by Donya Lynne
“Jeez, Mom. One question at a time.” Mom was like a machine gun.
“I’m sorry.” Mom laughed at herself. “It’s just been a couple of weeks since we talked, and I’m excited to hear your voice. And I was just thinking about you.”
She’d talked to her mom a few times since arriving in Hope Falls, but the conversations had been short, mostly check-ins to let her mom know she was okay. She had yet to tell her mom about Scott.
“I’ve been thinking about you and Dad, too.” She missed her family, but she wanted to finish what she’d started before going home. If she went home. And she was beginning to think she wouldn’t.
“So,” Mom said more calmly, “how are you?”
“I’m doing okay. I started snowboarding again.”
“How was it? And I hope you’re taking it easy on your leg.”
“Yes, Mom, my leg’s gotten much stronger. And…” She tried to find words to describe how snowboarding again made her feel. “It felt surreal, Mom. Amazing, incredible, off-the-charts. It felt really good to be back on the snow. Back on my board.” She puffed out a quiet laugh. “I felt like I did when I was a kid. Remember how I used to kiss the snow?”
Her mom laughed. “Oh, goodness, yes. I remember that. You were so little and so fascinated.”
“Well, I did that again. I actually kissed the snow.”
“Oh, honey…see, you’re finding your way back.”
But that was the thing. What was she finding her way back to? Competing? Snowboarding? She’d recaptured the joyous innocence snowboarding had given her when she was a kid, but did that mean she was ready to hop back on the competition circuit? Or even if she ever would?
“Yeah, but I still feel like I’m not ready. You know? Like I’m still missing something. Some key ingredient.” She felt like whatever she still searched for was right there, though. Just in front of her but obscured by fog. If she reached out, she might be able to feel it.
“You’ll get there,” Mom reassured.
“I hope so.”
“What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” Her mom didn’t miss a beat.
“Um…”
“You’re not coming home?” She sounded concerned, maybe even a little disappointed.
“I’m not finished, yet, Mom. I can’t risk derailing myself by leaving before I’m ready. If I go home, the paparazzi could see me, and then they’d follow me back, and that would be a huge mess.” A bigger one if they published pictures of her new look. Talk about letting the cat out of the bag before she was ready. No, going home right now wasn’t a good idea.
“But it’s Thanksgiving, honey.”
Lacey scrunched up her face, realizing she needed to tell her mom about Scott. “I sort of have plans already?” And there was the real reason she didn’t want to go home.
“Plans? With who?”
“I met someone, and he’s invited me to spend Thanksgiving with him.”
Silence beat through the connection, then, “Him? Mathilda Lacey Moon, you met someone and didn’t tell me?”
“I’m telling you now.”
Her mom’s smile blared through her voice. “This sounds serious.”
Lacey bit her bottom lip and glided the tip of her index finger over the most meaningful sentence she’d written in her journal tonight as if she were reading Braille. What if fate brought me here because Scott and I were meant to find each other?
“Lacey?” Her mom’s interest piqued. “Are you serious about this boy?’
Lacey blinked at Scott’s name in her journal, smiling as she thought about the way he’d kissed her. “He’s not a boy, Mom. He’s a man. A handsome, wonderful man named Scott.”
“This is serious.”
Lacey sighed. “He’s incredible, Mom. He and his brother own this cabin rental place where I’m staying.”
“How old is he?”
“Twenty-eight.”
“Does he have any kids?”
“A little girl named Savannah,” Lacey said fondly. “She’s nine years old and utterly adorable. Reminds me of how I was when I was her age.”
“How so?”
“She’s into skateboarding and recently got into snowboarding, too. She says I’m her idol.”
“Awe, I bet she’s eating this up then. You know, you and her dad being an item and all.”
“Well…um…” Lacey nibbled her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s just it, Mom. They don’t know who I am.”
“What?” Her mom’s voice shot through the phone.
Lacey dropped her feet to the floor, bent forward, and pressed her hand against her forehead. “I know, Mom. I know, but—”
“How does this guy not know who you are?
Lacey cringed. “Because I didn’t give him my real name.”
“And they didn’t recognize you?”
“I cut my hair and colored it, remember? And I wear brown contacts now. I mean, Mom, I look completely different. You wouldn’t even recognize me.”
“Lacey! I can’t believe you.”
“Mom, stop. Don’t make me feel any worse than I already do, okay?”
“But, Lacey, you’re lying to him.”
“Not technically.” She winced.
“Why? Who does he think you are?”
By now, Lacey was up and pacing, hand over her face. “Just some girl named Mattie, but that’s not technically a lie because my real first name is Mattie. Well, Mathilda, but Grandpa always called me Mattie.”
Her mom huffed. “But he doesn’t know you’re the Lacey Moon, Olympic snowboard gold medalist and X Games champ, does he?
God, when her mom said it that way, it almost sounded profane, as if she should wear a scarlet letter on her chest to broadcast she was to be shunned.
“No,” she said feebly. “He doesn’t.” Then she straightened and pulled strength back into her voice. “I told him my name was Mattie, but that was before I knew things would grow the way they have. Before I fell—” She cut off and dropped her hand to her side as she stared out the window at the snow-covered lake.
