“My car …”
“Will still be a few days. I’m still waiting on parts, but you can take my truck. Bring it back when you come through to collect your car.” He turned and walked away. It was like the last twenty-four hours meant nothing to him while they meant everything to me.
“Chris …” I called out to his retreating form.
“Yeah?” He spun around and looked at me as unshed tears blurred my vision.
I wanted him to ask me to stay. I wanted him to offer to come with us. I wanted him to want me. Instead, I said thank you and focused on my own suitcase.
Barely twenty minutes later, we were all packed up. There was no sign we’d ever been in Chris’s apartment, and his truck was idling on the street.
I felt sick. This felt like the end and I didn’t want it to be. In fact, that was the last thing I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be the beginning. Our beginning. The beginning of something new, something fierce, something all-consuming. But my hopes were fading as Chris hugged Noelle and made her promise to be good.
He strode around to the driver’s side and held the door open for me. As I approached, I took a deep breath, willing myself not to cry. It had only been a few days. I couldn’t have fallen in love with him in just a few short days. Surely not. No, it was just a crush and one I’d get over.
“The roads will be slippery. Take it slow andyou’ll be fine. You have my number so call if you need anything.” Chris’s words sounded hollow and automatic. There was no feeling there. Nothing but cold indifference.
“I’ll bring your truck back as soon as I can.”
“It’s fine. It’ll be a couple of days before your car is back on the road, but I’ll let you know. Once I get what I need, it’ll only take a few hours.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, you better get going. You want to be there before dark.”
I climbed up into the cab and adjusted the seat. Once everything was set, I reached for the door. Chris was still standing there. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he never did. I was praying he’d say something. Anything. Instead, he stepped back, closed the door, and waved us goodbye.
What else could I do? I buried my feelings, shoved the truck in drive, and eased out onto the road. We drove through the streets of Evergreen Lake, the town coming back to life after the storm before heading up the mountain.
I’d been driving for ten minutes when I realized Noelle hadn’t said anything. I’d been so caught up in my head, I hadn’t noticed her silence.
“You doing okay, kiddo?” I asked, trying to sound cheerful and risking a quick glance in the rearview mirror.
“I wish Chris could come,” she replied.
I white-knuckled the steering wheel and focused on the road. “So do I, Noelle. So do I.”
Halfway up the mountain we slowed to a crawl. Although the road was clear, fallen rocks that had blocked it earlier could be seen. On both sides, trees were down, debris was scattered, and snow was banked up. Thankfully, it was an uneventful drive and we made it in one piece.
We came around the corner. “Wow,” I exclaimed, unsure what I’d been expecting.
“It’s so pretty, Mom,” Noelle echoed.
She wasn’t wrong. It looked like something straight out of a fairytale. All lit up against the backdrop of dramatic mountains and snow, the oversized log cabin looked warm and welcoming. Slowly, I edged the truck toward the valet station and climbed out. Ignoring the look I got as they unpacked our bags, with Noelle’s hand wrapped in mine, we headed inside to check-in.
After we’d made it to our room, unpacked, I’d had a shower, and ran out of excuses to stall, I called Dad and let him know we’d arrived. As expected, he was already down in the lounge and expected us to join him for dinner. Meanwhile, Nikkie was muttering about how rude I was for not letting her know we’d be arriving today and the inconvenience she now faced to change the dinner reservation.
I let Noelle hang out in her comfy clothes and play on her iPad while I fussed with my hair and makeup. This wasn’t me though. I was the girl who walked through the snow and camped on an air mattress in front of the fire. I didn’t need the oversized king bed and a view across the valley. Sure, it was nice, but it was also excessive.
I tried my best to steam our dresses and get the creases out, but after being packed up for more than a week the creases weren’t going anywhere. At least Nikkie could pick on that and hopefully leave everything else alone.
“How do I look?” I asked Noelle, twirling in a circle.
“You look pretty, Mom,” she replied, warming me from the inside.
“And you look like a princess,” I told her as she fluffed her dress.
Taking her hand, I led her through the hotel, nodding to the guests as we passed on our way to the dining room. After givingthe maître d’ our names, he showed us to the table where Dad was already nursing a scotch, and Nikkie’s claw-like nails were wrapped around the stem of a crystal champagne glass.
