"He sure did." She sounds as rueful as she feels, remembering the pinch and cold sting of a needle sinking into her ski.

The sun glinting off the snow has her wincing, slitting her eyes to make it manageable as she lifts a hand to shade them, but she can still easily recognize Natasha as the woman hurries over to them.

She gives Sharon a quick hug, her hair soft against Sharon's cheek. "Hey, you," she says, low. "You had us worried."

"Hey, you," Sharon murmurs back. "Sorry to cause a fuss."