Tav jumped out of the vehicle, slamming the door behind him before he opened the trunk of the car and pulled out a flashlight. He bounced to beam around the trees and up the road. It was covered in multiple inches of new fallen snow but not so much that you couldn't see tire tracks from the last person that’d crossed the bridge before us.
“At least we know someone else is up here with us."
"That could be a blessing or a nightmare," Tav uttered. He pulled his rucksack over his shoulders and then held mine up. "You ready? It should only be another mile up the road.”
“Comforting." I frowned as I climbed out of the car, a blast of chilly air much cooler than Tav’s attitude had ever been. "Luckily, I’ve been going extra hard on leg day. That mountain doesn’t have anything on me." I held up my tiny biceps like I was showing off.
Tav couldn't help but laugh, the crinkle at his eyes always made me smile and made even the stressful moments worth it. "Is there anything else you need in here for tonight? We can come back in the morning for the rest.”
"I think I've got everything."
“Do you have your pills?”
I nodded. I could hear them even now rattling in the tiny side pocket I'd tucked them into earlier.
“Off we go then." Tav charged off into the darkness ahead of me.
I hustled after him, reluctant to get too far behind. I followed his footsteps, allowing my smaller ones to nestle inside of his as we climbed. By the time we’d reached the curve at the top of the road, I was roasting hot inside my winter jacket. I paused, taking in the black landscape, evergreen limbs reaching out to kiss our fingers as the road narrowed to an almost two-track while it hugged the edge of a cliff.
The water rushed loudly below us, the crisp wind biting my cheeks and bringing a smile to my face.
“We made it," Tav hummed.
Tears of joy nearly iced my cheeks as I took in a sprawling chalet nestled in a stand of fat evergreens. One warm yellow light reflected out through the floor to ceiling peaked windows.
“This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”
“And the coldest," Tav huffed, pushing the rest of the small incline up the path until he reached the driveway of the chalet.
“Do you think anyone else lives up here?”
“I don’t see those car tracks anymore, the wind must have erased them.”
“It feels like we’re the only people on top of the world. I didn’t even know New England had mountains this big.”
“I know you said you wanted to go to Alaska some day, but this felt like the next best thing." Tav pulled me into his arms when I was close enough.
“I love it." I breathed as we walked up the driveway together, the chalet cozy amid the frozen landscape.
“I heard there’s a waterfall, maybe we can go for a morning hike and look for it.”
“Sounds perfect," I whispered as we climbed the steps of the chalet. Tav pressed his thumb at a hidden keypad.
“I scanned my fingerprint on the app on my phone—that’s how we lock and unlock the doors. Isn’t that cool?” Tav swung the door wide open and a blast of heat thawed my cheeks.
A warm fire crackled in the corner and soft jazz music played from hidden speakers.
“Wow."
“I told you it was going to be good. There’s a sunken spa bathtub that has your name on it in the master bathroom.”
“Would you like me to draw a bath?"A female voice sang through the speakers.
“Who was that?" I froze.
Tav dropped his bag as he laughed. "It’s a smart house.Turn on the kitchen lights please.”
“Lights on."The voice responded.
