10
Dale
It looked like there’d been an accident on the pathway. I walked around the fallen ice, making sure not to slip, and hefted my bags high in my arms.
I’d bought extra snacks to leave behind for Aspen, and some to take with me when I left.
I’d also bought him a cute gift, and had it wrapped while I was in the store. I’d leave it under the tree for him. I hoped he’d find it.
An ache grew in my chest.
But there was one consolation. We were meeting up again tonight out front at dusk. That would be nice. And maybe after the tree lighting, Aspen would want to go for a drink.
When I opened the door to the cabin, Aspen was sitting on the couch surfing through the TV’s digital guide.
“Hey. I’m back.”
“Hi.” He turned his head slightly, but did not meet my gaze.
I set my packages on the little table by the door. I noted the bed was made. Housekeeping must have been by while we were at breakfast. The letter we’d received this morning sat on the nightstand. I wanted to walk over to it and rip it to shreds.
Instead, I needed to begin to pack my stuff. Slowly, I started to gather everything. It was like walking through sludge to get it all done. I hated to leave.
When I finished, I rolled my suitcase by the door. I had forgotten I’d left my bags on the little table. I took the food items from them and walked to the coffee table, setting them down.
“What’s that?” Aspen barely looked up.
“I’m leaving you some snacks.”
He threw his head back and stared up at the ceiling. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
He still wouldn’t look at me. Or the snacks. Obviously, he wasn’t happy. But he hadn’t asked me to stay, and it would be impolite of me to ask if I could. I thought about it for a few seconds. Aspen was polite. But so was I. Damn my manners. I couldn’t open my mouth and demand not to move. If he wanted me here, he could say something.
He continued to stare at the ceiling instead of the TV. I moved away and took the last item from my bag. A cute, silver and green striped Christmas gift. I placed it under the tree. Then I quietly opened the door and headed out.
Just as I stepped on the porch, I got a text saying it would be another hour before my cabin was ready, so I headed to the lodge lobby.
I decided the distance from the main parking lot to the lodge was further than the path. I left my car where it was, intending to move it closer to my new abode when I found out where that was. For now, I would walk to the lodge and wait there.
A cold wind had started up. The pathway was still blocked with that fallen snow drift I’d encountered after my gift shop spree. In the freezing breezes, the scattered snow drifts had frozen hard to the ground. I moved aside to get past, tugging my suitcase close behind me.
The ice was clear, nearly invisible. Even my snow boots I couldn’t get a great purchase on it. I started to slip, caught myself, but in my panic I came down hard on my other foot. Which slid right out from under me.
I let out a yelp and ugly-grunted as I landed hard on my ass. My suitcase flew out of my grip and landed in another snowdrift a few feet away. I was so shocked, I lay all the way back, my head on the ground, as I struggled to catch my breath.
Beyond my sight, a door slammed hard. I heard a loud shout.
“Dale!”
Footsteps came running up the walkway.
“Don’t slip,” I called out.
Aspen’s legs came into view as he slipped a little, then shuffled to keep his balance. One second later, he was on his knees at my side wearing nothing but his sweater, sweatpants and boots. As he leaned over me, the mountain wind whipped through his bright gold-brown hair.
Had he watched me walked away through the side window?
