Karin secured the flower in the ground covered by layers of ice. Ariane shook her head as she waited for her to finish the task and when she did they entered the house together and drank the hot tea that their mother had waiting for them. Their stomachs became warm and the cold chills went away. Then, the girls disappeared into their room for the night and fell fast asleep.

Days passed and the snow came down heavily without any letups. Ariane and Karin were not permitted by their mother to leave the house because the conditions were dangerous and harsh. Inches of precipitation buried the lily in the ground and the flower was forgotten.

Almost five days later, the blizzard halted. The girls looked forward to going outside once again. They were extremely careful to cover their noses and ears because the temperatures were still freezing. They leaped from their doorstep to a mound of snow and took turns sliding down it. Karin was up again and she prepared herself at the top of the dune. Ariane gave her a push to get her started and without warning Karin rolled and did not stop until she hit a pile of hard, frozen ice. Ariane helped her sister up and shook the flurries off of her. They turned to walk back up to the snow mound when suddenly, with a wisp of air, petals scattered and landed at their feet.

Karin bent over and picked one up. As she did so, other petals were faintly uncovered. They squatted near the pile and brushed the snow out of the way as they worked. Within minutes, a garden of lilies was discovered and in bloom. Karin pulled a flower out and handed it to Ariane who stood with a shocked expression.

"The angels came Ari! They actually came and made the lilies grow!"

"Well, I'll be, they sure did, Karin. I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

"Ah, that's okay, I wouldn't have believed me either. So, I guess Dad really does have his wings, huh?"

"I was just thinking that exact thing; he must really love us."

"Hey Ari?"

"Yes?"

"Grandma loved us before she died, right?"

"Sure she did."

"Well, do you think there's hope that she could send us roses?"

"Don't push it, Karin."

The girls walked together and laughed. Ariane positioned her arm around Karin and they vanished into the mountains for the day. They were both cheerful and glad for they knew their father was with them to stay; he would never leave them again.

Lilies magically grew year round in the snow and it was just one more secret they shared between the two of them that no one else anywhere knew about, except of course, for you.