As I turned to head out again, she blurted, “You’re going back?”
“Yeah. There’s still some stuff in the trunk we might need.”
“Be careful,” she called out.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if with all the action I’d seen a snowstorm took me out?
The second trek saw a chill settling in me that had my leg aching something fierce. The thick falling snow clung to me head to toe, turning me into an abominable monster and not the cute one you saw in classic Christmas movies. My tracks were only barely visible, the storm doing its best to wipe them out, but I found the car once more, its hump distinctive now that snow covered most of it.
The shovel I’d bought in town got slung over a shoulder and I managed to grab the rest of the items in the trunk before slogging uphill to the chalet, huffing slightly, not from exertion but from the stabbing pain in my thigh. I’d need a soak in the hot tub to ease the tight flesh, but being a man, and not one to shirk even when in discomfort, tending my injury would wait until the chores were done. The wood-fired hot tub would stay hot even if the power went out. It might not have any jets, because those needed the engine to run, but I’d take what I could for relief.
I dropped the shovel just outside the door and brought myself and the last of the supplies inside. The woman didn’t immediately jump to my aid this time. She attempted to put a sweater on the kid but ran into a problem given the toddler clutched a cookie in a tight fist. The woman used a stern voice that brought a sulk to the child’s face but also resulted in the cookie being relinquished long enough the arm could be poked through a sleeve. With the sweater on, mom set the toddler free and Zaza snatched the soggy mess before getting into a staring match with Percy, who sat on its haunches, blocking the way into the living area with crossed arms.
Yeah, crossed. I didn’t know lizards did that.
I hung up my snow-laden jacket and placed my boots on the rubber mat so they wouldn’t leave a puddle on the floor. Then I wondered, what next?
The woman bustled to the kitchen and grabbed a towel. I wondered why until she started drying the floor by the door.
“Here, I’ll get that,” I said, reaching for the cloth.
“It’s the least I can do, seeing as how you had to make two trips in that storm.”
The toddler suddenly went tottering for Percy, chirping, “Mio.” The wise lizard clambered atop the couch out of reach.
“I’m sorry,” the woman murmured, rising with the damp towel. “Zaza is fascinated by dinosaurs and seems to think your pet is one.”
“Can’t blame her. Percy is kind of cool.”
“Thank you for being so accommodating.”
“Bah.” Yeah, they were imposing, but I’d survive. Maybe. “You said you’d been here before. Is the owner your friend?”
She shook her head. “He was my husband’s acquaintance and offered us the use of the chalet a few years ago. When I had to leave and needed somewhere to go, I remembered him mentioning he didn’t rent it out in the winter.”
“Apparently, he’s willing to for the right price.” I cleared my throat. “Uh, seeing as how you’ve been here before, you know where everything is. Feel free to use the kitchen and any food you find. I’m staying in the master upstairs and have the other bedroom set up as an office. You can have the guest bedroom on the main floor.”
“Thank you. Just so you know, if I’d have known the chalet was occupied, I would have gone somewhere else.”
I bent down to grab the emergency supplies I’d brought in. “Do you have anywhere else to go?”
She bit her lip before shaking her head. “I’ll figure something out. Staying here was only going to be temporary.”
“Until what?” I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but I had to wonder at her plan. She obviously fled an untenable situation but didn’t seem to have thought through her next steps.
Her shoulders rolled. “Until I found a job.”
“And a sitter, because most places won’t let you take your kids to work,” I pointed out as I began unpacking the candles and placing them on the counter so they’d be in reach if the power went.
“I’m aware that it won’t be easy.”
“Must have been a real shitty situation if you left without a concrete plan,” I casually tossed out, turning away to plug the lantern into a socket and get it charging. It only came with the battery partially full. I softened my rebuke with, “At least you took the first step by leaving the asshole hitting you, but now you need to figure out how you and that kid are going to survive.”
Her hand flew to her face as if she could belatedly cover the shiner. “I acted without real forethought, but I had no choice.” She glanced at the toddler who was offering her soggy cookie to Percy, who’d clambered down close enough for a sniff. “I had to protect Zaza.”
My entire body tightened. She worried the child would be abused next. What kind of sick fuck would hurt a baby?
“You’re safe here,” was my gruff reply. “I might not be the coddling type but I don’t hurt women and children.”
