Break the Ice

LUCAS

“It’s WHERE?!” Allie’s voice echoes through the cold air, cutting through it like a knife.

“Would you shut up? The last thing we need is Millie hearing about this from your big mouth,” Lucas hisses at her through clenched teeth.

Allie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, supposedly calming herself down. When her eyes open, though, they’re filled with the same fiery anger as before. Lucas has to stop himself from smiling, despite the horribly unfortunate situation. Allie’s eyes are identical to her older sister Millie’s, both sharing that same burning passion that perfectly complements any emotion they’re feeling in any given moment. It’s part of the draw that Millie had on him from the first day they met, and part of the reason he was so stinking in love with her.

Now, however, he’d have to survive the talons of Millie’s menacing younger sister if he ever planned to see her again.

“You’re telling me,” Millie continues on with decreased volume but without change in fury. “That our grandmother’s diamond engagement ring is under….that?” She points with a shaky finger at the frozen over lake.

“Um…yes?” Lucas never thought of himself to be meek, but the youngest Jacobs sister had a way of cutting through one's defenses. Unlike Millie, with her pleasant and understanding demeanor, Allie was always ready for a fight.

“And you mean to tell me it just sort of… fell… in there? Is that right?” Allie badgers.

“Look, it was an accident. It shouldn’t have been in my pocket. It fell out as we were skating around this morning, and it must have fell into a pocket of melted ice or something, and then it rained and froze over it. Either way, I don’t even know where I was when it happened. Unless we searched the whole area of the lake, but again, it’s…” Lucas’ voice trails off helplessly.

“Under there.” Allie’s eyes narrow. “And so what exactly is your plan, pray tell?”

“I don’t know, Allie. If I knew, I wouldn’t have dragged you out here this morning. All I know is, I need to get that ring back. I need it by midnight. That’s when I plan to propose to her.”

Allie shakes her head. “Think you might have to postpone that little plan of yours, Luke. You know, we should’ve almost expected this.”

Lucas frowned. As if it was his fault that the ring happened to fall out of his pocket. He only had best intentions, after all, rushing to help the sisters’ grandpa before he slipped and fell, thereby quickening his pace from a slow walk to a run, not noticing his pockets flimsily opening just enough for something to slip out. It wasn’t his fault. Things just sort of, well, happened around him.

“I can’t!” Lucas squeals a little louder than intended, then lowers his voice. “I can’t. Tomorrow’s the anniversary. Millie’s like that, super sentimental about dates and stuff. I just know she’s expecting it. And you know once she expects something, she'll be disappointed if it doesn’t happen.”

Allie sighs. “Okay, has she said anything to you at all that makes you think she knows for a fact that it’s happening at midnight?”

“No, but-”

“Then no but’s,” Allie interrupts firmly. “You get the boys out here and figure out a way to find that ring. Divvy up the square footage or whatever, I don’t care. In the meantime, I’m going back inside the house, and I’m going to find out what, if anything, Millie suspects. If there’s no indication that this is even on her radar, you’re postponing it. Got it?”

“But-”

“What did I just say about but’s?”

“Okay,” Lucas sighs and puts his hands up. “Whatever you say, boss. I just really really hope this works.”

“Yeah, so do I,” Allie says, already turning to walk back towards the house. “If not, I’m sure Millie will find a way to bury you under all that ice too. If she doesn't, then I certainly will.

MILLIE

Slam.

Millie jumps at the sound of the kitchen door and turns to see her sister, Allie, dripping snow and muck on the doormat.

“Hey, you scared me,” Millie smiles, trying to stop her foot from shaking uncontrollably. “What’s up?”

Allie clears her throat. “Nothing, what’s up with you?”

“Oh…nothing. Nice day out,” Millie winces internally, hoping Allie doesn’t catch the fake enthusiasm oozing between words.

Allie doesn’t seem to notice. She removes her heavy snow boots and trudges to the other side of the kitchen island, still wearing her thick coat and beanie. “It’s fine, I guess. Should be clear though, maybe a few sprinkles tonight. You uh,” she clears her throat again. “Got any plans at all?”

“Not really, no,” Millie answers hurriedly, maybe too fast.

