze,” Selena complained to Tamara inside the patio doors. “There’s no hot water for a bath to warm him up.”
Tamara threw her arms up and released a frantic flow of Spanish while she helped Josh on with his hat and gloves.
As soon as he’d shoved his hand into his gloves, he shot outside while his mother and Tamara continued to argue in their different languages.
“Why are you lying in the snow?” Josh asked, ploughing through the snow to get to them.
“I’m making a snow angel,” Anna replied, flopping onto her back again.
“How do you do that?” he asked eagerly.
“Just fall backwards in the snow and wave your arms and legs up and down.”
Warren moved out of the way while Anna flailed in the soft snow. Josh fell beside her, giggling loudly.
“Joshua!” Selena shouted. “You haven’t got snow trousers on! Get up out of the snow!”
Before she’d finished her sentence, Tamara joined in with shouting instructions.
“What’s Tamara saying?” Warren asked Josh.
“She told me to have fun. And to ignore my mum.”
“Does she often tell you to ignore your mum?” Warren asked.
“Yes.” His cheeks were bright red from the cold. “But Mummy tells me to always listen to Tamara and do what she says. That means I get to play in the snow.”
“Warren!” Selena shouted. “Bring Josh back here, please. It’s far too cold, and he’s not dressed properly.”
“He’s fine,” Warren shot back. “He’s got a massive coat on.”
“But he doesn’t have his snow trousers! Josh, come back inside right now!”
Anna sat upright. “Do you want to make a snowman?” she asked Josh.
“Yes! Can we make a really big one?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“Joshua!” Selena screamed. “I said get back here!”
Warren moved to crouch beside Josh, who was still flapping his arms and legs. “I think we might need to shut your mum up before we make a snowman.” His eyes sparkled as he scooped up snow.
“She’ll go crazy,” Anna said, grinning as Warren carefully smoothed his snowball.
“She’s already crazy,” Warren said, catching Anna’s eye and beaming. “Watch this,” he said to Josh as he straightened up.
