“To my Snoopy snow cone machine?”
“Ourblizzard,Iceman. The deadliest meet cute.” She frowned. “Still workshopping that one. But you know what I mean. Mounds of snow everywhere. The helicopters circling.”
“Shork wortch,” Jean attempted to say.
“Shark watch,” Libby translated. “That’s what the helicopter is doing.”
Hildy shivered. “That’s one thing we didn’t have to worry about on the mountain. You know what was weird? There we were, surrounded by snow and ice, which is basically water, and yet I got so thirsty.” She clutched Jefferson’s arm. “Remember when you melted snow in your little collapsible cup? Get you a man who can light a fire in the middle of an ice storm, ladies. You would not believe the things he had in those pockets.”
“We’ll not be needin’ to see any o’ that.” Jean narrowed her eyes at Jefferson as if he might be on the verge of whipping out his equipment.
“So you spent the night outside.” Libby nodded at Hildy to continue.
“In our little snow fort, yeah. Which has honestly cured me of any desire to ever go to one of those ice hotels. And then the helicopter found us in the morning, as soon as the wind died down. Thanks to my little signal.”
“Flare gun?” Libby guessed.
“That would have been badass.” She pretended to cock a bazooka. “But no. This was inspired by one of my sorority sisters who got married on the beach last summer. The photographer did these aerial shots where they spelled out ‘Mrs. and Mrs.’ with driftwood and then they took pictures with a drone. Black-and-white, so tasteful. Although some people”—she cut her eyes at Jefferson—“are too old school for drones.”
“They’re a nuisance,” Jefferson countered. “It has nothing to do with my advanced age.”
“How old are you?” Libby tried for casual, but judging by Jean’s glare, she’d missed the mark.
“Askin’ as a journalist, she is. Likes to have all the facts. ’Tisn’t that she’s personally interested, mind you.”
“He’s thirtysomething,” Hildy said, as if the exact number didn’t matter once you got up that high. “Anyway, there we were in the middle of this vast expanse of white. Absolutely no way they were going to be able to spot our snow cave from above. I could tell JJ was worried, but he didn’t want to say anything because he’s so protective.”
Libby found herself nodding and hurriedly assumed a neutral expression. “And then?”
“I suggested we drag some branches over to make an arrow, pointing at the cave. And it worked.” She gave a modest shrug.
“It was a good idea,” Jefferson said.
“All’s well that ends well, am I right? Look at us now.” Hildy plucked a piece of mochi from his dish, popping it in her mouth. “Alive and thriving.”
It was hard not to be charmed by Hildy, even when she was causing Libby acute stress, with a side of envy. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Hildy gave an eager nod. “It’s like coming full circle. The whole reason I was out there is because of you.”
The shave ice reconstituted inside Libby’s stomach, a lump of frozen dread. “What do you mean?”
“Remember that post about how getting lost can be the quickest way to find yourself? You were describing that silent retreat you went on.”
“‘I speak to myself with the voice of the trees,’” Jean quoted, puffing out her cheeks to make whistling-wind sound effects.
“It—can be, uh, good. Spending time on your own. Alone.” Libby was clinging to a buoy of make-believe in a sea of guilt. There were a lot of things you could say about Lillibet, but she’d never guessed “accidental murderer” would be among them.
“Right? And like you said, surprising things can happen when you open up to inspiration. Like, I thought it was going to be a weekend of mountain air, digital detox, and thinking deep thoughts in my yurt. The perfect conditions to put together a killer business proposal. Which is a whole other topic.” She made a swiping motion with one hand, physically shoving it to one side. “Back to our adventure. All my plans went out the window when I met JJ.”
“And almost died,” he reminded her.
“Because an experience like that makes you realize there’s no time to waste. You have to pay attention to the signs telling you,This is your moment. Grab it while it’s hot.” She looked to Libby for affirmation.
“Yes,” Libby said slowly. “Although, there are signs, and then… there are signs.”
Jean gave her a look that said,Are you stupid or just an idiot?
“Do you believe in coincidence?” Hildy asked.
