Love Story for a Snow Princess

by Beth D. Carter

  “Ouch!” she hissed, bringing up the hand. A thorn lay embedded in the skin. When she plucked it out, a bright splash of blood ran down the middle finger.

  She paled, wobbled a bit, and he reached out to steady her. But she only took a deep breath and turned her face away. “In my purse are a couple of napkins,” she told him, a little wisp of breathiness pinching through her words. “I don’t think I’ll ever like blood, but I promise I won’t faint.”

  He wrapped up her finger as she faced away. When he went to step back, however, she grabbed his hand and brought him next to her.

  “Mom, Dad,” she said, “this is Paden. He’s my…” She paused and looked at him. Paden raised an eyebrow. “He’s very special to me,” she whispered. She smiled and looked back at the graves. “And I wanted you to meet him. He’s a good man, a graphic artist. He’s got fan pages following him.” She leaned over and whispered in his ear. “My dad would’ve thought that was cool.”

  He smiled, gripping her hand tightly. He looked at the tombstones, the names and dates. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Snow. Hera and Jason. I’m Paden Poseidon Winters.”

  “What?”

  He gave an apologetic smile to her. “What else would you expect a man who makes boats for a living to name his son? At least my mother insisted it be my middle name.”

  Thea started laughing and suddenly, she felt the sun was a little warmer. The air was a bit more crisp. Her heart, a little lighter. And she knew her mother was clapping her hands somewhere in heaven.

  ******

  They stayed in Malibu two more days before she and Paden flew from Los Angeles to Miami, Florida. With each passing hour, Paden grew more and more quiet, pensive, staring at his hands and retreating inside his head. Thea didn’t interrupt him; she knew from experience that some things had to be worked out alone.

  When they got off the plane a man who looked like a slighter older version of Paden greeted them at baggage claim. She hung back, watching as he greeted his father, shaking hands and giving each other a quick hug.

  “Dad, this is Panthea Snow,” Paden introduced her. “Thea, my father Grantley Winters.”

  She shook his hand. Grant Snow covered the back of hers with his, and she saw the flash of tears swimming in his eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered to her.

  “For what?”

  Grant turned his head and watched his son grab their suitcases off the revolving rack. “I haven’t seen my son in ten years. I haven’t even talked to him. Then one day, out of the blue, he calls me saying he wants his mother and me to meet a woman who was very important to him. So, thank you, for bringing me my son.”

  Warmth spread through her, happiness at hearing Paden felt like she was helping him. She hadn’t been far off the mark with the super-rich statement. Grant Winters had a car and driver which took them from the international airport to the luxurious suburb of Bal Harbour, to a house that dwarfed hers. They passed through gated security up a circular drive to a house shaded by large, heavy palms. The house was white with dark accents and plants stashed in every available open space possible.

  Paden’s mother, Darlene, waited for them in the open door. She was as petite as her husband was tall, shorter than Thea, which wasn’t boasting much, but what she lacked in stature she made up for in energy. The woman constantly moved.

  She embraced her son, tears running down her cheeks in happiness, before also hugging Thea. Hardwood floors lined throughout the house with rugs contrasting with the dark coloring. Art and photos graced the walls. Plants brought a touch of warmth. As they walked from into the library, Paden picked up one of his graphic novels and raised an eyebrow to his father. Grant only shrugged good naturedly.

  Dinner was prepared by their personal chef. Salmon with dill and lemon juice baked to perfection. Vegetables, salad, rolls, all of it mouthwatering. Thea doubted she’d ever eaten so well. Afterwards, dessert and coffee were brought out.

  “I’ve got something to tell you,” Paden announced after the rich chocolate cake had been served for dessert. He just pushed his piece around on his plate.

  “What?” his father asked.

  Paden shot her a look and took her hand. “Do you remember Cale Kritchkofen?”

  Thea squeezed back hard, giving him all her strength.

  His father thought for a moment. “The name is familiar but I can’t seem to place the face.”

  “He was a project manager at the shipyard.”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s right. I vaguely recollect he never showed up one day to work so I had to record him as self-terminating. What about him?”

  Paden took a deep breath. “Because…he was the reason.”

  Grant and Darlene glanced at each other, looking confused. “The reason for what?”

  “Why I, um, started cutting myself. Why I needed therapy.”

  Tension suddenly gripped the room. Grant leaned forward on his forearms, his face suddenly fierce. “What did he do, Paden?”

  “He…I don’t know if I can do this,” he whispered.

  Thea squeezed his hand. “It’s okay.”

  Darlene began to cry, as if sensing what was coming.

  “He lured me into one of the yachts,” Paden said, his tone low as he delved into his memories. “Held me down. Pulled my pants off.”

  “Oh god!” Darlene cried. “No. Oh, God, no.”

