Love Takes Flight

by Jane Peart

  “How come you’re so sure?” Ty persisted.

  “A ski instructor? Me?” she laughed. “I have a confession to make. I’m pretty uncoordinated. In school I was always the last one chosen when they were picking teams.”

  They had reached the open-air skating rink, and they leaned on the encircling rail and looked at the still, glistening expanse of ice. Tyler’s arm went around Robbie, drawing her close. She felt the buttery smoothness of suede under her cheek as she leaned against him. The crystal night was exquisitely still. Far in the distance they could hear the slightest echo of disco music from the lodge’s dance floor, and the faint sound of voices and laughter wafted through the clear, cold air. But the only thing Robbie was truly conscious of was T. J.

  It was he who broke the quiet, as he gave her a quick, hard hug. “Let’s go. It’s been a long day, and you have to be up to report for your skiing lesson at eight sharp!”

  Robbie stifled a little moan.

  “I’m telling you you’re going to love it,” Tyler said gently just before he kissed her. His lips were warm, soft, searching. Robbie was swept up into the magic of the night. Her arms wound around Tyler’s neck, as she responded to the deep stirring throb of feeling within her. She could feel his hands pressing her closer, and she let herself surrender to the enchantment of the moment. Slowly he released her, and the spinning space gradually slowed to the real world. Robbie’s happiness made her slightly dizzy, and she laughed with the joy of it.

  “Come on, I’ll take you in,” Tyler said huskily.

  They walked back to the lodge with their arms around each other. Just before they reached the steps, Tyler halted and drew her back into the shadows and kissed her again.

  From somewhere down in the valley came the sound of sleigh-bells, and they broke apart smiling. “Did you hear bells?” Tyler asked. Robbie nodded. At that moment, a group of laughing celebrators came bursting out into the night, noisily passing by them.

  Back in her room minutes later, Robbie dreamily pushed open the bedroom window and leaned out. The pine-studded hills, the lights shining out on the snowy banks, and the quaint shapes of the different houses and condos along the winding village streets made the scene below look like a giant Christmas card. The whole place had a fairy tale setting, and Robbie wasn’t sure that she might not wake up the next morning and find it had all been a dream.

  Robbie raised her eyes to the dark velvet sky, twinkling with a myriad of stars. Oh, Lord, the beauty and the joy of this time art so fantastic. Help me to find what is real and right for my life.

  But the next morning a banner of sunlight flooded her room with dazzling light. Outside, sunshine sparkled on the snow in a thousand diamond lights. After breakfast Tyler escorted her to the site where the “snow bunny” class was forming, gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder, and left to catch an early chairlift ride to one of the steepest slopes, promising to meet her at lunch.

  “Well, how did it go?” Tyler asked eagerly when Robbie, rosy-cheeked and aching from the unaccustomed lose of several newly discovered muscles in het arms, shoulders, and legs, met him on the lodge’s upper sun deck for lunch.

  “Why don’t you ask Detmar?” Robbie fielded his question as she lowered herself gingerly into the chair opposite him at their corner table.

  “As a matter of fact, I ran into him just now, and he said you were terrific! Had real potential!”

  “Hah!” was Robbie’s derisive comment.

  “Come on, seriously…” Tyler probed.

  Robbie eyed him speculatively. He had on dark glasses so it was hard to tell if he were teasing or really interested in her morning’s progress.

  “Well, since my class consisted of two ten-year-old boys, a seven-year-old girl, and a nun, I held my own!” she exclaimed facetiously and dissolved into helpless laughter. “You really should have been there! Once I fell down and was laughing so hard I couldn’t get up. Even Detmar—who incidentally takes his instruction chores very seriously—finally had to give in and laugh, too. But it was fun…and I imagine after about a hundred lessons I might be able to keep my legs together long enough to make it down a small hill!”

  A statuesque girl with a waist length golden braid and attired in fitted black ski pants and a red sweater brought their lunch.

  “I ordered for you,” Tyler explained. “After noon there’ll be a real crush here for lunch, and I wanted to get back for an afternoon’s skiing.”

