Free Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson Page B

some mugs you might want to put out.”
    Emma was just starting on the coffee lounge table when Tristan came wandering in. With his stocking cap sitting lopsided on his head and his backpack dragging behind him on the floor, he looked a bit bedraggled and weary. Not to mention slightly lost.
    â€œTristan!” Emma happily went over to hug him. “How are you?”
    He shrugged. “Okay.”
    â€œYou look tired. Hard day?”
    He shrugged again then sniffed loudly.
    She reached for a napkin and handed it to him. “For your nose,” she said quietly.
    He wiped it then stuffed it into his coat pocket.
    â€œNeed a cocoa to warm you up?” she asked.
    Now he smiled, nodding eagerly.
    â€œGo put your stuff away,” she said. “I’ll order your cocoa. Whipped cream?”
    â€œYeah,” he called as he hurried over to a table by the window.
    She ordered the cocoa then returned to where Tristan was dropping his backpack on the floor by the table. “Mom’s gotta work at the gallery late tonight,” he told her as he peeled off his coat. “She told me to come over here.” He glanced around with a sad expression, as if looking for someone. “But Poppi’s not here anymore,” he said quietly. “It feels kinda weird.”
    â€œOh…yeah…” Emma nodded. “Did you used to spend time with Poppi after school?”
    â€œUh-huh.” Tristan pulled off his hat, leaving his dark hair sticking out like a scarecrow’s. “Mr. Steiner—that’s the guy who owns the gallery—he don’t like having kids around. He’s always saying I’ll break something. But I never did. So Mom always tells me to go find Poppi.” He wiped his nose on his sleeve. “But Poppi’s gone.”
    â€œWell, I’m here now.” Emma smiled and ruffled his messy hair. “Do you mind spending time with me?”
    His brown eyes lit up. “No. What’re you doing, Aunt Emma?”
    She pointed out the decorations. “I got the Valentine’s decorations up last night and today I’m getting the tables set up. Want to help?”
    And so, after he finished his cocoa and used the bathroom and washed his hands, Emma put him to work cutting out hearts to decorate the table. By folding the red and pink construction paper like an accordion, they made chains of connected hearts, using them as a border going all around the table. It looked so pretty that they continued making these chains for the coffee counter as well. When they were done, everyone agreed that it was beautiful—and that Poppi would be delighted.

Chapter 7
    By four thirty Emma felt it was time to get back to check on Nona. “Do you think your mom will mind if I take you home with me? I mean to Nona’s?”
    â€œShe won’t care.”
    â€œBut we should let her know, right?”
    Tristan produced a cell phone from his backpack.
    â€œYou have your own cell phone?” She blinked. “Impressive.”
    He grinned. “Yeah. But it’s only to call Mom. Or emergencies.”
    Soon it was settled that he could go with Emma and they were on their way. As she drove, he confessed to her that he missed his dad.
    â€œWhen will you get to see him again?” she asked.
    â€œNot until spring break. Mom said I get to fly on a plane to go see him.” Tristan brightened. “Dad is gonna take me to Disney World.”
    â€œWow. That sounds like fun.”
    â€œUh-huh. I guess so.”
    â€œYou guess so?” She glanced at him as she pulled into the driveway.
    â€œI just wish Mom would come too.”
    â€œOh…”
    â€œDad even said he’d buy her a plane ticket if she would come.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYeah. But she said no. She has to work.”
    â€œWell…anyway…” She turned off her car. “You’re going to Disney World, Tristan. That is so cool. I’ve never