“Oh my God, Lacey. Did you fall in love with him?” Mom’s voice rushed out on a shocked whisper.
“Mom…”
“Did you?”
She sighed, took a deep breath, and blew it out. “Yes. I’m in love with him.”
“And you’re sure this isn’t just infatuation, honey?”
Lacey searched her heart. She had never felt anything like this. Scott was it. He was the guy. The One!
“I’m sure, Mom. I love him.”
“Does he love you?”
She thought about the way Scott looked at her when they were together. I’ve never felt this way before, he’d said tonight. “I think so.”
Her mom blew out a heavy breath. “But he’s in love with Mattie, not Lacey. What happens when he learns the truth?”
She dropped back down onto the couch, unsure how to answer.
“Honey, you have to tell this guy the truth,” her mom said. “Sooner rather than later. Because the longer this goes on, the more likely he is to find out another way, and it would be best if he found out from you, not some news report or what have you.”
“Do you think I haven’t already thought about that a hundred times? This is eating me up, Mom.”
“Then why haven’t you told him?”
“I’ve tried, but every time, we’re interrupted or I just chicken out at the last second.” She frowned and dropped her gaze to her feet. “And I’m scared.” Bingo! And there was her final answer.
“Of what?”
“Losing him.”
“Then you’d better tell him soon, or you will.”
“It’s just…complicated.” She knew how Scott felt about lies. After what Theresa had done to him, it was clear honesty was a hot button. How would he react when he found out she’d been lying to him, too? Or at least that she hadn’t been entirely truthful?
“The longer you wait to tell him, the
harder it will be.”
“I know. You’re right. I need to tell him, and I will. I promise. I never meant to let it go on this long, and I never meant to lie. I just…God, I never knew when I made this journey that I would meet someone and fall in love.”
“Life works in mysterious ways.”
Lacey heard the proud, maternal smile in her mom’s voice.
“Yes, it does.” Lacey sighed and checked the time just as her stomach growled. “I’d better get going. I need to figure out dinner.” She was supposed to have had dinner with Scott and Savannah, tonight, but that was nixed, given the circumstances. Looked like leftovers were on the menu instead.
“Okay, honey. Thanks for calling. And I hope Scott understands when you tell him the truth. But I’m here if you need to talk, okay?” In other words, if Scott blew a gasket when she told him her real name and that she had been lying to him all this time, Mom would be there to listen to her cry.
“Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.”
They said their good-byes.
She trudged to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and stared blankly inside. She was making such a mess of her life. She needed to tell Scott the truth, but the moment she did, her journey of self-discovery would end. Because once the truth got out, she would become a target.
Then there was Savannah to consider. She would be ecstatic, but if Scott got angry, or if she had to leave, it would break the little girl’s heart.
Of course, there was also Shirl. Once she heard who Lacey really was, the whole town would know. There were so many variables to consider, all part of a giant web. A web she had woven, even though that hadn’t been her intention.
She dropped her face into her palms. God, this was getting complicated.
Chapter 16
By Thanksgiving morning, Lacey still felt conflicted, but she was determined to enjoy herself. If an opportunity opened, and the time felt right, she would tell Scott the truth.
She had decided to rely on her intuition and fate to guide her. The same way it had guided her to Hope Falls. Whether her grandpa was responsible for that, or some other mystical force, it had gotten her here, so maybe it could direct her in this, as well.
At ten o’clock, Scott’s truck rolled into her driveway. Dressed in three layers to protect against the cold, she met him on the porch. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“You ready for the most fun you’ve ever had?” He was like a kid experiencing his first snow.
She giggled. This was not the same man she’d seen that first day at Pappy’s. That man had been scowling and serious, all business. The man in front of her was all smiles, open, and warm.
“What?” he said.
“Just…you. You’re so different.”
“From…?”
She followed him to the truck. “From the first time I saw you.”
“When? You mean at Pappy’s?”
She nodded, climbing into the cab. “Yes. You remember?”
He grinned as he slid behind the wheel. Something in his expression seemed to be saying, “Are you kidding me?” As he backed out of her drive, he said, “Of course I remember. You made quite an impression on me that day.”
“Well, you made quite an impression on me, too.”
“I did?”
“Well, yeah. You were so scary. Scowling and quiet.”
He shot her a sideways glance. “I was not,” he said doubtfully.
She laughed. “Then you gave me that tiny smile as you were leaving. That’s when I knew you were okay.”
“You saw that, did you?”
“Yes. The duality made you that much more intriguing.”
He pulled onto the main road and headed north. “And then Shirl told you about what happened to me.”
“Yes. Then I understood.”
“What?”
“Why you were so guarded.”
The air in the cab stilled, and for several long moments, nothing was said. Then he reached for her hand. She slid hers around his.
“Well, I’m not so guarded now.” He took his eyes off the road for a quick second to meet her gaze then turned back to the front, squeezing her hand.
She smiled out the passenger window for the rest of the drive, her hand warm and comfortable inside his.