They’re both silent for a minute, and the only sound is Millie’s nervous finger tapping against her glass of wine. Allie’s eyes trail to it, then up at her face. She lingers for a second before speaking.

“Hey, is…something on your mind?” she asks softly.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing,” Millie laughs and shakes her head. “Just, you know, tired from all the traveling yesterday.”

“Yeah, I mean, I’m glad everyone could haul up here again this year. Grandpa, Mom, Dad, the cousins. It’s nice having everyone under one roof for a week every year. And it’s nice that Luke can be here, too.”

“Yes!” Millie responds loudly. “It is. It’s just…so nice that we can all be here. Together.”

Allie raises an eyebrow. “So uh, how’s everything going with you guys? It’s what, six years?”

“Seven, tomorrow. Or tonight, you know. Same thing.”

“Yeah, that’s awesome.”

“Yeah.”

Allie softens her tone. “Millie?”

“Yes?”

“What’s up?”

Millie looks up at her younger sister. “It’s stupid. I just- you ever just have this idea about something? Some fantasy you make up in your head? Something that’s maybe half real, or maybe just real enough to keep you going, and then after a while you’re just all confused and you don’t know and…I don’t know.” She stops and looks down. “I guess that doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, it does,” Allie reassures her. “It makes sense. I mean, you’ve always been the more in-your-head one. Which is fine, of course. Just, you know, it’s okay if not everything goes according to that little plan you have up there, you know. I mean, it can most of the time. Just, you know, not all of the time.”

Millie meets her eye. “What do you mean?”

Allie fumbles for words. “Like uh, you know. You gotta be okay with being a little confused sometimes. Like sometimes it’s not always how you expect. Or when,” she leans a little on the word. “Just, you know, go with the flow, or whatever they say.”

Millie is quiet for a moment. Go with the flow. Hasn't she always been so good at that? “I guess, but…even with the important stuff?”

“I mean, yeah, sometimes,” Allie cocks her head. “I guess it depends on what you mean by important stuff. You mean like, specific dates and stuff?”

“What? No, I,” Millie runs a hand through her hair. “I think I’ve just been thinking about some stuff.”

Allie seems surprised. “What stuff?”

“Just people stuff.”

“Which people?”

Millie answers softly, “Lucas people.”

Allie comes around the island and grabs the chair next to Millie. “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong,” Millie tries to stop herself from choking up. “Or, maybe? Maybe there is? I don’t know, it’s just our anniversary is tomorrow and-” She feels the tears start piling up in her eyes and blinks furiously to try to force them back. “I just feel like he’s been hinting at a proposal, but-”

“Okay, yeah see,” Allie rubs her shoulder. “This is what I meant. Like, expectations. Totally okay to have them, obviously, but you know, you won’t like freak out if it doesn’t necessarily happen right on the exact day right-”

“No, you don’t get it, it’s not that” Millie interrupts firmly and takes a deep breath. “I don’t want him to propose tomorrow.”

Allie’s eyes widen. “What? Why not?”

“Because,” Millie sniffles, and stops trying to stop the tears. “I don’t think I love him.”

LUCAS

Lucas heaves a hefty sigh as he straightens and places his shovel down. He winces as he rolls a shoulder back, then the other, trying to ease up the cramp that has formed from digging into the ice. He checks his watch. 11:35pm.

“Any luck?” Dale appears beside him, his own shovel in tow.

“No,” Lucas grunts. “Any of you guys?”

“Naw, man. But hey, don’t stress okay? We got James and Daxton on the south end, and Jeremy’s on the far side looking with Dad. It’ll turn up.”

Lucas sighs again. “I really hope so, man. I do. And hey-” he claps Dale on the shoulder. “I really appreciate you guys helping me look. I know it’s late”

“No worries man. Millie’s family. This is important for all of us,” Dale grins. “And we’re all excited you’re gonna be part of that family soon.”

Lucas smiles back. “Yeah, me too.”

“And I can’t believe you got Gamma’s blessing and everything,” Dale knocks his shovel against a sheet of untouched ice, cracking it enough to shovel a few pieces out. “She’s one tough cookie to crack.”