  The waitress put a luscious, large submarine sandwich and a steaming mug of fragrant coffee in front of Robbie, who realized she was famished. When the girl left, Robbie leaned across the table and in a stage whisper asked, “Is every female around here blonde and beautiful? I’m beginning to think it’s some kind of conspiracy against the rest of us.”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about, believe me!” Tyler said solemnly “In the sun, your hair’s like a newly minted penny, and your skin looks like an Ivory Soap commercial. This mountain air is a great enhancer of beauty,” he told her.

  “Did you sign up for another lesson this afternoon?” Tyler asked her.

  Robbie shook her head. “No, I don’t want too much of a good thing!” She rolled her eyes comically.

  “Well, what will you do? I don’t like leaving you alone.”

  “Tyler, did you get a look at all the shops?” she demanded. “I can certainly find plenty to do. Don’t give it another thought. I’ll find lots to do and have fun besides,” she reassured him.

  The afternoon sped by just as Robbie had promised Tyler. In fact, she was surprised when she glanced at her watch and saw that it was nearly five. She had browsed happily all afternoon in the various gift shops, clothing stores, and boutiques. When she greeted Tyler in the lounge at five-thirty, she was wearing one of her new purchases, a light blue Alpine sweater with a yoke of brilliant embroidery, worn with a long skirt.

  Tyler brought their mocha espressos topped with a swirl of nutmeg-sprinkled whipped cream over to the cushioned circle surrounding the pit fireplace in the lounge. He handed Robbie a cup and then seated himself beside her. “Have fun shopping?” he asked.

  She took a sip of the delicious hot drink and nodded,

  “I did a little shopping myself.” Tyler grinned. “I got done a little earlier than I planned, and I saw something I thought you might like, a small reminder of the weekend.” He reached behind him and held out a small square box. “It’s for you.”

  Robbie lifted the top off the box, pushed the tissue paper aside, and then took out a Tyrolean wooden music box. The two tiny carved, gaily painted little figures on top were on skis. “Oh, Ty, it’s darling!” she exclaimed. “Thank you.”

  “Here, listen,” he said and tipped it slightly to wind the key underneath. The sweet, tinkling melody was “Edelweiss,” from one of Robbie’s all-time favorite musicals, The Sound of Music.

  “Every time you hear it, I’ll hope you’ll think of this time and of us” He spoke quietly, his eyes very intense.

  “I will,” Robbie replied and leaned over to kiss him lightly. Just then some people who knew T.J. came into the lounge and hailed him. They all ended up having dinner together, and it was not until much later that Robbie and T. J. were alone again.

  “Our last night here,” Tyler said when the three other couples had left the table to dance. “We should do something special. I certainly don’t want to spend it yakking about skiing with a dozen people.” He frowned.

  “Let’s walk down to the skating rink again.” she said softly.

  “Let’s,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet.

  Robbie shivered as they left the warmth of the lounge. Immediately Tyler put his arm around her and drew her close.

  “This has been a—” he halted. “I can’t even think of the right word for, it—some weekend,” he finished lamely. “Have you enjoyed it?” he asked Robbie.

  “Yes! I even think I could develop ski fever,” she laughed. “Seriously, Ty, I’ve lo
ved it. Thank you for bringing me.”

  He stopped, turning her in his embrace.

  “Thank you for coming!” he said gently and kissed her, a long, infinitely sweet kiss.

  Back in Atlanta on Sunday night, Robbie placed the little music box on her dressing table, touching it tenderly as the precious symbol of the most fabulous weekend she had ever spent. She twisted the tiny key, and the familiar lilting melody flooded her memory with the magic of their last hour together on the night before they left. The lounge had been almost empty when they had returned from the skating rink. Most of the skiers, anxious to get their rest before the last ski morning of the weekend, had deserted the lobby. Only the piano player and a few other couples had been lingering there when Robbie and Tyler had entered. Tyler had brought them hot spiced cider from the bar and had stopped at the piano before joining Robbie in front of the fire. When the notes of “Edelweiss” had begun to play softly, Robbie knew Tyler must have requested it.

