by Sandy Nadeau
The magic of the moment astounded her. Tears formed in her eyes. Emotions caught up in her throat. This. This was her new Christmas. This had to become the memory she needed to move on.
~*~
It was heavenly, moving across the lake with her in his arms. Whatever God was up to in her heart, Steve loved it and didn’t want this moment to end. “Are you having a good time?” He spoke into her ear.
She leaned her head against his. “Yes, I am.”
As he guided her into a spin, he noticed a tear on her cheek. “Are you crying?”
She giggled. “Yes, I am.”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“Yes, I do.” She let go of his hold and took off ahead. Arms outstretched, she went into a spin on her own. He remembered how good she used to skate. Then, reaching out again, she raised one leg behind her, leaned forward, and spun. She skated beautifully. As she circled back toward him, her face lit up with a smile that spread wide. The cold air tinged her cheeks pink.
He took her hand and pulled her to him. They stood there staring into each other’s eyes for what seemed like forever. He wanted it to be forever. He leaned over, slowly nearing her lips with his own, unsure of what her response would be.
She tipped her head and began to close the gap.
He thought the ice would melt beneath them.
Just before their lips met, a scream punctuated the air, stealing the moment away.
18
The sound brought Ronnie back to reality.
A teenage boy lay on the ice not far from them.
People started to circle around him.
Steve and Ronnie rushed over.
“What happened?” Steve asked as they began to assess him.
“Owwww…my ankle!”
Steve checked his ankle. As he stabilized it, he whispered to Ronnie what he found. “It feels loose. Keep him calm and distracted.”
“Someone call for an ambulance!” Ronnie shouted to those gathering around the commotion.
Ronnie scooted near the young man’s side. “What’s your name?”
“Brian. Where’s my dad?” He continued to cry out in pain.
A man skated up to them. “Brian, are you OK?
“Are you his father?” Ronnie looked up at the man.
“Yes.”
“We’re medics. We need to get something under him and take him off the ice before shock sets in. Give me your jacket.” Her stern order prompted several jackets to come flying off around them. She started the head to toe survey. With her glove off, she felt behind Brian’s head and found blood, which prompted another yelp. She repositioned herself with both knees near his head.
“Steve, head injury.”
“OK,” Steve looked at the gathered crowd. “We need to get these jackets under him away from the ice. We’re going to roll him. I need you, Dad, to roll him up, you two slide the jackets under him—carefully.” He pointed to the dad and two other men.
The dad skated around to the other side of his son.
With Steve holding the leg, Ronnie gripped each side of the teen’s head. She nodded at everyone, “On my count. One, two, three…” Ronnie held his head firmly to move the head in alignment with the body.
The dad gently rolled him up, jackets rapidly slid under the boy who screamed out again.
“Easy, easy. OK, back down.”
“Brian, we’re going to leave your skate on for now. But you need to try to calm down. The ambulance will be here soon.” Steve kept a firm grip on the leg with one hand, checking the bones up to the knee with the other.
Sirens wailed as the ambulance neared the lake. Manpower would arrive with the local fire department, too. The ambulance team made their way onto the ice taking baby steps all the way. Firefighters followed behind with a backboard.
“We’re with fire and rescue down the mountain. He’s got a likely tib/fib break and a head injury,” Steve told them.
The paramedic set the large medical bag on the ice and removed a neck brace. Splint material was next. The splint was put in place and wrapped, skate included. The other medic got the neck brace on. Once everything was stabilized, a fireman brought the backboard over. The medics took over the patient roll and he was strapped down to the board, then lifted onto the gurney. As their feet slipped and slid, they wheeled Brian off the ice to the safety of the rubber mat.
The crowd of people had disbursed and gone back to skating. Those who’d thrown their jackets down shook the snow off and quickly put them back on.
“Thanks for the help.” Ronnie smiled at the remaining group.
“Thank you. Good job,” echoed around the small group of people.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Steve took one of her hands.
“Poor kid. He’s got a long recovery ahead.” She brushed the snow off the knees of her jeans.
He wrapped his arm around her and snuggled her against him. “I’m just wondering…”
She looked up at him. “What?”
“Where were we?”
She laughed, dug the tip of her skate into the ice, and took off fast.
He skated after her, laughing, too.
19
Steve was thrilled. A second special day with Ronnie within a week. Not only had he spent a day with her sight-seeing and skating; now they headed to the slopes with the Hockes.
She was trying hard to come to terms with a relationship with God and him. Experience had taught him that bitterness could grow and become exaggerated. And it had caused her so much heartache. But that time seemed to be ending.
The drive to Loveland Ski area with Kyle, Kelly, and Stephanie was beautiful and entertaining. The young girl talked endlessly, making Steve smile and nod his head a lot. She sat in her car seat between him and Ronnie, talking a mile a minute to everyone for the hour drive.
“So, Stephanie,” Steve broke in when the girl took a breath. “How good of a skier are you?”
“Oh, I’m not very good, but I like it.”
“Maybe I can help you today.”
“That would be fun.” The girl turned her upper body against the seat restraints. “Miss Ronnie, do you ski really good?”
