by Debbie Zello
“I love the snow. I’ll be working at the mountain for the resort.”
“Okay, that explains it.” The two women continued their conversation drinking their coffee and eating their cake. Cindy let Briah in on all of the local shops and what they sold. She told her to wait for the sales at the end of fall, which translated to the end of the changing of the leaves. All of the tourists go home until ski season begins. You can find some real bargains in-between fall and ski season.
Briah now knew what grocery store to go to, which gas station had the best price and when the sales were going to be. How friendly everyone was and the fact that they barely locked their doors at night. “Are you married, dating, living together, anything?” Cindy asked. Briah felt the scab tear that covered her heart.
“No, not anymore.”
“That sounded like it was sore. I’m sorry for asking,” Cindy said sympathetically. Briah fought the tears that always threatened at the mere thought of Aiden.
“It’s okay, how would you know? I just came out of a break-up. It’s only been a few weeks and it still hurts a lot.”
“I know that feeling well. You need to get back on the skis. I think I know just the guy for you. I work with a great guy, Stu Jefferys. I can fix you up with him.”
“No thank you, Cindy. I’m not dating anyone for the foreseeable future. I have a new job and a new home, that’s enough new for me.”
“Sure, let me know if you change your mind.” Briah’s phone chirped.
“Excuse me,” she said, getting up and picking it up from the counter. She had set a Google-alert for any information on the verdict of the trial. She quickly read the report.
Verdict on murder trial of mobster, David Slater. Guilty on all counts. Sentencing scheduled for two weeks from today. Assistant District Attorney Blain Kurtz states that justice has been served and the victim can rest in peace.
“Everything all right?” Cindy asked.
“Yeah, everything is fine,” Briah said, with a sigh. Not that it helped her heart, but it makes everything better to know he’d be in jail. The two women heard a knock at the door.
“That’s probably my husband Ryan,” Cindy said. “I left him a note telling him I was here and if he got home to come over.”
“Okay, I’ll get it,” Briah said, walking to the door. Standing outside was a man of medium height and the biggest smile Briah had ever seen. He had more teeth than the average person did, she was sure. Briah opened the door and said, “Ryan?”
“I see my reputation has preceded me,” he said laughing. “Don’t believe anything Cindy has told you unless it’s good stuff.” Briah laughed and closed the door behind him. They walked back to the kitchen.
“Don’t you love what Cherie has done with the house?” Cindy asked.
“I do, it looks great!” he said.
“What would you like to drink? Cindy made a coffee cake,” Briah said.
“I know. The smell of it cooking was driving me insane. If you have coffee and the cake, I’ll be in heaven.”
“Coming right up!” Briah said. She walked to the counter and poured a cup for Ryan. Walking back to the table with the coffee, a plate, and fork, she cut the cake for him. “Here you go. So, tell me, how long have you been married?”
“Three years next month. We met in high school, went away to different colleges, and then came back and found each other,” Ryan said.
“Everyone thought our marriage was meant to be. My name was Cindy Furr and he is Ryan Frost.” Briah was trying not to laugh.
“Furr and Frost? That does sound perfect!” Briah said.
“I didn’t have to change my initials on my luggage. So I married him.”
“See! I was convenient. That’s my gift,” he said, taking a big bite of cake. “Honey, this is good.”
“It is good. I’m not much of a baker, you’ll have to teach me,” Briah said.
“No problem, I’d love to.”
Chapter Sixteen
The mountains. They had always been her good place. Briah drew strength from their height. Courage from their rocks. Acceptance from their slopes. Peace from their majesty.
Her first stop was at the resort to find Tom Dunn, her new boss. The resort was enormous and elegant. It was a relatively new construction and simply breathtaking. The outside was wood and rock edifice with an alpine feel. The lobby was rich with hues of brown and burnt orange furniture in small seating groups. White birch trees dotted the pillars with slate flooring and a huge rock covered fireplace against the wall. Briah found herself much like a ping-pong ball bouncing back and forth taking in the expanse.
She walked slowly up to the reception desk and said, “Good morning. Would you please tell me where I might find Tom Dunn?”
“Of course, is he expecting you?” the perky woman asked.
“I’m sorry, I’m Cherie Ames. I’m going to be working here beginning on Monday.”
“Oh yes! We were told about you. I’m Carla Sims; Tom is expecting you to stop by. His office is down that hall on the left,” she said pointing the way.
“Thank you so much. I look forward to working with you.”
“Me too. You’ll love working here. It’s like a family,” Carla said smiling.
“Wonderful. I could use a family,” Briah said walking away smiling. The door to Mr. Dunn’s office was at the very end of the hall. Briah passed by framed pictures on the walls depicting the lodge at different times of the year. Each one more beautiful than the last. She secretly hoped this would become her haven and that this time, it would last.
She approached the door and gave it a determined knock. From within she heard a strong male voice say, “Come in.”
Briah cracked open the door and stuck her head in saying, “Mr. Dunn, I’m Cherie Ames.”
“Come in, Cherie, please. It’s so nice to meet you,” he said standing and coming around the desk to shake her hand. “I’m glad you stopped by. Have you had a chance to look around?”