“Yeah, I mean, I guess she liked me enough to give me the ring, right?” Lucas thinks back to the moment Millie’s grandma handed it over, tears in her eyes. “Gotta mean something.”

“For sure, dude. I mean hey, not like there’s anything to worry about. No one’s questioning how well you’re gonna treat her.”

“Thanks, man. I’m gonna try.”

“I know you will.” Dale smiles.

“Hey!”

They both turn at the sound and see James running towards them, hand raised. A shiny object flows between his gloved fingers.

“Holy smokes, he found it,” Dale grabs Lucas’ arm.

Lucas feels his heartbeat quicken as James reaches him and bows jokingly, presenting him with the ring. “My lord,” James mimics laughingly.

Lucas chuckles and takes the ring, kissing it dramatically. “Thank God,” he gasps. “I was so worried we were gonna have a big problem-”

“Well, I wouldn’t be so sure we don’t.”

Lucas turns to see Allie standing there, looking surprisingly somber for having just learned the ring was recovered.

“Hey, can I speak to Luke for a second?” she gestures to the others.

They nod and run off, cheering and whooping in relief.

“What’s up?” Lucas feels his smile wearing off. “Something wrong?”

“Um, maybe.” Allie takes her hands out from her pockets. “Can I see it?”

Lucas hands her the ring delicately. “Be careful-” he begins to joke, but is cut off by her menacing glare. Her eyes soften as she looks at the ring, holding it between her pointer and thumb.

“It’s beautiful.” she breathes.

“Yeah, much like the person I’m going to give it to tonight,” Lucas nods in agreement.

Allie looks up, then back down at the ring. She turns it in the lights from the house so that little refractions dance on the white snow below her. “What did Gamma say when you asked her for it?”

“She was happy. She said she had no doubt I’d treat Millie well.”

Allie laughs humorlessly. “Figures” she says dryly. “That we’d be all focused on looking for what was good for Millie and not looking for what was good for Millie.”

“I’m not following.”

Allie looks up at Lucas. “Did you guys talk about marriage?”

“I mean, in life, yeah.”

“I mean recently?”

Lucas feels his heart quicken again, but this time, with anxiety instead of anticipation. “I don’t know. Recently-ish? Why, what’s wrong? Did she say something?”

Allie doesn’t answer.

“Al, did she say something? Look, I-” Lucas runs a hand through his hair. “Am I going to make a fool of myself tonight or something?” He can feel a sense of frustration bubbling up in his chest, and tampers it down before his voice raises.

Allie looks at him. “We all like you a lot, you know.” She pauses, then looks down and hands him back the ring. “Here, just…just in case we’re proven wrong.” She meets his eyes again. “I hope we are.”

Lucas looks back at the house. He can't pinpoint what Allie is alluding to, but he assumes it isn't good. “Guess I have to try, anyway, right? For what it’s worth?”

Allie nods, and they share one final look before Lucas trudges back up towards the house.

MILLIE

Millie paces back and forth in her room, trying to calm her breathing. She lets her hand trace her hair, her shirt, and her skirt, smoothing any non-existent wrinkles.

She takes another look out the window and notes that the stars have become more prevalent with each passing hour. She checks her watch. 11:59. She breathes out slowly. Maybe it won’t happen. She hasn’t seen Lucas all day. Maybe it’s slipped his mind, maybe they’ll avoid the conversation she’s been dreading, maybe she’ll put up this farce for another-

Knock-knock, knock.

Mille’s pounding heart feels like it slows to a stop at the sound. She knows Lucas is standing on the other side of the door, waiting with his puppy-dog eyes and “forgive-me” smile. She knows it’ll take everything in her to stand her ground, to not fall for his sympathy-garnering voice, to not give in as he whisks her away from her reality and into his faraway land of make believe, where he does nothing wrong. One where he believes...oh what was it that he always called her? Pleasant? Understanding? It’ll take everything to form the words she has practiced saying for so long in the mirror. Secret words that would ruin them if she ever had the bravery to say to his face.

Well, no time like the present to, should she say, break the ice.

Millie stands sharply, then takes a final breath and swallows back her nerves.

“Come in.”