Opening the door, she comes face to face with a local sheriff deputy.
“Ma’am, you are not going anywhere. I saw the trucks and wanted to advise you that the road is officially closed. If you folks have an emergency please use your cell to dial 9-1-1.” He tips his hat and heads back to the cruiser.
“I’ll get the rest of my stuff and start unloading the wood. I believe we are going to be stuck here together for the next few days. Trust me, I don’t like this any more than you.” He buttons his coat, pulls down his wool cap and heads out the door into the howling wind and swirling snow.
“Great. Just great.” She slams the door and plops on the sofa. “Could this day get any worse?”
The lights flicker off. The furnace stops. The refrigerator goes silent. The windows rattle against the wind and snow.
Her ex-husband pushes open the door, drops a pile of logs on the rug and throws a snow ball at her.
Yes this day just got worse, much worse.
Chapter 5
“Well you can thank your lucky stars I went camping with my crazy Uncle Chester growing up.” Thomas smiles, placing logs in the fire place, crumbling up paper and lighting a match. Suddenly, they are enjoying a roaring fire.
“You’ve told me about your uncle a hundred times. I don’t really care Thomas. How about we leave each other alone. Silence is golden.” Ginger moves closer to the fire, holding her hands out in front of her.
“What are you making for dinner?” he asks, leaning his back against the sofa and stretching his long legs in front of him.
“I’m not making you anything. You can fend for yourself. We’re not married anymore, remember.” She narrows her eyes and glares at him.
“Why did you stop loving me?” he asks, reaching for her hand.
Ginger yanks her hand away and stares down at him. With his handsome face lit by the fire and his dark eyes reflecting the dancing flames, she could almost be tempted to forget they are divorced. Almost.
“I’m not having this discussion with you. I’m hungry and heading off to bed. I’m using the bedroom, you get the sofa.”
“Ginger,” Thomas inhales a deep breath, “I still love you.”
She looks at him and sneers, “I don’t believe a single word you say. I am sleeping in that bed upstairs alone. Don’t try to sweet talk me, it won’t work.”
Ginger works to hold herself together. She will not allow him to see her break down and cry. Hopefully the snow will end soon and she’ll be able to go home.
Gathering her salad, a fork and a bottle of spring water, she heads up the steep wooden stairs to the cabin’s only bedroom. Closing the door, she pushes a chair against the handle just in case.
How dare he say he loves me! He’s not getting into my bed with persuasive words and empty promises. I don’t care how handsome he looks in the firelight, I am his ex-wife and I intend to remind him as often as necessary.
Chapter 6
The morning dawned as snowy as the previous day. She hears the wind swirl around the small cabin and bits of ice strike the bedroom window.
The smell of bacon hits Ginger’s senses before her eyes open. She inhales the scent of freshly brewed coffee. It almost makes her forget she’s snowed in with her ex.
Groaning at the blast of frigid air hitting her as she throws off the down filled covers, she slips her feet into cold furry slippers. She exhales and sees her breath. The windows are iced over from the inside. Maybe she should have taken the sofa and given Thomas the bedroom.
The first stop is the bathroom and then the kitchen for a steaming mug of that fabulous smelling coffee.
Padding downstairs she stops up short and watches Thomas make breakfast over the flames of the fireplace. “When did you learn to cook over an open fire?” she asks, looking longingly at the steaming mug his two hands are wrapped around.
“Crazy Uncle Chester. He was quite the outdoors man. Sort of the odd man out in the Alexander family. Would you like a cup of coffee?” He offers.
“You’d share with me, even after I wouldn’t share my supper with you?”
“Sure. You know why?” he asks, grinning.
“No why?” She plays along. Anything for a cup of hot coffee.
“Because I know how grouchy you get without your morning caffeine.”
“I don’t get grouchy!” I snap.
“Hmm. Right, you don’t get grouchy. There’s a mug on the counter, help yourself. The bacon and eggs will be done in a few minutes.” He takes a fork and flips over several slices of sizzling bacon.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, sure there is a reason.
“We are here together in a small cabin, so we may as well make the best of it.” He starts placing scrambled eggs and bacon on two plates.
“Thank you,” I say, grateful for the steaming coffee and warm breakfast. “How about I make lunch.”
“I’d appreciate that. See Ginger, we can be civil if we try. Let’s enjoy our breakfast and see where the day leads us,” he says, picking up a fork full of fluffy scrambled eggs and putting it in his mouth.
For the next fifteen minutes, the only sound is the crackling fire and metal forks scraping along ceramic plates.
“Why did you cheat on me?” Thomas turns and looks her in the eyes.
“What!” She gasps, red rising from her neck to her forehead, “I never cheated on you. You cheated on me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been faithful to you since the day we talked at the coffee shop,” he snarls.
“I have pictures of you with your arm around some red head in Las Vegas,” Ginger snarls back, her stomach suddenly unable to digest the eggs.
“I haven’t been to Vegas in three years. What pictures? Who gave you pictures?” he asks, blinking as if trying to make sense of her words.
