Chapter 1: Winter

"Yes, mom, I have my plane ticket in hand and I am heading to the airport now.", I said to my mom over the phone. We are so excited to see each other this Christmas.

"Okay Winter. I just can't wait to see you! I will be there at the airport to pick you up when your plane lands." Donna, my mom said. It's been too long since I have seen her, but we talk all the time. My mom is getting married this Christmas and I am excited to meet her fiancé. She's been by herself since daddy died so I am very happy for her. Though I do feel the wedding is a little rushed since they started dating a couple months ago, but if she's happy, then I'm happy.

"Oh! And Winter, Mr. Conners is eager to meet you as is his lovely wife. I know it was weird to ask their permission for you to visit but this community is very...private and they don't like a bunch of outsiders." my mom warned. I mean that's strange that they have to give permission for someone to visit, but to each their own I guess.

"What? Is the community like a swingers club?" I laughed at my own joke, but I could hear my mom laughing as well.

"Winter Breeze! You're bad", mom said while still laughing. I love how my mom laughs at my cheesy jokes. Once I was off the phone with my mom, I was in the cab on my way to the airport. I couldn't wait to see my mom and meet Jared. My mother had told me he lost his wife to an unfortunate accident years ago and was too heartbroken to move on, until he met my mother.

As I made my way through security and the rest of the airport, I found the terminal where I will be boarding my plane. I still had about an hour until it was time to board the plane, so I just sat down and looked through photos on my phone of me and my best friend Maddie. Maddie will be coming home from Florida for the holidays. She's been my best friend since we were in diapers, and I missed her so much. We were inseparable growing up. We talk and text whenever we can because we are both so busy with our jobs.

As I was scrolling through the pictures of me and Maddie, the one person who I despise most in this world texts me. My ex-boyfriend Sean. I caught him cheating on me with some hussy he works with. Apparently they have been "seeing" each other for the past year. I can't believe I wasted the last two years of my life with that man.

Sean: Babe, please talk to me.

Seeing his text made me want to hurl. He has been texting me nonstop since I left him last month. I ended up deleting the text and blocking his number. Him and his tramp can have each other.

"Now boarding flight 628 to West Virginia." The attendant's announcement breaks me from my thoughts. I grab my luggage and head for the line to board the plane. I handed the attendant my ticket and she showed me to my seat. I was seated next to the window. I loved window seats while flying. I loved seeing the world from a birds point of view.

Shortly after everyone was boarded and sitting in their seats, the flight attendant made her safety announcement. I wasn't paying attention to the flight attendant as I started reading a novel about werewolves. I always loved reading about werewolves. I always wished I was one. To have a mate who will love me unconditionally and never cheat would be amazing. But alas, it's only fantasy. Werewolves don’t exist.

I was so engrossed in my book when I heard the pilot over the intercom announcing our descend. I closed my book and gathered my belongings as the plane came to a stop. One by one, everyone was exiting the plane. When I got off the plane, I walked to baggage claim to get my suitcase and noticed my mom jumping up and down waving at me. The biggest smile appeared on my face as I ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug.

My mom is such a beautiful woman. She has shoulder length blonde hair and hazel eyes. She's thin and fit. Though something looks different about her but I can't put my finger on it. "Winter! Oh, my beautiful girl," mom hugged me tight. Too tight.

"Mom, can't...breathe", I hugged her back trying to gasp for air.

"Oh sorry love. How was your flight?"

"It was good. I read the whole way so it actually went fast. Are you excited for your wedding?"

Her wedding was in a week's time and my mom was glowing. I am so happy for her. Mom was in a depression stage for a very long time after my dad passed away. I didn't think she would ever find happiness again.

"Yes I am but right now, I am more excited that my daughter is here," she said while giving me another hug. I smiled and started to tear up because I did miss my mom so much. I haven't told her about my recent breakup. My mom hated Sean and always told me something didn't seem right with him, well seems she was right. He's a cheating b*st*rd.

After we got the rest of my baggage from the baggage claim we made our way to my mom's car.

"How come Jared didn't come with you? I'm really looking forward to meeting him." I asked my mom, though I'm not too mad he didn't come because I just wanted to catch up with my mom.

"Oh, he had to work. But don't worry, you'll meet him tonight at the Christmas party. Mr. and Mrs. Conners are holding a Christmas party tonight and are excited to meet you. They also have a very handsome son, Blake. He's the same age as you and I think you two will hit it off," my mom said while wiggling her eyebrows. I couldn't help but laugh. "So, any particular reason why Sean didn't join you on your trip?" And there's the question I have been dreading to answer.

"Actually mom, we aren't together anymore. I broke up with him after I caught him cheating on me." I was irritated again after having to tell her what happened. Mom noticed my mood change and grabbed my hand.

"He was a jerk. He clearly didn't respect you or your relationship. I'm sorry that happened to you Winter. You deserve better." My mom shocked me with her response. I was expecting an "I told you so" or something.

"Thanks mom. I appreciate that. But, you should know, I do have something important I would like to talk with you later." I couldn't wait to tell her that I was moving back. Mom has been bugging me to move back for a few years now. And since I have nothing holding me back, I've decided to make the move.

Mom has been begging me to move back for the past year and a half. I was always adamant about moving home because even though I love my mom so much, I didn't want to leave Sean. I wish I would have known about his cheating beforehand. My belly started to flip flop around thinking about Sean's betrayal. The beginning of our relationship was good, but of course started to go downhill as time went on. How could I have not seen the signs? Always spoke in a whisper when he talked on the phone, always texting with someone whenever we went out claiming it was "work". I'm happy it finally ended though. One thing I'm extremely happy about is that I did not give him my virginity.

Even though I cared for him deeply, I couldn't bring myself to lose my virginity to him. Something kept telling me it wasn't right. Then I thought to myself: Did I ever actually love Sean?

Too easy. No, absolutely not.