✷Chapter Four✷

Teresa felt the air on her lungs freezed, the instant her brown eyes took notice of the house she was going to spend a whole week in. One word to describe what she saw from the outside. Home.

The huge one-story wooden cabin stood out into the middle of the forest. The light illuminated the undeniably beauty, bringing light to the already dark surrounding. Wooden pillars standing firm, almost like a passageway leading to the front door. From where Teresa stood she could almost see through the window the beautification of what was to come for her eyes alone.

At the front door eighty-five years old Daniel Snow stood with a walking stick. He must have heard the sound of their car driving through the stony ground. He had a huge smile on his face. The past years knowing Daniel, the sight of people were nothing but joy to him.

His once brown and gray hair had turned completely gray. Aging wrinkles on his face gave him an appeasing look, his Snow's signature green eyes greeted her sight.

Leaning towards Gideon by her side she whispered. "You didn't tell me your grandfather loves nature." She said accusingly, while giving him a stony expression.

In return he smiled at her, somehow she felt there was more he wasn't telling her, "I'm sorry. It skipped my mind"

"I don't know if you tend to miss out some important points, or you just chose not to mention."

He paused for a while staring at her deeply. "I just want you to know whatever is going to happen from here on, please just play along?"

Teresa felt her eyes narrowed on him. "What are you talking about? What again didn't you tell me?"

Gideon mouth opened for a response, but was cut off by the sound of her side door opening. A stretched hand appeared right by the opened door. She lifted her gaze up to lock Jacob's green eyes. "Need help?"

Teresa hadn't realized she and Gideon had spent a while in the car. The door right next to Gideon shut, giving her a que to get out. Accepting Jacob's outstretched hand, the warmth that locked through her was unexpected, she couldn't stop herself from frowning. His hands had felt that way earlier in the plane. Someone as troublesome as Jacob shouldn't be this warm, but he was and she hated it.

As quick as she grabbed his hand, she let it go the minute she stepped out of their rented SUV. She felt Jacob's eyes on her but chose to ignore it as the booming happy voice of Daniel graced her ears.

"Welcome to my humble aboard lovely ladies, and grandsons." He said the latter's like a warning, giving them a careful glare, before offering her and Rachel a breathtaking smile.

There was no denying Daniel must have been a heartbreaker during his youthful years. It must be in the Snow's gene.

"Grandpa Dan. It's lovely seeing you again." Teresa said, as she walked up the small wooden stairs to where he stood, welcoming herself to his warm embrace.

"Oh my child, you've gotten more beautiful during the years. Michael and Elena must be very proud." He said, while pulling her back to get a good look at her.

Teresa fought to keep the blush off her face. "Well, they don't stop telling me so every weekend."

At her word Daniel laughed out loud, his shoulders shaking in laughter, making him appear a couple years younger. "Those parents of yours." He muttered before letting her go to give Rachel a hug.

Teresa felt her eyes drawn to the two young gentlemen visible whispering to each other. Her face contort in confusion concerning what they could be whispering about.

Daniel's hand on her back as he led she and Rachel into the cabin, snapped her eyes off them. But she found herself glancing behind her again, finding Jacob and Gideon were helping bring out their bags from the booth.

She knocked herself mentally for reading too much in things. But she couldn't help herself but to worry, Gideon's words still made her stand on her toes.

Teresa gasped as she took in the inside of the wooden cabin. Whatever battle she was fighting with herself immediately disappeared as the beautiful interior of the house blinded her sight.

Golden lights shine through all corners of the living room. She took notice of the four black leather couches facing a medium size TV, underneath the device was a stone fireplace, which was burning some woods making her body warm from the coldness from outside.

Her eyes went up to notice a stair leading to an all-around visible floor. Probably with rooms up there. The brown wood beautifies the whole place. Picture frames hanging on all corners of the house. It felt so cozy and homey.

"Grandpa Dan, you've a lovely home." She was rather astonished by the beauty surrounding her.

"I'm happy you love it. My son Harry had it built for me when I'd retired from my firefighting duties. Initially I'd thought it to be too much, but came to love it as time went on. I've always wanted to own a house somewhere quiet, and this did it." His eyes twinkle as he spoke, showing how much he really appreciated his home. "But I still find myself driving a couple miles every morning to spend some time with my retired friends."

Teresa smiled at the joy in his words, "I'm sure you do." She whispered, again taking a look at the house.

She heard Rachel speak for the first time since they came in. "They say a house speaks about a person." Her musical voice spoke in amazement.

"And what does it tell you about me?"

There was a long pause, prompting Teresa to whirl her gaze behind her where they stood. She saw Rachel's black eyes studying the whole living-room. "It says a lot and little at the same time. You're a simple man with a peaceful mind."

"Ahh!" Daniel's head bent backwards in agreement. "I'm loving you already. That head strong boy better keep you tight, or he'll get an earful from me."

Teresa saw a blush tainting the young lady's cheek, making her smile and that at the same time rolled her eyes. If only Jacob wasn't a jerk, she just hoped he wouldn't crash the poor girl's heart to the ground.

The devil decided to show himself. Jacob had both his hands occupied dragging in two huge bags, one Teresa recognizes as hers into the cabin, with a look of distress on his face. Gideon followed behind with two big bags, dropping it by the corner before carrying in a duffle bag while grumbling words she couldn't hear.

"What the heck did you park in there? Stones?" Jacob swore as he dropped the bags down from his hand. She couldn't help the redness that stained her cheek as he stared at her intensely.

Thankfully Daniel spoke. "Men don't complain about simple things like bags. During my time around your age, I carried two grown up on each of my shoulders." He said, rather proud of himself, but got a loud groan from both his grandsons.

"Same old, same old." Gideon said breathlessly. From the look of his face, whatever Rachel had in her bag must be weighing pounds.

Choosing to ignore Gideon's word he turned towards her and Rachel. "Welcome once again. It's a blessing seeing the new additions to the family." He smiled so sweetly that Teresa felt her heart pinch in guilt, she hated herself for lying to Daniel, the last thing she'd want is to lead him on. "Come on there are three rooms in this house. One obviously for me, and the other for each couples."

Hearing him, Teresa almost choked on her own saliva, her eyes shot out in shock. "What? This house only has three bedrooms?"

"Harry had insisted on making it three, while I only wanted two. But now you guys are here. I believe it was all for a reason." Seeing the look on her face, the old man gave her a mischievous grin. "If you're worried about something happening under my roof, I don't mind."

Teresa coughed in bewilderment at how brazen he was. From her line of sight she saw Jacob smile in amazement clearly he was enjoying her discomfort.

"You kids should make yourself comfortable upstairs. Come on, go up." Daniel ordered, immediately bringing the men on their feet from the couch they sat on. He smiled when his eyes locked on Teresa. "Don't worry, if you want I'll give Jacob an earful not to disturb you at night."

Jacob? At night?

Teresa frowned on hearing his word. "Jacob? Why Jacob?" She asked, bringing Jacob to a stop on the task at hand.

Daniels gazed at them both. Somehow he found her words odd, his smile was gone, but just for a while before. He smiled at Teresa in amazement. "Because you're engaged to him?"

Engaged?

She was engaged to Jacob?

She turned to stare at Gideon, and saw him mouth the word sorry. It was then it dawn on her, she wasn't here as Gideon's fiancée, but instead as Jacob's fiancée.

She couldn't help but question what game they were playing. For the mischievous sparkle in Jacob's eyes proved one thing.

She was doomed.

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