by MG Braden
“Here you go, Daniel. You just sit down and warm up.” Sandra gazed at him affectionately and sat
down beside him. “You know, I saw those two check in, and that poor girl didn’t seem very happy. From
what I could see it doesn’t appear that Rick treats her very well... to be honest, I had seen them going up
the lift. He came down on his own so I was worried. That’s why I sent you. I knew if anyone could help
her you could.”
“Now, Sandra—”Debbie said, her eyes narrowed slightly. Debbie was another close family friend,
as well as a long time employee at the resort, so her tone of familiarity with Sandra was no surprise to
Daniel.
“Hush, Debbie.”
He ate his cinnamon bun in about three bites, the ooey-gooey warmth comforting him. Sandra and
Debbie bantered back and forth while he drank his coffee. He loved the family feel and coziness of this
resort. Closing his eyes, he realized this was just what he needed after losing his fiancé. The eighteen
months since Natasha’s accident had been long, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever forget, but at least now it
didn’t weigh on him like a big anchor on his chest. When he thought of Natasha now it was with sadness
for a life ended so young and tragically. And for their future left undone. Gone was the rage and anger at
the world. He’d closed himself off to all but his family members and those who knew him well. As far as
he was concerned he was good with the friends and the life he had now, there was no room for love. He’d
been there, done that, and wasn’t willing to take the chance again. In his opinion, one should only be
allowed so much hurt in a lifetime, and he had gone way beyond that point.
“...isn’t that right, Daniel?” asked Sandra.
What? Startled out of his thoughts Daniel wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to. He opened his eyes
and stared at her blankly.
Sandra looked at him for a moment, patted his hand and said, “That’s ok, dear. We’re going to take
care of you. I know it’s been a long haul, but you are young. Yes, indeed, we’ll take good care of you.”
Daniel smiled fondly at her and nodded, with an uncharacteristic lump in his throat. Most days he
tried to shove any of his feelings away where they didn’t see the light of day. I’m a man for God’s sake.
However, Sandra knew him and had known Natasha. Coming to Snowpeaks Mountain Resort had been a
good idea.
Chapter Two
Cassidy noticed Rick’s jaw work in his cheek as he waited until they were in their room before
starting in at her. She’d watched the muscle twitch in his face all the way up the stairs to the lobby. Then
again in the elevator and down the hall. He had a bad habit of grinding his teeth, especially when he was
angry. With a heavy sigh she took off her ski jacket and hung it over a chair. Having left her ski boots
downstairs in the ski lockup, she was wearing slip on runners that she now kicked off her feet. Cassidy
knew she was only delaying the inevitable, so she finally turned around and faced Rick.
“Tell me again why we’re here?” Rick asked in a nasty voice, but didn’t wait for her to answer.
“Oh, yes, because you wanted a real vacation away from home. Somewhere romantic, you said. Then why
are you hanging all over some other guy?”
“What!” Cassidy replied. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on. I saw you flirting with that Dan guy. You were practically drooling all over him and
giggling. Man. Why didn’t you come on your own if that’s what you were looking for?” Rick threw his
jacket on the bed.
“First of all, you were the one who left me up on that last run to come down here and be all warm
and cozy. If it hadn’t been for Daniel I might still be up there. You didn’t seem too concerned about where
I was until you saw me talking with him. I wonder if you would even have come to find me if I didn’t
come back down?”
“Oh, here we go. Poor Cassidy. Can’t handle a little ski hill. You should have kept up with me. It
was bloody cold—I was moving fast to keep warm.”
She couldn’t believe how he always twisted things when he was mad. Sometimes she got so upset
and confused she wondered if he was actually right. “I’m not saying I can’t handle a ski hill. All I wanted
to do was ski with you. Common courtesy would have had you waiting for me, your supposed girlfriend,
and not running off on your own in the middle of a blizzard!” Her voice caught on the last few words.
His smile was chilly. “Oh, you gonna cry now? Come on Cass. You don’t always have to be a
drama queen. It wasn’t a blizzard.” He moved around the room and grabbed a suitcase and put it on the
bed.
“It was a blizzard! The conditions were horrible and you know it. You were the one who said we
had to ski all day in that and then you bailed on me...” She noticed he was throwing his clothes into the
suitcase. “What are you doing?” she asked, trying to hold back her tears. He hated it when she got
emotional. Suck it up, otherwise it’ll only be worse.
“Packing. Obviously.” He zipped the case shut.
“I can see that. I don’t want to leave.”
He faced her, putting the suitcase on the floor. “You don’t have to. I am. I didn’t want to come here
in the first place. I have other things I should be doing so I’m leaving.”
Stunned, she asked, “So you’re leaving me here? How am I supposed to get home? We came
together. I don’t understand...”