“Maureen Dyer came to one of my make-up parties and laid out five photos for all the women to see. It was the most embarrassing day of my life!” She gets up, leaving her breakfast and wanders over to the sofa.
“Maureen showed me pictures of you with Andy Harmon laying on a beach kissing.” He rakes his hands through his thick black hair.
“Why didn’t you ask me about the pictures before you filed for divorce? I haven’t seen Andy since my high school reunion two years ago.” Ginger pulls a blanket up around her chin.
“It made sense at the time. You were at your convention in Florida. It was a picture of you on a beach and I recognized your bathing suit.”
“Las Vegas made sense to me. I was in Florida and when I tried calling you, your phone kept going to voice mail”
“My phone went to voice mail because somehow I misplaced it.” He sits next to her.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Ginger’s eyes burn with unshed tears.
“That my mother had someone manufacture those pictures.” He shakes his head and watches the snow pile up against the side window.
“She hated the fact you married me and that I sold make up. She was embarrassed that I didn’t have a real job.” Ginger sighs, pulling the blanket tighter.
“My attorney suggested I not speak to you about the pictures. He was sure you’d lie. I was crushed and so angry, I never even questioned him about anything. I didn’t want to talk to you anyway.”
“Who suggested your attorney?”
“My mother.”
“Your mother has always been manipulative and controlling. I should have figured out something wasn’t right. I was livid and didn’t want to hear your excuses.” Ginger uses the edge of the blanket to wipe away tears.
“We have been played. Maureen is a teller at the bank and always kisses up to my mother.” Thomas groans, rubbing at his eyes.
“We sure have and we fell right into her plan. Our emotions overrode our common sense. What a mess.”
“I’m going to take a shower.” Thomas gets up and heads toward the downstairs bathroom.
“There’s no hot water.” Ginger
reminds him.
“I don’t care. I just need to cool off before I explode. I can’t believe I was such a fool. I am sorry,” muttering to himself, he slams the bathroom door and begins running water.
Ginger swears she hears him crying.
Chapter 7
No way are they getting away from each other today. The snow is coming down an inch or more an hour. The drifts are piled as high as the top of the windows. The cabin is enveloped in darkness and silence. Neither of them are talking. Both are sitting and looking into the fireplace mesmerized by the flames and lost in their thoughts.
“How’s your business?” Thomas asks, breaking the silence.
“Doing better than I expected this month with the divorce and all. I’ve been pretty distracted.”
“Have you reached your goals for the year?” He smiles, encouraging her to open up.
“Your mother could never understand my passion for building a business selling makeup. She sneered when I earned the luxury car and top sales awards. She told me it was a waste of my college education and demeaning to the Alexander family. I tried to tell her I probably earn more than most professionals. She never listened to me. Her friends though buy thousands of dollars in products each month. I wonder if that’s going to change now we’re divorced.” Ginger frowns.
“I’m sorry for not standing up to her and supporting you. I figured I’d be wasting my breath. You did though feel I always supported your career, right?” He looks at her for validation.
“You always supported my goals. That’s why I couldn’t understand how you could cheat on me while I was at the convention? We had so many plans for the future. I thought you wanted to start a family soon.” She struggles to speak.
“I need to seriously analyze my life. It’s a wreck. I detest being the president of a bank. I feel like I’m stuck in a cage most days. What would I do if I didn’t work there? I’ve been at the bank since I was a teenager.” Thomas focuses on the fire as if the answer is dancing among the flames.
“You are a talented writer and photographer. You always wanted to travel and write.”
“It takes time to build a reputation and a business. I’m not as adventurous as you Ginger. You always took chances and made them pay off. I’m used to the tried and true. Which at this point happens to be the bank. I’m stuck.” He closes his eyes and slumps in his chair.
“You are only stuck if you believe you have no choices. If there is one thing I’ve learned working in my industry, it’s that you are in control of your choices. It’s about being willing to come out of your comfort zone. You weren’t like this a few months ago. It’s like I don’t know you anymore. When did you stop believing in yourself?”
“When I took the job as bank president. Talking about it, I realize how much my mother has controlled and manipulated my life. It was her dream that I step into my father’s shoes after he died. I think it was all about her not losing her status in the community.”
“It was our choice to divorce without talking to each other first. I still can’t believe I allowed her to break us up.” Ginger gets up and stokes the fire.
“Thank you Ginger for not making me feel like a fool. I always thought I had my act together. It is time I have a serious talk with my mother.”
“I thought you were the strongest man I’d ever met,” I say, staring at the man I’ve loved since eighth grade.
“Being married to you Ginger was the best thing that’s ever happened in my life. I am so sorry I caused you pain. I’ll do anything to make it up to you, anything.”
“Your mother acted like it was always a competition between the two of us for your attention and love. I was never accepted as part of the family.” She touches his shoulder and he places his hand over hers.
“Let’s have lunch and leave the past in the past.” She smiles and walks to the kitchen, her steps feeling a little lighter. Maybe she can make it through the next few days snowed in with her ex and still maintain her sanity. Maybe, we’ll see.
