“I can hear you,” Lucy dryly replied.
I smiled despite myself, but the knot in my chest remained. Snowboarding felt different from the guitar. It was public. Itwas another group activity where I would likely fade into the background or stand out for the wrong reasons.
And yet saying no felt heavier than saying yes.
“Okay,” I said finally. “I’ll try.”
Lydia squealed and wrapped her arms around me before I could reconsider.
“It’s going to be amazing,” she declared, already talking about helmets and jackets and who would inevitably fall first.
As she bounced away, I stood there for a moment longer, letting the noise of my sisters wash around me.
Chapter Four: Fresh Snow
Caleb
Hale Lodge was already busy when I arrived, which wasn’t surprising given the time of year or the confidence people brought to snow before it reminded them that gravity was not optional. The beginner slope buzzed with nervous energy. Boots were tightened too much, helmets were adjusted that didn’t need adjusting, and people stared uphill as if the mountain might reconsider its intentions.
I signed in at the instructors’ desk, clipped my badge on, and reviewed the group list again. Group lessons paid better than private ones, and I needed the extra income more than I liked admitting. Teaching worked for me because it was contained. I explained things. People tried them. Nobody asked me to be anything other than competent.
The Bennet sisters were listed together.
I had just finished checking the bindings on a demo board when I heard a group of women approaching.
“This is going to be so fun,” one of them announced loudly.
I turned as they approached, and the energy shifted immediately.
A similar looking woman walked at the front, already surveying the slope with a focused expression, like she was mentally preparing a report on the structural integrity of snow. They all looked alike yet different. Five women who were dressed in winter gear, adjusting gloves or looking around at the hillside.
Kitty was one of them.
She moved carefully, watching where she stepped and keeping a bit of distance from the others. When she spotted me, her expression flickered with recognition before she caught herself and smoothed it away.
“Hi,” she said, a little breathless. “I didn’t realize you would be teaching.”
“Surprise,” I replied. “You still have time to pretend you don’t know me.”
Her mouth curved slightly. “I think it’s too late for that.”
One of her sisters stopped short and looked between us. “Wait. You know each other?”
Kitty’s shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly. “I signed up for guitar lessons earlier this week. Caleb has the music shop downtown.”
One of the women tilted her head as she regarded Kitty. “You didn’t mention this.”
“This is Meri, Lucy, Jane, and Lydia,” Kitty named her sisters, pointing to each in turn while ignoring Meri’s observation.
“I’m Caleb Green,” I introduced myself.
“You didn’t think it was relevant that you already knew our snowboarding instructor?” Lydia wondered as she studied Kitty.
“I didn’t know he was our snowboarding instructor,” Kitty dryly mentioned.
“That feels like a technicality,” Lydia replied.
I cleared my throat lightly and clapped my hands once. “All right, let’s start with equipment.”