“No, not really. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the mountain. I’ll bet you ski better than me.”
Giggles erupted. When her dad took the exit for Loveland, Stephanie screamed, “We’re here.”
“Stephanie! What have I told you about screaming while daddy is driving?”
“Sorry.” She looked contrite until her eyes met Steve’s, then her smile came back. Her legs bounced in her excitement to get out of the car. She strained against the straps of the seat.
“Hold on there.” Steve put a hand on her knee. “Your dad needs to park the car before you can get out of that seat.”
The little girl slammed back into the seat with an exaggerated huff.
Once parked, Ronnie got out and stretched.
Steve kept an eye on her as he unbuckled Stephanie. “Let’s get your jacket back on before you get out.”
Stephanie was so excited that she flapped her arms, trying to get the coat on to get out of the car.
It proved quite a challenge for Steve.
Finally, she stood and made her way for the door, pushing him aside.
Ronnie and Kyle were getting the skis out of the rack on top of the car while Kelly corralled Stephanie. Steve helped Kyle work on the sets that were on his side, half staring at Ronnie’s beautiful face. He sure loved that color of blue on her.
It took extra time to get on the slopes with a child, a stop at the restroom priority number one for the girl, but Steve found himself enjoying her antics. Her excitement became contagious.
Ronnie and Steve agreed to stay on the bunny hill for a while since Stephanie would be on that all day.
Steve made it to the top of the beginner’s hill with Ronnie. They turned and waited for the family to join them. It felt so good to be standing next to her.
S
tephanie giggled and laughed. Her excitement over four doting adults giving her undivided attention was infectious. Fun bubbled through their little group as they whipped up and down the bunny slope.
“Why don’t you two go hit some other trails? There’s no reason you need to hang with us the entire day. Go have some fun.”
Ronnie leaned on her poles. “Steve, do you want to try another run?”
“Sure, but no moguls for me. The ankle is a lot better, but I think the mogul run would do me in.”
“I know for sure it would do me in. Let’s head over to the Lower Creek Trail next to the tunnel.” She pointed to the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel on I-70.
“Sounds great.” Steve lifted one ski over, then matched the other to it and pushed with his poles. “I’ll race you to the chair.”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Ronnie hollered as she tried to catch up.
~*~
Ronnie raced, finally reaching his side. One good push sent her ahead of him. She turned to look over her shoulder and saw him dig in harder in an attempt to pass her. She pushed on even more, narrowly missing a skier who stood looking up the hill. A light snow started to fall. She spun and slid to a stop at the end of the line for lift number two. “Beat ya.”
Steve had slowed and his skies glided to a stop next to her. “You cheated.”
“Now you sound like Stephanie.”
Steve laughed.
Familiar twinges of anxiety popped up, but Ronnie squashed them. Deep in her heart she had to stop allowing the loss of her dad affect how she lived her life. Steve helped her so much and getting back into the Bible had helped the most. She started to admit she still loved him, but old habits attempted to squelch that idea.
The chair lift came so they glided into position, sat down, the chair swung, and then rose up causing her stomach to flutter as they headed up the mountain.
Although a light snow fell, there were still a few patches of blue overhead in some areas.
Ronnie looked at the view and marveled. “What a beautiful day.”
“Beautiful is right.” He was looking at her, warmth glowing in his eyes.
Her face grew hot. “So, is your foot doing OK?” She had to change his focus. That look…it could turn this day into river rafting down a mountain instead of skiing.
“Yeah, it’s good. I wondered how it would handle the day, but it seems fine.” He looked off to their right. “This view always amazes me. I’m so glad you invited me today.”
“I’m glad, too. Kyle and Kelly have been bugging me to come skiing. I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to talk and just have fun together.”
“Good decision.” He set his gloved hand on top of hers. “I’m glad you were willing.”
The chair reached the top, and they skied off to the right of the lift. The Lower Creek Trail looped around and would give them a long, gentle ride. Being one of the easiest trails made it perfect for what they wanted to do today. They’d have to cross a few trails to meet up with the one they wanted.
Hopefully today she would let go of the past and be able to grasp the idea of a future with this man. Ronnie’s heart seemed to skip a beat as she looked over at him.
His form was perfect as he skied, especially for someone who had a foot injury. His athletic ability just enhanced how handsome she found him, now that she would admit it.
“Hey, let’s shoot across here.” He pointed with his ski pole toward the South Shoots. “We can catch up to the Lower Creek Trail this way.”
“Want to race again? Maybe you could win this time.”
Without a word, he dug in with his poles and flew off.
She dug in and followed, laughing.
“I’ve got you this time.” When he turned to look back at her, his ski caught a snowboarder’s rut. Not prepared for it, he fell face first into the snow.
She slid sideways to a stop to check on him.
Steve pushed up and the laughter started. The goggles and his mouth were packed with snow. He spit and sputtered as he tried to clear his face with his glove, ski pole stuck out to the side. He raised the goggles to his forehead. One ski had fallen off; the other put his leg at an odd angle. He pulled upright on the one and began sliding over to retrieve the other.
