A Winter's Tale - Book I
Sweater Weather - Winter

In the chilled morning hours, just one month away from Christmas Eve, I could be found in my little log cabin. Located farther away from my parents than the rest of my siblings, on the edge of our little circle of protection, I replace tranquility.

I wanted, needed, the privacy the space gave me. As much as I love my family, sometimes I need to just be at home by myself. A place of peace away from the holiday cheer and questioning glances.

Lately, for the last five years, it feels like, I've been in a bout of baby fever. It's not as if I want to feel like my ovaries are begging for attention, but can you blame me? I'm a grown woman who is the oldest child of ten. I've loved on tiny babies, played with toddlers, taught children, and they're all my siblings. All grown now.

Don't go getting confused or frustrated for me now. My parents have never made me parent my siblings or put any pressure on me to mother them. It just came naturally, as it does to most siblings I suppose. To love and care for one another as a family should.

Anyway, the point is that I'm ready. Well, my body is. My heart too, honestly. My mind is wise, but I'm always learning so I can't say for sure if this is hormone induced or well thought out.

"I should restock the hot cocoa."

Mindlessly I was checking the inventory of my cabinets, fridge, and freezer. It was something I did routinely, just like at the warehouse and factory. The boredom of the mundane moments, that's what I lived for. I could organize to my heart's content and I wanted nothing more than to have everything in its place. Perfection.

Father is the opposite, his hobbies and toy crafting cause messes I don't envy Mother for dealing with. Of course, he doesn't mean any ill will by it all, and he happily helps in the cleanup. I also know mother does nothing but smile and enjoy the sight of him deep in his element, so perhaps love is truly blind.

Or maybe I'm just far too anal about tidiness. Not a speck of dust to be seen, but that's unrealistic. If I want children I should get used to messes and dust and things out of order.

"Good golly I might drive myself insane."

With a sigh, I grabbed my mug of hot cocoa and opted to sit on the built-in window bench to enjoy the view outside. Mountains of snow were falling from the sky, a heavy blizzard blurring my vision of anything worth seeing. Maybe it was for the best because I needed a little white noise at this point.

No televisions in sight here, at least not in my home. I hate the distraction of them, and all electronics to be honest. I won't give up my plumbing for the world though. I still remember the days of walking to an outhouse with my father or mother in the middle of the night.

One of my first blueprint plans was a plumbing system that could withstand the frigid cold. Once we had working toilets and showers I refused to go back, honestly spoiled by the amenities.

"I wonder if Yukio got home safe. Surely so."

My whisper was only heard by my own ears, no company in sight. I talk to myself regularly. I'm a good listener if you ever need a cup of tea and a shoulder, though I hope you have someone closer than the North Pole to rely on.

Yukio, the fourth born and third girl. Poor Nicholas had been quickly overwhelmed with sisters. As the second born he was coddled and loved dearly, but he didn't get as much time as I had before Noel and Yukio were born. Twin girls, though Noel holds the title of third by an hour.

Beautiful girls with long reddish hair and bright blue eyes. Yukio had been left to the task of clearing out our father's old toyboxes, checking to see if anything could be salvaged. I had taken the job at first, but she really wanted the responsibility and I couldn't tell her no if my life depended on it.

So I left early to rest up and take the day for myself. Now I was stuck worrying if she got home safe in this blizzard and if everything would be done by morning when I got there. I could only sigh, pinch the bridge of my nose to ward off a headache, and sip my hot cocoa.

Mother and father would make sure she got home, I reassured myself. It was nothing to worry myself over. Besides, our resilience to the cold made life here far easier than most would think. Thick skin and a warm-blooded nature helped us evolve to live easily in our surroundings.

Rinsing out the mug I sat it on a dish towel beside the sink to dry, my focus now on the fireplace. It needed a good cleaning. Father taught us how to safely sweep the soot and wooden debris early on so that we wouldn't hurt ourselves or conjure up any ash fairies. I'm not sure if the supernatural beings of soot exist, but he warned us so I took it to heart. It was easy enough but I still managed to make a mess of myself in the process.

Every cleaning involved a good shower afterward. Otherwise, I look like a chimney sweep, which is perfectly fine and lovely, just not for me. As a child I thought it was funny though, running around trying to hug my siblings as they fled from my sooty grasp. Now, as I showered off the ash and made my way back to the living room, I smiled at the memory.

Simpler times, full of laughter and bright futures. Things we still have, mind you, but now there are more unknowns. What will tomorrow bring? Will I always be alone, or will I replace my other half one day?

"Or I could just read another book."

A wistful sigh claimed my lips as I looked over at the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covering most of the walls in my living room. No worries, I'll try to walk you through the floor plan.

You come in the front door and you're greeted by a short hallway that is covered in family photos, a welcome mat, and a closet door that contains all of my coats and winter boots. As you continue inward you're now in the living room, every wall except the one the fireplace resides and the window I sat at, covered in bookshelves. Thick green curtains always remain open. A few armchairs sit in each corner and a giant fur rug covers most of the wooden floor.

An arched doorway to the left of the fireplace leads you into a small kitchen and eating area, enough space for what I need. A fridge, a stand-up freezer, counters, a sink, and a bar that separates the two spaces. The dining room is gorgeous, the walls just giant bench seat windows with the same thick green curtains pulled open to welcome in the snowy landscape outside. Bar stools sit at the counter and a rectangular table is positioned in front of the bench seats. A meal with a view.

If you're in the living room, or my book nook as I like to call it, you will see another doorway with a closed door blocking your view to the right of the fireplace. That's the master suite and the only bedroom in the house. Inside you'll replace more walls of books and a bench seat window to match the others, curtains and all.

A large four-poster bed with the same green curtains sits diagonally in the corner closest to the window, an odd placement if you like everything up against a wall. On each side is a handmade nightstand with a single drawer. On the surface is a lamp with a green lampshade. Have you guessed my favorite color yet?

A door on the left side of the room will lead you to a large bathroom, my spa of sorts. The whole floor is made of stone, with the sink covering the wall opposite the door with lower and upper cabinets for storage and counter space. A mirror splits the upper cabinets in half as it sits right above the sink, dead center.

A large clawfoot bathtub sits diagonally in a corner to the right of the door as you walk in. Between it and the counters, there is a rainfall showerhead installed into the ceiling, the appliance far bigger than I need. Still, this is my sanctuary. I've spent my life doing things for others but this, my home, is my haven.

To the left, blocked from view as you walk in by a half wall, is the toilet. My porcelain throne or so father calls it. That always makes me smile a bit. The childish part of my soul, perhaps.

On towel rods beside the tub, you'll replace clean towels and on a hook beside that is where my long red robe would be if I wasn't wearing it. Beside the sink on either side, I keep my perfumes, deodorant, and all the normal stuff. There, the tour is done. If you have any questions I'd be happy to...

A knock at the front door?

"Who could that be?"