Holden’s father grumbled, but took the medicine and lowered his head to the couch cushion. In true Zeke Hart fashion, he was snoring within less than a minute.
“Why don’t we step out on the deck for a moment while there’s a break in the storm? Both the one inside and the one outside.” Jill led the way. “Let’s leave him to sleep off some of that grumpiness.”
Clear skies greeted them, yesterday’s blizzard only evidenced in the single toppled tree and the fresh coat of white that draped the hillside behind the cabin.
“I like your idea of trimming it up a little. That was an excellent suggestion,” Jill encouraged. “But I think your father should accept the fact that it’s just not in the cards for our tree to represent the town.” She rubbed her forehead. “I can’t imagine many other trees fared any better.”
Holden knew she referred to the Joy tree, and it felt almost wrong to keep his knowledge to himself.
“It might not be what you want to hear, but the Joy’s tree is still standing.”
Jill’s mouth lifted into a little grin. “I’m actuallyveryglad to hear that. Our town needs a tree. It’s good that there are still options.” She glanced over at their marred evergreen and sighed. “Do you mind me asking how you know that? Please don’t tell me your father sent you over there again. I wasn’t comfortable with the first covert mission he begged you to execute.”
“No, I went all on my own. And not to check on the tree,” Holden said. “To check on Rachel.”
Jill’s surprised eyes swung back to her son. “Oh, really? And how is she?”
“Without power, like the rest of the mountain. But I got a fire going.”
Huffing a laugh, Jill almost smirked. “Holden, there’s been a fire going between you two for longer than I can recall.”
Holden bristled. “What?”
“You and Rachel. That fire between you. It’s always been there.”
“I’m not entirely sure what you’re talking about, Mom.” He challenged her with a serious expression.
“I know there’s been a competition with you two all these years, but did it ever occur to you that you were competing for more than just a winning title? Did you ever think maybe you were competing for her heart?”
“No.” Holden whipped his head in a shake. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Not until last night, at least.
“I don’t know why you’ve had such a difficult time just admitting your feelings for her.” Jill’s hand came down on her son’s shoulder in a motherly gesture. “Or admitting that she’s the reason you’ve never been able to settle down. Why you have little interest in relationships. Why you can’t seem to find your perfect partner to share your life and your adventures with.”
“Do you have some sort of emotion-detecting goggles I don’t? Because honestly, none of this ever crossed my mind.”
“I’m a mother and I know my son.” Her hand squeezed. “And I know when something brings you joy. That look when you’re on your snowmobile, speeding down the mountain. Or when you’re training Scout. Your entire being lights up,” she said. “It’s the same look you always had around Rachel. She’s been your adventure too.”
* * *
He didn’t havethe guts to call her. It wasn’t as though Rachel had been privy to Holden’s conversation with his mother, but having that revelation brought to light exposed him. He still needed to process it.
In truth, he needed to process what had happened between them the night before too.
Had Scout not interrupted them, Holden would’ve kissed Rachel. Everything within him wanted to. And he sensed everything within her did as well.
Was his mother right? Were these emotions Holden suddenly let himself feel truly there all along? Latent under the surface, just waiting for the opportunity to rise to the top?
When he’d asked her to the Winter Ball as a kid, he’d had a crush on her. He could admit that much. But she’d rejected him. No, not so much rejected as flat-out ignored. And he’d made it his subconscious mission that she wouldn’t be able to ignore him after that. Somehow, he always stayed in her periphery and she in his, until the point their paths diverged.
The summit was Holden’s home, and she’d made one elsewhere. He couldn’t fault her for that. The only person he could fault was himself, and that was over the fact that he’d wasted all these years overlooking his true feelings.
But it was too late now. Feelings aside, they were on different journeys, heading toward different goals.
He left his parents’ after lunch. Scout hopped onto the back of the snowmobile and they wove their way through the mountain neighborhoods. Sunny skies had added a few more degrees to the temperature and made going without power a lot more manageable.
He was going to text her, but the battery on his phone was running precariously low. Maybe he should just swing by her place really quick. Just to make sure she was managing okay. He’d do it for any other neighbor, wouldn’t he?
