Charlie
I take Andy’s hand, and we start walking the trail of the provincial park he took me to. I don’t know if I’m going to make it for the whole hike. My legs feel like noodles after last night and the sugar rush from the hot chocolate was gone before we even got out of Andy’s truck.
Andy is nuts. Absolutely no one else is here. I’ve been to this park before, during thesummerwhen normal people come here. There is a short hike to a beautiful man-made lake that’s great for swimming because the bottom is all sand. No cutting your feet on weird, jagged rocks like some of the other lakes in the area.
“If you think I'm skinny dipping in this weather, you are insane,” I tell him flatly. “Pretty sure you are actually insane for going hiking after it’s snowed.”
Andy laughs. “So you’ve been to the lake before then, I take it? No, we’re not skinny-dipping sweetheart. I may be a little crazy, but not completely insane.”
I snort. “So where are we going then?”
“Do you really think I’m going to keep it a secret this long and then spill the beans right before we get there?” he asks with a smirk.
I shrug. “It’s not a long hike, is it? My legs are freaking sore.”
Andy chuckles knowingly. “I’ll bet they are. And no, not longat all. In fact ...”
He lets himself trail off as we round a corner of the trail and that’s when I see the opening in the trees, with a huge, mostly frozen waterfall in the center. There is a light, tinkling sound and when we get closer, I can see that there is still a little bit of water falling over top the ice. The whole thing looks like a large, glistening crystal.
“So beautiful,” I mutter.
“Yeah, she is,” Andy responds gruffly.
I look over at Andy and notice him watching me and roll my eyes. “You and Max both, are so very very corny.”
“We come by it honestly,” Andy answers with a grin and a shrug.
He makes his way over to the firepit and starts unpacking his mystery supplies. The trip to the grocery store seemed to be for smores ingredients but he also pulls out one of those easy light fire logs and a couple blankets from a backpack I hadn’t noticed before.
“Normally I don’t use these easy start logs,” Andy tells me while he lights it. “But I didn’t want to risk the firewood being too wet to start when we got out here. I’ll have to show you my lumberjack skills another time.”
Andy throws a blanket down on one of the logs for me and gestures for me to sit. He fiddles with the fire for a little longer but then sits on the stump beside me.
“Do you come out here often?” I ask him.
“Only in the winter. In the summer it’s way too crowded here. I like the peace and quiet. It’s one of my favourite spots.”
That irrational green monster infiltrates my mind before I can stop her. “Do you bring a lot of girls out here?” Get it together Charlie. He’s not yours.
Lucky for me, Andy doesn’t seem put off by my wholly inappropriate question and says, “No actually. I come out here by myself when I need to get away from it all and think things through. A distraction is what you need, so a distraction is what I will provide.”
“Well, that’s very kind of you,” I respond with a smile.
Andy smirks at me. “Are we a little jealous Charlie?”
I can feel my cheeks redden. “No!” I answer too quickly. “Just curious.”
“Mhmm, sure.” Andy winks at me and pulls two telescopic roasting sticks out of the bag. I like the idea of a man who is always prepared.
“I haven’t had a smore since I was a little girl.” I am trying to change the subject.
“A crime that we will rectify immediately,” Andy responds while handing me one of the roasting sticks. He rips open the marshmallows and passes me one.
We’re silent for a few minutes while we roast the marshmallows. The only sounds are the waterfalls light tinkling and the pop and crackle of the fire. It really is peaceful out here.
“Ah shit!” Andy exclaims, making me look over at him. His marshmallow is on fire.
I giggle as I watch him blow out the now completely black marshmallow. He grins over at me and says, “Just how I like it. Completely charred.”