  Everything—the firelight, the whisper of the snow that had begun to fall against the windows, the mellow music in the background, the feelings of closeness and intimacy—had combined to make Robbie admit to herself that she had lost her heart. But not my head, she had reminded herself—at least, not yet. She had to be sure, really sure, that T J. was the one whom the Lord had planned for her. Until then…

  She wound the little key again and sang along with the haunting melody, “Edelweiss, Edelweiss, every morning you greet me.” She had read somewhere that the Edelweiss was a tiny blue flower found in the highest crevices of the Austrian Alps—and was the symbol of enduring love.

  Did T. J. know the meaning of the words of the song played by the music box he had given her? Or was it simply that the pretty little box with its figures on skis seemed an appropriate gift for a ski weekend?

  She couldn’t be sure. All she could do was hope and dream—and pray!

  Chapter Fourteen

  After that weekend at Beech Mountain, Robbie Mallory was certain that she was in love with Tyler J. Lang. None of the things she had warned herself about before seemed to matter now. With the blind optimism of someone completely in love, she told herself that everything would fall into place eventually. Their personalities, viewpoints, and lifestyles, different as they might seem, would merge, blend, and become one gradually. In time everything would work out.

  When she was not with him, she longed to be. In between their respective flight schedules, they spent as much time together as they could manage.

  Dazed as she was by the wonder of it, sometimes, without wanting it, doubts nibbled at her happiness. When she thought of Tyler’s kisses and the embraces that had thrilled her and brought her to the awareness of desire, she felt a delight that was both provocative and frightening. When she remembered how she had felt that night at his apartment, in his arms, she remembered with a cold, shuddering clarity how close she had come to complete surrender.

  I have to be careful, she warned herself. I might be deluded into doing something foolish by my own feelings. With all he has to offer, I could be misled to think it is enough. And I know it’s not. Until he’s ready to make that ultimate commitment I can’t let myself be overwhelmed.

  I’m sure he loves me, Robbie told herself over and over. I’ll just have to be patient. When he’s ready, he‘ll tell me, she assured herself. Until then, I’m just going to be happy!

  On a cold windy afternoon in the second week in February, Robbie was just in from a flight and coming up the steps to her apartment. As she put her key in the lock, she could hear the shrill sound of the phone ringing. Tossing her handbag and gloves on the couch and not bothering to take off her coat, she ran to answer it.

  “Have you got some coffee made?” asked the voice that never failed to thrill her.

  “I just got in,” she answered breathlessly as she tucked the receiver under her chin and shrugged out of her coat.

  “How about putting a pot on? I’m coming over,” Tyler said bruskly.

  “Yes, sir!” she laughed.

  She hurried to her small kitchen and filled the kettle and put it on the stove to boil.

  Cyrano, who had been huddled by the door when Robbie had come up on the deck, had slipped in when she had opened the door and now wound himself around her ankles, meowing loudly. “Okay, okay!” Robbie laughed. “You male creatures are all impatient!”

  After she had put the filter in the coffee maker and measured in the coffee, she got out the carton of half-and-half, filled the cream pitcher, and then poured a generous amount into a saucer and set it on the floor for Cyrarto.

  By now Robbie knew that it took Ty a little less than forty minutes, barring unusually heavy traffic, to come across town to her apartment. She had time for a quick shower and change.

  The kettle shrilled and she poured boiling water into the top of the glass pot and breathed in the rich aroma as the dark liquid began to seep through.

  In the shower, Robbie remembered that it was only two days until Valentine’s Day and that she had bought Tyler two cards. One was humorous and the other lacy, beflowered, and sentimental. Was it too early to give them to him today—or maybe just one? Or would it look as if she were hinting for him to give her something? She didn’t know. She’d wait, play it by ear, see how the evening went.

  She was sure that Tyler must have checked her schedule and wanted to take her out for something to eat and then to a movie. There was one about spies playing at a theater nearby which they had talked about seeing. Maybe when they came back after the movie she’d give the cards to him.