“A little around the town. I’m going to walk the mountain when I leave here.”
“Walk the mountain?”
“Yes. I want to see it before its covered in snow. I like to know the trails, see the trouble areas. It’s easier to get the lay of the land when it isn’t freezing out.”
“Very true. You’ve never skied here before?” he asked curiously.
“No. I want to thank you for taking me on,” she said smiling.
“With your resume and letters of recommendation, I would have been nuts not to. To find someone that can run the ski shop, take care of rentals, and the ski patrol is a real find. Helping out in the office during the off-season is a plus. Most of our people want May through August off,” he said taking his seat again and motioning her to sit.
“What can you tell me that I should know about the inner workings?” she asked taking a seat.
“Well, I could wait until Monday when you’re on the clock, so to speak,” he said winking.
“I’m here now, you might as well lay it on me,” she said winking back.
“We hire a lot of college kids for the season. They’re great with energy and enthusiasm but lack the commitment. If they have been up partying, they tend to call out. So, even if your schedule seems fine, if you have a few absent, you’re the replacement. I’m in my office now, come the snow, I’m on the hill right along with you.”
“Okay. I need to make the ski shop run without my constant presence. At least tell me we have more responsible employees there.”
“I tend to put people with more experience in the shops. The job itself attracts them anyway. Unless you’re a ski-bum, like me, you want to be inside where it’s warm!” he said laughing.
“I can see that. I’m a bum too, in spite of the connotation,” Briah said joining him in a good laugh.
“Do you want me to show you around, or do you want to wait? Go see your mountain?”
“I’m going to see the mountain. Listen to what it tells me,” Briah
said smiling reflectively.
“I’ll see you on Monday then. If you have any questions or need anything, call me or stop back in. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Cherie,” he said standing to see her to the door.
“Thank you, for me too.”
Walking out of the lodge’s front door, Briah looked up at her mountain home. The ski-trails were clearly etched in the mountain’s facade. Taking a deep, calming breath, she said softly, “Okay my friend; let’s see what you’ve got to offer.”
She drove across the street and parked near the currently immobile ski lifts. Taking her small backpack from the seat next to her, she began her hike up the mountain.
The grass was verdant green under her hiking boots. The trees that lined the trails were also thick and lush from the recent rain. Briah made her way past the lower portion of the trails to the middle, before stopping to turn and look back at the panorama.
The lodge was in full view, with the condominiums behind it. The complex was huge and she was now a part of it. She took a long pull from her water bottle and then turned back to the mountain.
It took her slightly over an hour to climb the rest of the way. The scenery from the top was spectacular. She could see for miles in almost every direction. The ancient rocks told their tales of storms and turmoil. The trees acquainted her with the visitors long gone, and critters that lived amongst them. The wind spoke of tempest, laughter, and cries of injuries past. All in all, lifetimes of memories.
Briah lay back on the grass to look up at the sky. Listening to the breeze moving swiftly through the trees, she fell asleep. Dreaming, she could see Aiden’s face; feel his hands on her body, and his lips on hers. The tear that seeped from the side of her eyes and ran into her ear, woke her.
Sitting up and drying her eyes, she said sadly, “I’m leaving you here with the rocks and trees. I’ll come back from time to time to visit, but for now, you’ll live here, Aiden. I can’t have you in my heart anymore, it hurts too much.”
Aiden was beating himself up with Briah’s memory by drinking. He stopped working out completely, choosing to sleep off the night before, with regularity. He frequented the local bars and the liquor stores. After all, he didn’t care what anyone thought about him now. Briah was gone. Her opinion was the only one that really mattered to him.
The summer passed in a beer and whiskey fog. Everything in his life appearing to Aiden just like that warm dark yellow color as he looked in his glass. Depression feeds depression, until it no longer is just a feeling, it simply becomes everything. That’s where Aiden found himself. That level in life beyond self-destruction.
“You look like shit, Aiden. Are you actually trying to kill yourself, or just hoping it happens?” Pete said handing him a coffee.
“I don’t need this right now, Pete,” Aiden said taking the coffee.
“I don’t expect that you want to hear it. I’ve known you for three years, Aiden. You’ve never let your personal life fuck up your professional before. I just wanted to point out you are doing that now,” Pete said walking away.
“You can request a new partner anytime you wish to, Pete. I’m not holding you here.”
“No, you’re not. Loyalty is holding me here. What you and I used to share. You have my back and I yours.
“Look, I know what you’re going through. I know what you’ve lost. Do you think for one minute that she isn’t suffering too? She is somewhere, feeling just like you, and alone. I think you have the balls to stand up and get on with your life, just like she’s doing, but you need to do it soon. You can’t keep wallowing in your misery,” he said turning away to focus on the papers in front of him.
“I feel like I’ve been shredded. Torn open, allowing everything worth anything to spill out. I can see it all in front of me, but I can’t stop it from seeping away.”
“You’re giving your life, future, and your career to a beer and a bottle of scotch. For a smart guy, you’re acting very stupid. Make an appointment and talk to somebody if you can’t talk to me. But for God’s sake, please don’t throw your life away, Aiden. She wouldn’t want that for you.”
