Gracie gave a soft grunt. “Youwereborn to ski. I never loved it like you did, and Benny could take it or leave it. But you? Yeah.”
Nicole twisted the edge of the napkin Gracie had thoughtfully put next to the cupcake.
“Twice now I’ve gone out there, thinking I could just pick it up again. And both times? I could not do it. Do you think I need, like, professional help? I’ve always rejected the idea of therapy for that accident.”
“Maybe the professional help you need is”—she leaned over the counter and gave a hard look—“a cute ski patrol dude.”
Nicole laughed. “I knew you’d get back to him. I just feel like I should be past this by now.”
Gracie came around the counter and put her arms around Nicole. “Sweet cousin of mine, please don’t be so hard on yourself.” She drew back and searched Nic’s face, no doubt rooting for wisdom and the right words. “You went through something terrifying. PTSD doesn’t just fade because you think it should. It tookmea long time to get over it, and I was just waiting at the base for you guys to come down. Then I saw the helicopters and lights and all the patrols…” Her eyes shuttered with the memory. “It was a terrible day, and I honestly thought I’d lost you.”
Nicole’s chest tightened as she hugged Gracie.
“I keep trying to do it for other people,” Nicole said. “Dad. Bri. Maybe this guy. But it doesn’t stick. I need something more.”
Gracie’s eyes grew fierce with conviction. “Then that’s your answer. You need to conquer the fear for your own reason. Foryou. You have to want to push those poles and trust those skisand ignore the trees and the people and everything else but flying down that slope.”
Nicole smiled. “You always know what to say, Gracie.”
“Of course I do. I’m your cousin.”
Before Nicole could reply, Benny came back in, nothing but impatience on his little features. “Is the cake done? Grandpa is waiting for me.”
“Grandpa is probably asleep in his recliner,” Gracie said, picking up her tools and carrying them to the sink. “Ten more minutes and we can go home.”
“But it’ll be too late,” he whined, grabbing a cookie and picking up his milk.
“Too late for what?” she asked.
He filled his mouth with a cookie and shrugged, feigning innocence as he slipped back into the office without answering.
“See?” Gracie said. “I feel like he’s hiding something.”
“He is,” Nicole agreed. “But I’m telling you, it’s Christmas. He’s probably painting you a picture or something and Red’s helping him.”
“Benny? Painting?”
“Okay. Coding.”
“Wait’ll you have a kid.” She added a sly smile. “Speaking of, tell me more about the ski patrol guy. You know, the one who’s going to be the reason you need and want to ski again.”
She choked softly. “Speaking of wishful thinking.”
“You got to have a little of that if you’re ever going to ski again, Nic.”
Nicole just nodded, knowing she was right. “All I know is his name is Cameron and…” She got up and brushed the crumbs from her hands. “I’ll help you clean up.”
“And what?” Gracie pressed.
Nicole smiled. “He’s really cute. That’s it.”
“Well, that’s a start.”
“One more, Grandpa. One more that goes viral!” Benny sat hunched over in the front seat of the sleigh they’d just taken from Jack so he could warm up before his next customers arrived, who weren’t due for well over an hour. “If we can do that, Aunt Cindy will book the rest of the month, and then I promise we’ll come clean.”
“We better,” Red muttered. “I don’t like lyin’, Benny-bean. I don’t like it all.”
Benny nodded, a little guilt darkening his golden-brown eyes behind snow-dampened glasses.
