by Ellie Hall
“I’m in here,” he replied.
She entered the living room and found him on the sofa—he rarely got out of bed.
“You’re home and you’re glowing,” her dad said. The tone in his voice reminded her of years before when he was still healthy. She tilted her head. It was as though he’d opened a window and let fresh air in although it smelled distinctly like wood smoke. Perhaps, she imagined things, was too hopeful. Perhaps she was wrong about him wanting to live in secrecy.
Sadie’s hand reached her cheek. She still felt pink from their stolen kiss and the others Tripp snuck when no one was looking—one on her cheek, one on her forehead, and a polite but warm one on the lips when she left for the day.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Chapter 10
Tripp
Tripp knocked on the door and could feel the warmth from within escaping. It had been a while since Mr. Collins had been able to tend to the house and likely most other matters. He wanted to help and he would, but first, he had to win Sadie back.
She pulled open the door, and her breath caught. “Tripp, what are you doing here?” The rosy hue to her cheeks disappeared and she paled.
She started to step outside but her father called, “What a surprise. We have company. Let the young man in.”
“Dad, it’s fine. I’ll see him later,” she said over her shoulder.
“Nonsense. Open the door, invite our guest in then close it quickly, you’re letting the heat out.”
Tripp smelled the woodstove burning and hoped they’d been able to afford to have the chimney swept. Lord knew he’d seen the result of neglecting that chore. But he didn’t expect Mr. Collins or Sadie to climb onto the roof. The wallpaper peeled and the carpet was more worn than he recalled, he doubted they had the resources for upkeep of any sort. But it was clean and tidy.
“I see you got your wood delivery,” he said as Sadie stepped aside to let him in.
“Ah yes, thanks to Rocky.” Tripp cleared his throat, relieved his brother dropped off the logs.
“Thanks, Tripp,” Sadie said in a small voice.
“You mean Rip Van Winkle?” Mr. Collins asked.
Both Tripp and Sadie stared at him with their eyebrows knitted together.
He brought a shaky hand to his chin.
“Dad, this is Tripp. You remember him, right?” The corners of her eyes pinched with concern and likely she worried he was getting forgetful too.
He waved his hand dismissively and then rested it on his walker. “Yes, Tripp with the flowers and chocolates. Rip Van Winkle with the wood.”
Tripp smiled, immediately understanding.
“Rip Van what?” Sadie asked.
“It’s a character from an old story. My grandfather used to tease old man Bruce up on the mountain pass about his beard. Do you mean my brother Rocky grew a beard?” Tripp asked Mr. Collins.
“Yes, I watched him stack it. Wish I could’ve helped. Make myself useful. But do you mean you don’t know if your own brother has facial hair?” It took him a while to get the words out but Mr. Collins was as sharp as ever.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t spoken in a while, Sir.”
He shook his head solemnly.
Sadie cast her dad a sympathetic look with a tilt of her head.
“That beard was so bushy I imagine squirrels have a nest in there.” Mr. Collins laughed.
“The same ones that carved the path to your front door?” Tripp asked, joking.
Mr. Collins cracked a smile.
“It was heavy snow; I did the best I could,” Sadie said defensively.
“Of course, you did, dear. Tripp, thank you for helping us out.”
“I’ll never be able to repay you for your kindness so the thanks goes to you.” Tripp nodded politely.
Mr. Collins’ smile grew.
Sadie spotted a shiny coin on the table—her father had been an avid coin collector, silver dollars in particular.
“The shining star to my collection. Charles junior, Tripp’s father, said he’d bring it down to me, in exchange for its value of course, but tragedy struck.”
Tripp had balanced his elbows on his knees and looked down. He supposed Mr. Collins faced his own sort of tragedy now, Sadie too. But it had been a surprise when her father contacted him earlier, asking about the coin and if he cared to pay a visit.
“How’d you get that, Dad?” Sadie asked, as sharp as her father.
“Tripp brought it over this morning. We talked about old times and let bygones be bygones.”
“You both went behind my back and met in secret?”
“I asked him over, dear. Now, don’t get yourself worked up. My nerves can’t handle it.” He wheezed a chuckle. “You get like this and you’re allowed to make cracks like that. Now, you two. What’s the plan?”
“The plan?” Sadie asked, seemingly in shock.
Tripp supposed even after their kiss she hadn’t thought he’d show up at her house. He realized she’d been hiding the situation from him and likely everyone in the community, not that it was a secret or should have been. Word in Hawk Ridge Hollow traveled despite the lake and mountain and other obstructions. On Sadie’s part, it was likely pride because her father wasn’t the picture of strength he once was. Maybe having outsiders witness his decline made it more real for her.
He clapped his hands together and lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Well, I came over because I want to ask you on a date. A Valentine’s Day date.”
She turned to her dad.
“I already gave him my blessing. I did three years ago and I did again when he paid me a visit while you were working earlier.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Dad, you don’t have to do this.”
“Sadie, nothing would make me happier than seeing you happy. Nothing would make me happier than seeing you healthy. By that, I mean with a healthy heart, filled with love.”