For the first time ever, Aiden was glad his back was to Pete. He wouldn’t be able to see his face. From his desk drawer, he took out the green employee handbook he had previously never even opened. He thumbed through it until he found the page he was looking for. He punched the numbers into his cell and held it to his ear.
“Good morning. I’d like to make an appointment to talk to someone….no, I’m not going to hurt myself, at least not that way…job related…yes, in a roundabout way…tomorrow at three is fine. Thank you. Good bye,” Aiden said hanging up.
Pete turned around to look at his friend. “You know if you need anything, all you have to do is ask. Right?”
“What I need, no one can help with, Pete. I need to turn back time. Say fuck everything, and go with her. Figure it out as we go along. Instead, I abandoned her, and left her to figure everything out alone. What kind of man does that to the woman he says he loves?”
“Hindsight is always clear, my friend. You made an extremely difficult decision in a few minutes. You used the information available to you. You did the right thing, at the time. It’s still the right thing.”
“If it’s the right thing, then why do I feel like crap?” Aiden asked.
“No answer for that one. Sometimes the right decision just hurts.”
Chapter Seventeen
Briah loved her job. How Brice found it, or how she got it, was a mystery. She felt that Tom didn’t know her circumstances. Clearly, Cindy or Ryan didn’t either. The whole thing was anonymity personified.
Briah’s organizational skills, combined with her desire to succeed, allowed her to have the ski shop and rental side of her job up and running smoothly, in only a few weeks. She had all of the old, worn and damaged equipment repaired or removed within the first month.
She learned the mountain’s secrets, with her weekend walks over and around it. How a sudden change in the direction of the wind might cause a peaceful snowfall to turn ugly. Briah was now part of the original and oldest ski patrol in the United States. With a tradition of excellence and bravery that other ski areas modeled their own patrols after.
As the summer ended and the fall changed the colors around her from green to wonderful, Briah’s love for the area and its people deepened. She had become friendly with some of the storeowners in Stowe. She was an avid reader and one of her first pleasures was the Bear Pond Book Store in the center of town. Jen, the owner, was a sweet woman very knowledgeable about the town and the books she sold. Briah spent many hours combing her shelves for a good romance to plunge into.
Pottery, woolens, and of course maple syrup, were sold in the Mercantile on Main Street. Small coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and restaurants dotted the landscape to her delight. As the time passed, she felt less and less like a banished woman with a scarlet letter. Not as much like the one that had done something wrong. Maybe it was just that her regularly scheduled programming had been interrupted and now her show was back on.
Briah had plastic cling pumpkins, witches, and black cats stuck on the windows of her house. The real pumpkins on her porch had long ago frozen in the cold fall nights or were eaten by the squirrels and had to be thrown out. She had her bowl of candy by the door as she turned on her porch light, a direct invitation for the zombies and other creatures of the night to ring her bell.
Briah loved Halloween. It was her favorite holiday for two reasons. First, it was so much fun to decorate for, and second, it meant the snow was coming soon. She saw her first candy thief approaching her door. A sweet little girl with pink faux fairy wings and a tin foil halo rang her bell. Briah opened the door with a huge grin.
“Trick or treat,” the little angel said.
“You are adorable, sweetie. I love your wings.”
“Thank you.”
“Here you go,” Briah said handing the tiny thing the bowl so she could pick what she wan
ted. As she dug through the different kinds of candy Briah had in there, Briah looked up at the man at the bottom of the stairs.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi. Your little girl is beautiful,” Briah said.
“Thank you but she isn’t mine. She is my niece; I’m just taking her around for my sister tonight. My brother-in-law is in Afghanistan,” he explained.
“I’m so sorry he is missing this. Please thank your sister for her husband’s service to our country,” Briah said throwing a few more candy bars in the fairy’s bag.
“I will, thank you. Cindy said you were one of the nicest people she had ever met. She doesn’t exaggerate.”
“You know Cindy?”
“I work with her. I’m Stu Jefferys. I believe that she may have mentioned my name,” he said as he walked up the steps. His hand went out towards Briah but she couldn’t take her eyes from the face of the man before her. He had walked into the light cast from her porch. Out of the shadows came this man with cobalt blue eyes. His smile was wide surrounded by soft looking lips and perfect white teeth. His hair was very nearly black and fairly long, touching the collar of his jacket.
A few seconds passed, as she stood there stunned by him. She swallowed hard and then placed her hand in his. “Yes, Cindy mentioned you to me. I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Jefferys.”
“Stu, please. If you say Mr. Jefferys, I look around for my father,” he said flashing that blinding smile. He held her hand way past an acceptable length of time, not wanting to end the contact. Regretfully, he had to let her go or risk scaring her with his attention.
The tiny fairy tugged on his pant leg. “Uncle Stu, can we go?”
“Sure sweetie, I was just introducing myself to the nice lady. You can go to the next house. I’ll be right behind you,” Stu said without looking away from Briah.
“Bye darling, I hope you get lots of candy tonight,” Briah said staring straight at Stu.