She couldn’t help the laughter. Then she noticed that look in his eyes.
“Steve…don’t…you…dare,” she swung her ski around to escape. A large snowball smacked her square in the back. She turned, glancing his way.
He had attached the ski back onto his boot.
She dug deep in the sticky snow, gathered up a handful and whipped it towards him making contact on the top of his head.
“Wanna play dirty, eh?” He skied over fast, grabbed her around the waist and tackled her to the ground in the deep powder which poofed a cloud of it around them.
They both pushed their way up laughing. Skis stuck upward in complete disorder.
Ronnie had to wipe the snow off her face now.
Steve reached over and brushed it out of her bangs that now hung heavy and straight. He leaned closer, and then lowered his face to hers.
A nervous, quiet chuckle escaped her throat. Her mind told her to flee. Get on her skis and fly down the mountain, away from these feelings as fast as she could go, but her heart wanted to give in.
Her heart won.
She tentatively leaned into him, fighting the struggle within to keep her distance, but she couldn’t fight this. Her attraction to him had grown stronger. She gave in to the moment and allowed his kiss to fill her spirit and warm her soul. Drops of melting snow landed on their connected lips. The moment seemed to last forever. All of her fears melted away. The world around her stopped. No one else existed. The fears of her past were gone. The dread, doubts, and worries all but disappeared as she melted into his embrace.
20
Christmas Eve, Steve, Ted, Troy, and Brian were on duty at the fire station.
Steve had volunteered because he had plans for Christmas Day.
The emergency tone disrupted. The dispatcher stated “house fire” and the address.
“That’s Kelly and Kyle’s place,” Steve told the others.
Ted drove while the other three slipped into their self-contained breathing apparatus—SCBA—that were attached to the seat back. It saved time when they got to the scene to already be prepared. From the information the dispatcher relayed, they would need every minute.
Ted rounded the next curve.
Smoke was pouring out of a side window as flames shot into the air.
Kelly knelt outside the front door, desperately inhaling air even as coughs shook her body.
Steve ran to her. “Is everyone out?”
“Stephanie!” She coughed, gasping for breath, the soot covering her face. “She’s still in there. I couldn’t get to her. Kyle’s not home. Please, Steve. Save her. She’s in her room.” Kelly gripped his arm, tears tracking down her cheeks, even as she spasmed into another coughing fit.
Brian and Troy were pulling the hose toward the house.
Ted connected the coupler to the water source and flipped switches to charge the hose as more firefighters pulled up.
“House fully engulfed. Child trapped inside.” Steve yelled into the radio on his jacket,
Troy ran to the house and broke in the door. Alone. Thick black smoke flew out the door.
“Troy, don’t!” Steve hollered. But the noise of the fire and the diesel truck drowned him out. That idiot.
Brian joined him at the hose and they charged the door.
Search and rescue. Finding Stephanie was their first priority.
Troy had air wherever he was.
The Christmas tree was fully engulfed in flames, as were the curtains.
Steve and Brian gave a quick, five-second burst of water from the attack line they held. “Up the stairs to the right.” Steve yelled.
Both men dropped to their knees to function below the thick smoke that filled the rest of the room. In the d
ense fog, Steve couldn’t see much of anything, nor any sign of Troy.
Steve and Brian crawled up the stairs, dragging the charged hose with them. Crawl, pull, set it down, repeating the action all while not being able to see a thing.
Steve gritted his teeth hard thinking of Troy’s foolishness. They had to find Steph first. She had no chance against the killer smoke.
Troy would hopefully realize his stupidity and get back out of the house.
Steve hoped he would, anyway. He didn’t want to have to hunt for him, too. The search process ran a gamut of emotions and exhaustion. Being in the lead, Steve felt along the walls for the door.
Smoke billowed up the stairwell obscuring their vision even more. They had to rely on their other senses. I have to find her. Please Lord, let her be all right.
~*~
Ronnie arrived with the rescue squad.
The ambulance pulled in behind them.
Other firefighters were on the scene and attacking the flames that shot through the side window licking the nearby trees.
George, the fire chief, stood holding Kelly back as she fought to run toward the house. She screamed, pummeled George on the chest, and then coughed as if it were her last breath.
Ronnie ran toward them with the portable oxygen.
Kelly bent forward, hands on her knees in an attempt to clear her smoke-filled lungs.
“George, let’s get her over to the ambulance.” Ronnie fought the swinging arms of her friend to place the O2 mask on Kelly’s face, slipping the rubber band around to the back of her head. “Kelly, keep this on.” Ronnie got right in Kelly’s face with the order.
“No,” she screamed. “My baby’s in there. Ronnie, I have to go to her.” Kelly’s eyes were wide with fear.
A hose line snaked in the door and smoke was pouring out. Ronnie’s heart sank Stephanie is in there. That sweet little girl they had so much fun with on the ski slopes. “The guys will get her. Come on. You need oxygen. You can’t do anything to help. Let’s take care of you, so you can help her when they get her out.”
George wrapped an arm around Kelly’s waist. “Steve will get her, Kelly.”