Her eyes misted over.
“Sadie girl. We both know what’s coming. It’s no use hiding it or denying it. I don’t want my last memories to be only of these four walls. I want to see my girl get married atop the mountain to the man she loves and who loves her.”
Silent tears tracked down her cheeks and Tripp had to admit his eyes felt watery too.
She threw her arms around her father’s neck.
When she pulled away, she said, “Dad, he only asked me on a date.”
Her dad nodded. “I wish you both all the happiness in the world.”
Sadie wiped her eyes and choked back more tears then let out laughter. “Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.”
They spent the next hour chatting and Tripp stayed for dinner. He tried to convince them both that it would be in everyone’s best interest to have her and Mr. Collins stay at the resort for a month or so, get round the clock care. Sadie would be in the building so nearby all day long. That way, the house could be repaired without them living in a construction zone.
“Does my stay include room service? Massages? I never did take advantage of all the fancy amenities offered over there,” Mr. Collins said.
“Dad!” Sadie scolded.
“I’m joking.”
“That’s very generous of you, Tripp. We’ll have to think about it.”
“Offer stands. Anytime. Consider it a donation to a family who deserves it. Or a perk of your dedication to your work at the Hawk Ridge Hollow Resort.” It sounded like she needed convincing but he felt confident he could do it.
Sadie wrung her hands together and he took them in his. Feeling the sensation that being close to her brought: the heat, the pulse, the connection. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about their afternoon together, their kiss, and how it seemed like everything was going to work out better than he could have planned, hoped, or dreamed.
“This is a lot, Tripp. I don’t know.”
“Earlier today, you described your perfect couples’ getaway. Let me treat you tomorrow, on Valentine’s Day.”
“
You deserve a little pampering, dear,” Mr. Collins said.
She flashed a quick look at her father.
“I don’t really want to get away.”
“But you always had the travel bug.”
“I still do but there’s something to be said about being home.”
He agreed, it felt good to be back home. Despite the difficult memories, there were good ones too, namely with her. And he hoped many more to come.
“What I had in mind gives us the best of both worlds. We live in a resort town. We don’t have to go far. In fact, we can walk. Though now that your car is fixed it’s less than a five-minute drive. I’ll arrange for a nurse to check in on your father.”
Mr. Collins nodded. “I appreciate everything you do for me, Sadie, but it’s a lot on your shoulders. You don’t have to do it alone.”
“Dad, we can’t afford—”
Tripp held up his finger. “Consider it part of the date.”
Sadie folded her hands in front of her chest. “We can’t accept that. It’s too much.”
Her father straightened as best he could. “Dear, I’m not saying you don’t do a wonderful job, but we can and we will accept Tripp’s generosity.” His voice was clear, final.
She shifted, slightly taken aback, but then a smile started to blossom on her face. It seemed a bit of the old Mr. Collins was back.
Tripp smirked, feeling warm all over in her joyous glow. “Sadie, will you be my official Valentine’s Day date?”
Chapter 11
Sadie
Of course, Sadie said yes. She probably repeated it a hundred times while she jumped up and down, hugging Tripp. Her father’s eyes were glassy. Even though she couldn’t do much to help him, if seeing her happy made him happy, she’d do it. And being with Tripp ignited a flame inside she’d all but let go out.
After his visit, she got ready for bed but laid awake, replaying the afternoon and evening, thinking about what it might mean to open her heart to him again.
It came with a risk: she didn’t want to get burned. But she’d been shut off for so long the steady beating in her chest felt like encouragement. Like if she and her heart joined forces and were careful things might turn out okay.
But then her mind started to churn out doubts and all the ways it could go wrong. It reminded her of the past and all her suffering.
She felt caught between head and chest. Mind and heart.
When she finally started to feel sleepy and drift, she resolved to proceed with caution and go through with the date—it couldn’t hurt worse than it had three years ago.
The next morning, she found herself primping as she got ready. It took what seemed like ages to select the right outfit: her favorite pair of jeans that hugged her curves and her cutest sweater. It was soft and light pink and perfect for Valentine’s Day.
She managed to wrangle her curls into something presentable and then added a little extra eyeshadow and mascara to make her eyes pop. As she applied lip gloss with a hint of sparkle, she somehow still felt the warmth of Tripp’s lips on hers from when they’d kissed. The way he approached tentatively, asking with his eyes. First, there was the soft brush as his lips met hers and then, as though assured, the kiss steadily grew in intensity. She hoped her desire for him was clear in her answer as she returned the kiss.
Her memory was vivid: his hands on her jawline, moving to her hair, her neck, her back. Beneath her own fingertips, she felt his strength, the density of his muscles, and warmth of his skin.
They’d kissed countless times in the past but this felt new, different yet very much the same. She realized that even though she’d felt betrayed and hurt, she’d always loved him. That kind of flame was eternal.
She knew whatever was to come for them, having loved him made it all worth it. She couldn’t imagine a life without that kind of intense care for another person. Despite the past, she wouldn’t trade it because never having loved would have left her feeling empty. With the echo of love and affection still in her heart, she felt full.