  In and out in ten minutes, she fluffed her hair and put on gray slacks, a tailored gray silk blouse, and yellow cardigan. Eyeing the music box on her dressing table, Robbie opened the small leather jewel box next to it, took out the coral beads, and clasped them around her neck. Her hand touched them briefly. Funny, how these simple gifts of Tyler’s meant so much to her, and she knew he liked to see her wearing the Bermudian beads.

  Back in the kitchen, she got out the mugs, which they had bought one day in a pottery shop, and sugar, and was setting them on the counter between the Kitchen and the living room when she heard his footsteps on the stairs, followed a minute later by his familiar knock.

  Immediately Tyler opened the door and walked in. Robbie’s heart gave a small leap as it always did when she saw him. He was wearing an oatmeal cable-knit sweater, brown corduroy pants, and desert boots.

  “Hi, there!” she called from behind the counter, her eyes bright with happiness. “Your order’s ready, sir!”

  He crossed the room and straddled one of the high stools on the other side. Robbie started to lean over for a kiss, but something in Tyler’s expression stopped her. Instead, she filled their mugs with coffee.

  “Want something else? I have some brownies— courtesy of Sara Lee,” she said, attempting humor. Something about Tyler’s demeanor puzzled her. He looked depressed.

  “No thanks, just coffee.” He put in a spoonful of sugar, added cream, and stirred it a couple of times. “I just want to talk. I mean, I came over because I have something I need to tell you.”

  The impersonal tone of his voice bothered her. An icy ripple like a cold finger drizzled down her spine. What was this all about? What did Tyler have to tell her?

  “I want you to know this isn’t some sudden impulse. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for quite a while.” He stirred his coffee a little longer and then said, “I think we should stop seeing each other.”

  The shock was like a physical blow. Robbie’s throat contracted, and she tried to swallow around its tightness. His words had sounded very loud in the suddenly quiet room.

  Robbie’s heart began to bang crazily and her ears roared. Her first reaction was, He’s met someone else. It has happened, just like people said it would. His romances never last.

  She listened in stunned silence as Tyler went on. “I’m going to level with you, Robbie. I think you’re marvelous, very sweet, very specia
l, but, I get the impression that you’re the kind of girl who is looking for a storybook romance, one that ends in a chapel with orange blossoms, rice, and forever after in a rose-covered cottage. To put it bluntly, I’m not used to playing a waiting game. Very frankly, you should know I’m not the marrying kind. I’m thirty-three and I like being single. I don’t want you to be hurt, because I do care about you. So, I think the best thing I could do for you is to back off now before we get any further involved.”

  He paused significantly, looking at her with a clear, steady gaze, as if giving the announcement time to sink in. His expression was noncommittal, his eyes shuttered, so she could not read what he might be thinking.

  She caught her trembling lower lip with her teeth. She mustn’t let him see how hurt she was or how near tears. “I think you’re right,” she told him in a soft, emotionless voice.

  He cleared his throat and continued, “Before we met I’d been thinking about putting in for a transfer. Some place where I could do more sailing, with better weather year ‘round to do the kind of things I enjoy. I took a couple of flights out to California so I could look around. Well, I’ve just been informed that there’s an opening out there, and I’m going to take it. San Francisco.”

  “Oh? I see,” was all she could muster.

  Tyler stirred his coffee again. “Well, I guess I’ve said what I came to say. I hope you understand that it’s all for the best.” He got to his feet and walked to the door.

  “When are you leaving?” she asked weakly.

  “The fourteenth, day after tomorrow,” he replied.

  She had the crazy urge to laugh hysterically! Valentine’s Day! What a day for a romance to end, to come to a crashing finish! But she managed to smile and say steadily, “Well, good luck, Tyler. I’m sure you’ll like California.”

  “Good-bye, Robbie. All the best, okay?” He had his hand on the doorknob, but he still stood there.

  Why didn’t he leave, get out, go—so that she could fall apart in private?