“Yes, and that’s the problem. You never do. I can’t do this anymore, I’m done. The room is paid for
so stay, or don’t stay—that’s up to you, but I’m outta here.” He picked up his jacket, grabbed the suitcase
and walked toward the door. Cassidy grabbed his arm to stop him, full-out crying now. “Rick, this isn’t
funny, you can’t just leave me here. I’ll pack and go with you, I guess. Just give me a minute.” Easily
pulling from her grasp, he looked at her with scorn. “I don’t want you to come with me. I don’t want you
with me at all. I’m not just leaving you here, I’m leaving you period.” With that he opened the door and
walked out, slamming it behind him.
* * *
Cassidy stood looking at the door for a long time, tears streaming down her face. She felt sick
inside, and for a moment, thought she would actually vomit. She finally sat on the bed, but still stared at
the door. Rick will come back. She knew he would. He was always bursting out in anger and then
regretting it later. It was his thing, and she accepted it. She didn’t like it, but she accepted that it came
with loving him. She’d loved him forever, it seemed, but it was so on-again, off-again with him.
Sometimes she thought she deserved better. She was a good girlfriend and did everything he wanted to do.
This ski trip was the first time she’d gotten her own way. She truly thought this time things were turning
around for them. She remembered how excited she had been to come here. The brochure painted the
Snowpeaks Mountain Ski Resort as the perfect place for couples or families. It was small and deluxe. It
even had a four-star restaurant on site. It was forty minutes to the nearest town, and even then the town
was so small you could drive through it in about five minutes. The remoteness of the resort in the Rockies
was what Cassidy had loved. She thought it would be good for her and Rick to get away,
maybe decide on
their future together. For the most part they had been together for six years. The first two years had been
great, but the last four the relationship had been on and off according to Rick’s whims. She had been in
college and it was just as easy to have no boyfriend as to have one, so she hadn’t really bothered to make
a big deal about it at the time. However, at twenty-five and having finished college, she was getting tired
of playing these games. So she’d cooked up this trip.
She hadn’t bargained on his moodiness happening the minute they arrived. The room wasn’t big
enough, the weather was horrible, this was some remote area... and on it went. While travelling he’d
spent a large amount of time on his cell phone, until it stopped working in the last town they had gone
through. Come to think of it that was when his mood had changed. Cassidy thought about that. His cell
had lost reception, that's when he got all funny. Other than his parents, she had no idea who he was
talking to since he tended to stop the car and walk while he talked, presumably to get better reception.
Rick’s parents owned several French/Italian restaurants in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia and, as
the oldest son, he was in line to one day take over all of them. To start he was just managing one of them,
which was a stretch since he seemed to be gone more than he was there. He spent a lot of time at classic
car shows or just doing whatever he pleased. Rick didn’t answer to anyone, especially to her it seemed.
Lately, she thought, he had disappeared more often than usual.
Realizing that it had been some time since Rick had left, she went in to the bathroom where she
washed the dried tear stains from her face. Cold from sitting in her damp ski pants and sweatshirt, she ran
a warm bath, added her favorite bath bomb that combined cocoa butter and lavender, and sank gratefully
in to the water. Baths were always her place to escape and this was no different. Cassidy soaked in the
water reflecting on the day. We haven’t even been here one full day and Rick bails. Unbelievable. The
more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Honestly, what was that about? It couldn’t really
have been about me talking to Daniel. On the other hand, thinking about Daniel helped her to relax. What
a nice guy. Looks-wise Daniel couldn’t be more opposite of Rick if he tried. Rick was shorter and
stockier, with dark brown curly hair and brown eyes. Cassidy remembered Daniel’s eyes the most. They
were such a brilliant blue, cornflower blue. He had a nice smile too.
Her overall impression was that Daniel was truly a nice guy. He had seemed so concerned when he
figured out she was skiing by herself in the poor visibility. Of course, he might have just been concerned
that you ran right over him. If it had been Rick he would have freaked out, but Daniel had laughed it off
and made sure she made it down the slope safely. She found his attentiveness very attractive and, for the
first time since Rick stormed out, she smiled. Hmmm, nice.
* * *
After trying, unsuccessfully, to reach her best friend by phone, Cassidy wandered downstairs to the
lobby. She needed to decide whether she should stay at the resort or go home on her own. At this point
she was pretty sure that Rick wasn’t coming back. It was past dinner and she hadn’t heard from him. I
can’t seem to decide one way or the other . She sighed. Part of her wanted to stay here to show Rick that
he couldn’t bully her anymore but another part, the scared little girl part, wanted to run home and make
things all right with him.
Drawn to the fire burning in the fireplace on one side of the lobby, Cassidy chose a wide chair and
sat with her feet tucked underneath her. It was so peaceful here. Unlike so many hotel lobbies this one
seemed more like a large living room, with oversize chairs and couches covered in dark brown chenille
and scattered throughout. The chair she sat in was grouped alongside another chair and a deep couch—
they were all arranged around the fireplace. “Penny for your thoughts,” said a warm voice above her.