Chapter 8
I didn’t know what to say to Ginger. I let her down. I didn’t step up and be the man she expected. I allowed my mother to manipulate me. How can I ever make up for that?
I’ve loved Ginger ever since I heard her giving a book report about some girl detective named Nancy Drew. To this day she still has that childlike wonder and glow about her. She smiles more than she frowns. She laughs more than she cries. She is the kindest women I’ve ever met and I hurt her.
I have a few days to prove I deserve a second chance. How? I can’t buy her things, we are stuck in the middle of nowhere. I’ll have to show her through my actions. This is going to take some creativity and thought. I’m determined that by the time we drive down this mountain, we’ll be reconciled.
*****
I jump when my cell rings. How in the world can I even have reception?
“Hello?” I ask, more like a question than a greeting.
“Ginger it is Heather. Are you okay? Do you need me to send the National Guard to rescue you?”
“Heather I’m fine. But you’ll never guess what happened. I’m snowed in with Thomas.”
“Yes, I know. Theresa arranged it. I wasn’t happy when I heard, but maybe you two can work out your hostility and at least be civil to one another. You both live in the same town.”
“We’re talking and getting along fairly well. I’ll tell you about it when I get home. Please let everyone know we are fine up here.” Before I can say more, the connection drops.
Theresa huh, I’ll have a few choice words with my longtime friend when I get home.
I still love Thomas, but he can be a sweet talker. I’m not giving him a second chance if he doesn’t confront his mother.
Wait a minute. Did I just say I’d consider giving him a second chance? Oh boy, I’d better watch my step.
*****
I awake the next morning to the wonderful smell of coffee brewing. Thank goodness!
It’s so cold I slept with my clothes on. Thomas and I moved the bedroom mattress in front of the fireplace. We are both living downstairs and so far it is working out well. Of course we’ve been tip toeing around the elephant in the room; his mother. I’m not bringing it up if he doesn’t. He’s the one who has to decide what to do, I’m not the wife or daughter-in-law any more.
“Do you hear that?” Thomas asks.
“I don’t hear anything.” I cock my head trying to figure out what he hears.
“Exactly. I don’t hear anything outside. It’s quiet.” He gets up and heads for the front door.
“I wouldn’t open it if I were you. There could be giant drifts piled against it.” I warn.
“I doubt it. The wind was blowing from the opposite direction.” He reaches for the door handle.
Thomas opens the door and a thick wall of snow falls and covers him from head to toe, creating an instant human snowman. He stands, not saying a word. Then he laughs and starts brushing off the snow.
I hurry to help him and can’t stop laughing. “You look like the abominable snowman. I won’t say I told you so.”
He bends down and grabs a fist full of snow and rubs it in her face. She grabs a hand full and places it down his shirt. Laughing so hard, they slip on the wet puddles and tumble to the floor. Thomas lands on top of Ginger. She places her arms around his neck and pulls him into a kiss hot enough to melt all the snow on the mountain.
“Are you sure?” he asks, brushing snow out of her hair and off her eye lashes.
“No, I’m not sure. It feels right at this minute. I’ve missed you.” She pulls him down for another smoldering kiss.
“Let’s clean this up so we can close the door. I think we have some talking to do.” He holds out his hand to help Ginger to her feet.
“I think our lives just got more complicated because I still love you.” She stands on tip toes and kisses his cheek.
Just then the lights flicker on, the furnace starts humming and refrigerator begins purring. May
be now things can get back to normal, whatever that means.
Chapter 9
It took two more days for the snow plows to clear the narrow road down the mountain. For two days though, we had the best time we’ve had in years. Went for short hikes. Played cards. Took pictures. We even built his and her snow people and decorated them with button eyes and carrot noses.
“Ginger, do you think we can make our relationship work?” Thomas asks, cuddling closer as we watch the flames dance yellow and red in the fireplace.
“We’ll only have a chance if you take back your life.” I sit up straight and look him in the eyes, “I cannot do it for you. You’re on your own.”
“You’re right. I want my life back. I don’t know who I am anymore. I’ve become a clone of my father, and he was a bitter and angry man. I’m lost without you.” He hugs her tighter.
“You have to create your independence Thomas. Your mother manipulates through guilt. You have nothing to feel guilty about. You have a right to your own choices about how to live your life.” Ginger stands and looks at him, “Let’s pack and go home. We both have some life changing decisions to make.”
“I want you in my life. That’s my choice and my decision. I will fight for us with every breath I have. I’ll have a long and meaningful talk with my mother. I’m not going to put up with her manipulation anymore. She can either accept you and my choices, or she can leave us alone. I am leaving my position with the bank. I called a publisher friend while you were in the shower, we are meeting next week. He has a position available for a travel writer. What do you think, could you be married to a writer?”
“Are you asking me to marry you again? You think we should?” She stumbles over her words.
“You can do your business from anywhere. How about we buy an RV and travel the country. I’ll write and you can hold beauty parties. It can be the best of both worlds.” His smile and enthusiasm is suddenly infectious.
Snowed in With My Ex Page 2