She finished getting ready, made sure her father was set up with the nurse for the day, and set out to meet Tripp at the resort. Snowflakes fell slowly from the gray sky, drifting down. Tripp told her to go to the resort spa first thing. Typically, the couples’ package arranged services for both guests so she surveyed the area for him.
However, he was nowhere to be seen. Her heart dipped. Maybe it wasn’t to be after all. The corners of her lips dropped.
She inquired with the receptionist behind the desk and then gave her name.
The woman smiled, as though pleased and said, “Excellent. We have a special morning planned for you.” She invited Sadie to a private room for a massage, courtesy of her Valentine. It also included a deluxe maple sugar full body exfoliation treatment followed by a wrap. Then she got a facial and her nails done in sparkly pink. Lastly, they redid her hair and makeup.
Sadie had never been pampered like that in her life. She was the person who created packages like that for guests to enjoy, not for herself. But she couldn’t help but bask in how luxurious it felt. How relaxed her muscles became, how smooth her skin, and how she felt like she glowed from the inside out.
After she got dressed, which took her an inordinately long time, she felt so blissed out, one of the spa technicians passed her a note. Assuming it was from Tripp, her heart lifted then her mind cast doubt, worried he was canceling.
Dear Sadie,
What does a hawk call his Valentine?
She bit her lip to keep from smiling too big. Tripp always did know how to make her laugh. She thought of the lovebirds table at the Hawk and Whistle but wasn’t sure about the punchline to the joke. She flipped the card to see if there was more.
His tweetheart.
Xo
Tripp
She wandered out of the spa and into the hall, not sure if and where they were supposed to meet. She was getting hungry though. She exited the nearest door, needing to get fresh air and wake up. Perhaps he waited outside. She stood in front of the Hawk Post adjacent to the resort because she had a good view of the surrounding area in case he was somewhere else—it was a general store that used to be the post office well before she was born and had a wall of antique metal boxes filled with treats and supplies.
She waited outside the shop for a few minutes then the owner waved her inside. She shivered and hugged her arms as she entered.
Mrs. Trillby, who’d been there forever, called, “I was starting to worry you didn’t get the message. Tweetheart. Birds. Hawks. Hawk Post. Makes some sense, right?”
“Huh?” Sadie asked, confused.
The storekeeper held up an envelope. “A very handsome young man left this with me.”
With chilled fingers, Sadie opened it.
Dear Sadie,
What did the boy squirrel say to the girl squirrel on Valentine’s Day?”
She turned the card over.
I’m nuts about you.
Xo
Tripp
Sadie giggled.
Mrs. Trillby beamed a grin. “Well?”
“I don’t know. He left me another joke.” She showed the older woman both cards.
“I like a man with a sense of humor. Sounds like a scavenger hunt to me. Either he wants you to go to my backyard and chase those critters away or maybe you’re meant to meet him at the candied nuts cart at the foot of the mountain.” She winked.
“They got rid of that years ago.”
Mrs. Trillby shrugged. “Can’t blame an old woman for her hunch.”
Sadie had always loved getting a pouch of warm, candied nuts before heading up the chairlift to the top of the mountain. But after someone with an allergy complained, they removed the cart.
“I suppose I can try… Thank you, Mrs. Trillby.” She left the way she came and crossed the central square between the resort and lodge before heading to the lift leading up one of her favorite trails—past tense. She hadn’t skied much the last few years.
&
nbsp; As she neared the chairlift, the sweet scent of roasting nuts pulled her forward.
Just outside the waiting line for skiers to head up, a man with a cart held a sign with her name on it. Beside him was also a large bag.
“Hi. I’m Sadie Collins.”
He smiled and passed her another card much like the first two.
Dear Sadie,
Why do you have me spinning today?
She tilted her head in thought before turning the card over.
Because I think you’re tops.
Xo
Tripp
This time she groaned. It was a super corny joke. But sweet, like the nuts she could no longer resist they smelled so good. “Could I get a bag of those?” she asked the man.
“First, I was instructed to tell you to put this on.” He pointed to the large bag.
Inside was an assortment of cold weather gear: pants, jacket, hat, gloves in pink with a fun, white lacy pattern—perfect for Valentine’s Day. At the bottom was a pair of goggles.
“You can leave your belongings in one of the lockers.” He passed her a key.
“What about my nuts?”
“When you come back.”
She smiled. A few minutes later, she was warmer than ever and the vendor passed her a bag of roasted, candied nuts. “Now what?” she asked.
He shrugged.
She thought about the note. “I think he wants me to go up. Hmm. No skis?”
“I don’t think so.”
She wondered just what Tripp had in store but she was going to go along with it. She got in line for the lift and munched on the nuts. They were so delicious she’d popped the last one in her mouth by the time it was her turn to get on.
The white blanket of fresh powder sparkled below as she rode up through an avenue of trees laden with snow. It was beautiful scenery and she lamented not taking advantage of living there more often or at least stopping every once in a while, and appreciating nature.