Pulled out of her reverie, Cassidy looked up at the woman who had spoken to her. “Oh, I don’t think
they’re even worth that much.”
“You’d be surprised,” the woman replied. “I’m Sandra Johnson. May I sit?” She indicated the chair
beside Cassidy’s.
“Of course.”
Once Sandra sat down Cassidy was able to take a good look at her. She guessed Sandra to be in her
sixties, judging by the gray in her hair and lines on her face. She emanated warmth and seemed very
casual which surprised Cassidy. She was aware Sandra ran this resort. With her silver hair tucked into
one long braid behind her back, wearing a ski sweater over leggings and her feet in moccasins, Sandra
did not resemble the strong businesswoman whom Cassidy expected. She’d read all about Sandra in the
promotional material available in each hotel room. “So, how do you like it here?” Sandra asked.
Cassidy watched the fire twinkling in Sandra’s hazel eyes and tried to decide how to answer. “It’s a
very nice place, but I’m not sure I can stay. In fact, I was just trying to decide what to do about that.”
Gazing back into the fire, Cassidy tried to find answers within its flames. She hadn’t even gone to the
front desk to see what Rick had done as far as checking out. Had he checked them both out? Or just
himself?
“He paid for the room for the entire week… before he left,” Sandra stated, as if reading her mind.
Startled, she turned back to Sandra and felt the heat of embarrassment touch her face. “How... I
mean...”
“I was at the desk when he checked out. I knew who you were since I saw the two of you arrive—
before you headed out to ski. We’re not especially busy right now so I have more time to get to know our
guests.” Sandra smiled at her sympathetically.
Cassidy had no idea what to say. She didn’t know how, or even whether, to explain to this woman
why she was sitting here alone while her boyfriend had checked out.
Again, Sandra appeared to read her mind. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, my dear. I’ve
been around a long time. Enough to know when there’s heartache afoot. I just saw you sitting here and
wanted to come chat because you looked distressed. I can’t have someone sitting in my lobby looking all
down now can I? How would that look for business?”
It sounded like she was teasing, so Cassidy tried to laugh, but instead tears filled her eyes. Even
though she tried to blink them back, they did not stop. “Oh for goodness sake, I’m sorry. I don’t know
what’s come over me.”
Sandra said nothing, just held out a tissue pack and waited.
“We had a fight. I don’t even remember what started it… but then, it could have been nothing. He
has a bit of a temper. He doesn’t mean it half the time, but he just gets so mad and then I get defensive
and...” Cassidy sniffed and wiped at her nose. “He left. I thought he would come back when he cooled
down. He always does, but I guess not this time. The problem is we came in his truck, and I’m not sure
how to get home. I mean I assume you have a shuttle service into some of the larger towns, but I really
hadn’t thought that far. Is it ok if I just check out tomorrow morning?”
“No, it’s not.”
“What?”
“I said no. Now listen to me young lady,” said Sandra in a firm but loving voice. “You are not going
to go chasing off after that man after he treated you so badly, then left you up here all by yourself. And you
are not going to go home and cry about it either. You are going to go upstairs and have a good night’s rest.
I will send some food up for you. Then, tomorrow you’ll start ski lessons with us and stay out the rest of
the week. You are going to relax and have fun. Maybe the stinker will realize he made a huge mistake,
which he did, or maybe he won’t, but it’s not your problem anymore. You are a strong, beautiful, and
intelligent girl. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life being abandoned by someone who isn’t
worthy, you don’t need that guy to prove it.”
Having had her say, she stood up and pulled Cassidy into a hug. “Thank you. I know you’re right.
We’ve just been together so long, and I feel so useless right now,” she mumbled into Sandra’s shoulder,
then stepped back awkwardly.
“I know dear, but you’ll see. It will get better. At least while you’re here I can make sure of that.”
Sandra looped her arm through Cassidy’s and led her toward the Peaks Cafe. “C’mon, I have an even
better idea than sending food up to your room. My friend, Debbie, runs the cafe. She’s been through some
stuff in her day and can tell you all sorts of great stories of men and heartache, winning and losing, and
turning a corner. I know she’d just love to have someone to chat with while she closes up. She’ll feed you
some great grub besides.”
Cassidy smiled. “Well I am hungry, and I did try to reach my closest friend earlier, but she wasn’t
around. I’d rather talk to someone than go up to my room alone right now. Girl talk always makes me feel
better.”
* * *
Sandra stepped out of the cafe and looked back through the doors at the two women inside who
laughed and talked like old friends. It did her good to see Cassidy smiling after the day she’d had. Debbie
was just the person to help Cassidy work through this, having been through something similar herself a
long way back, although not to the same extent. She could not believe that anyone would up and leave