The sled hill, which was at the golf course, was packed. For an hour, the two of them sledded alongside kids of all ages. Many knew Scott from his volunteer work at the skate park and as the referee for the high school football games, as well as for all the other work he did around town. And, let’s face it, Hope Falls was a small town. The kind of place that published a paper only once a week. Cozy. Everyone knew one another.
Scott took his share of verbal jabs for being there with a woman. This was the first time many of them had seen him with the opposite sex, and the kids teased him relentlessly. Most likely, they had all thought he would grow old alone, but now here he was on a date. For them, it was ample reason to give him a hard time.
A couple of the moms appeared affronted, as if they resented that Lacey had caught his eye when they couldn’t. She could bet there were a lot of slighted women in Hope Falls right now. According to Shirl, Scott was one of the town’s most eligible—and desired—bachelors…but the most unavailable.
How the others responded to seeing Scott with her made their relationship all the more real. This wasn’t a casual fling for him. To take her out publicly meant something. She could see it in his eyes, so full of pride. It was as if with every glance, he was saying, “I’m with her, and she’s with me, and I want the whole world to know it.”
Her heart swelled. It was almost erotic to see how proud he was of their relationship. In that moment, Lacey knew without a doubt that she loved him. She had suspected as much a week ago, but now she knew for sure. Scott was the man she’d always wanted but thought she would never find.
He took her hand at the top of the hill as they waited for their fourth run.
She looked up at him. His cheeks were flushed from the cold.
“You having a good time?” he said.
“Yes.” Just gazing up at him made her lightheaded. Was this how the realization of love was supposed to feel? Like she was lifting off, floating, carried by the clouds? “You?”
From the intense yet dreamy look in his eyes, he was feeling the same way she was. “Yes.” Without preamble, he bent and kissed her. Not lewdly. Not like he had the other night. It was just a simple caress of his mouth on hers. And yet, the effect was the same. Her knees went weak, her pulse raced, and she gripped his hand more firmly.
She knew his intent hadn’t been to show the townsfolk physical proof of just how much he liked her, but the message was clear nonetheless. The air around them sparked with awareness. Like fire tearing through dry brush, all eyes turned on them. Lacey didn’t have to see them to know they were watching. She could feel it.
Someone let out a wolf whistle, and Scott broke away as if he hadn’t realized he’d actually been kissing her. His face flushed a deeper shade of red than it already was, and he glanced to the side then over his shoulder before clearing his throat and straightening.
“Oops,” he said under his breath, giving her a sheepish grin.
Lacey’s cheeks and neck were in flames, and she ducked, hiding her face against his coat as he put his arm around her and chuckled.
“Scott and Mattie, sittin’ in a tree,” someone singsonged from off to the side. Most likely one of the kids he knew from the skate park. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”
She peeked over her shoulder as Scott let her go, bent, and grabbed a handful of snow. When he stood, he threw a snowball at the kid, laughing. “No teasing, Matthew!”
“Oh, no you didn’t!” The kid named Matthew let out a whoop, spun away from another snowball as he ducked and dug out a handful of snow.
Next thing Lacey knew, the top of the hill ruptured into one massive snowball fight. Kids were screeching in laughter, running and ducking as white missiles flew in every direc
tion like wayward asteroids. Several of the parents got in on the action, too, while others escaped on their sleds down the hill.
A few minutes later, with snow melting in his trimmed beard and dripping off his hair, Scott grabbed her around the waist and pushed her toward their sled.
“Come on! Let’s go!”
She hopped on, and he jumped behind her, arms around her waist. Snowballs flew past them, and she heard a couple explode against the back of his snowsuit. They started down the hill, picking up momentum and speed, flying by the time they reached halfway.
Lacey screamed in laughter as they careened on the verge of out of control.
“Hang on!” Scott gripped her more tightly, letting out an adrenaline-laced shout.
They reached the bottom and shot over a small lip in the snow. The sled flew out from under them, and they tumbled off, rolling and laughing until they finally stopped in a heap of tangled arms and legs.
Laughing, he pushed to his feet and helped her up. “You ready to head home?”
She dusted snow off her clothes. Casting a glance to the top of the hill, where the snowball fight was still in full force, she nodded. “I’m ready if you are.”
Being here with him, in public, and seeing the way he’d responded to her, as well as to all the attention, she felt closer to him in a way that touched her deep in her soul. In a way that made her want to be alone with him, where she didn’t have to shyly hide her face after kissing him.
He dropped her by her cabin so she could clean up before heading over for dinner. She showered, put a few curls in her hair, which had grown out some, and dabbed on a bit of makeup. Then she changed into a nice pair of denim trousers and a navy-blue button-down sweater over a black camisole. With one final check in the mirror, she slid on her coat and locked up.
A few minutes later, she was taking the steps to his porch when he opened the door and blew her mind.
She’d never seen Scott in anything but jeans, sweatshirts, and T-shirts. But tonight he wore black slacks and a light-blue button-down. The collar was open, but he still looked breathtaking.
He smoothed his palm down the placket of his shirt almost self-consciously, as if hoping to make a favorable impression.
“Wow,” she said, pausing on the top step to take him in from head to toe.