  “He r-raped me,” Paden whispered. As soon as the words were out, his shoulders sagged. There was a moment of absolute silence, stretching already taut nerves even tighter. Then his father reached out to tough his son’s arm.

  “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  The question wasn’t accusatory. Just...resigned.

  Paden shook his head. “I couldn’t. I just…I shut it all down. Everything. And that manifested in self-destructive harm later on.”

  His parents rose and went to him, so Thea moved back to allow them time to grieve together as a family. Watching them, her own emotions flared up. She’d never know her own parents’ embrace anymore, and a part of her would always miss that. But she was happy for Paden finally learning how to open up.

  “I want to find that son-of-a-bitch and tear him apart,” Grant said. A small tear drifted over his weathered face. “I wish this had never happened to you.”

  “I’m sorry I never told you. I just…I didn’t know how to. I should’ve been able to fight him off-”

  “You shouldn’t have had to,” Darlene interrupted. She cupped his face. “I thought it was hormonal. Never dreamed it was this. I’m so sorry I failed you.”

  Paden wrapped his arms around her waist.

  Thea left them to bond and recover, walking out to the backyard and taking a seat in one of the lounge chairs by the pool. A long time later, Paden came to sit next to her.

  “I’m going back to therapy,” he said. “Figured it was a good idea and my parents agreed. This time, though, I’ll be completely open about everything.”

  “That’s good,” she replied. “By talking about it, you release his hold on you.”

  He nodded. “My father plugged his name into a search engine. Found out he’s in prison on the same type of charges. He never stopped.”

  When Paden bowed his head, she took hold of his hand.

  “Don’t, for one moment, think you could’ve prevented him from molesting another person. Men like him are predators.”

  “But if I’d told someone-”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “You were a child. The blame lies directly with him. He’s the monster. Not you.”

  Paden threaded their fingers together and kissed her knuckles. “I still have a lot of issues to get through. And one of them…I plan on visiting him in prison.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  He nodded. “I think my soul needs to confront him.”

  “Want me to go with you?”

  “Please. I want you to stay with me always.”

  She pulled him into a hug, and they sat there for a long time, lea
ning into each other.

  Chapter Twenty

  The next morning, Grant drove them to the airfield where his private plane waited, already prepped to go. The flight to Jacksonville only took an hour where another car waited for them, and with each mile closer to the Florida State Prison, Paden’s nerves jumped erratically. Was he strong enough to do this? As if sensing his agitation, Thea squeezed his fingers, giving him her reassurance.

  At the prison gate, their driver pulled up to the guard shack where they were met with the Regional Director. After handshakes, they were taken through several areas and several inspection sites, passed through many metal detectors until they were finally escorted into the visitors’ area. Paden’s hands shook so badly he had to clasp them together. Nausea churned in his gut and he hoped he didn’t vomit. That wasn’t the impression he wanted to present to the man who had stolen his childhood.

  When inmate number 348394 walked out, all the air left Paden in a whoosh. Because the man before him was hardly a monster. He was really nothing more than a shriveled up old man, one who had to walk slightly stooped from the chains around his feet linking up with his hands. His thinning, oily hair lay slicked down over the bald spot. His nose was large with red bumps all over it, which extended over his cheeks. He had the classic look of a man who had not taken care of himself at all, thin except with a paunch from lack of muscle tone. His eyes were narrow, a faded brown runny from time.

  The man sat in front of a Plexiglas table and stared blankly at Paden. He reached over and pushed the button as he talked.

  “Do I know you?”

  Paden pushed his own button. “You don’t remember me?”

  The man squinted his eyes and shook his head.

  Paden pushed his button again. “I’m the Winters’ kid.”

  The man’s eyes widened, then went flat. He pushed the button. “I got nothing to say to you.”

  Paden pushed his button. “But I got something to say to you. You took my childhood. You took my life.”

  Kritchkofen watched him stone-faced.

  “For twenty-five years you were a monster in my head,” Paden said. “Actually, now that I see you, you’re just fucking pathetic, you know that? You’ve rotted away inside those chains. I used to wish for your death, but now I’m kind of glad you’re still wearing those nice bracelets.”

  Cale Kritchkofen gave him the finger.

  Paden snorted and hit his button again. “You really are a worthless piece of shit. And you’re not taking any more of my life.”

  He stood up, his hand clenching hers tightly. He gave one last look at the withered man, who sat in his chair shouting obscenities they couldn’t hear, and shook his head before turning to walk away.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Are you all right?” Thea asked him as the driver drove them from the State Prison.

  Paden had buried his face in his hands the moment the car door had closed behind him. “I can’t believe I let that man claim my life for so long.”

  “It’s over now.”

  Paden looked at her, tears running down his cheeks. “Is it? Am I’m magically healed just by telling a man to go fuck himself?”

  Thea grabbed his hands. “Yes. If you’re willing to let him go.”

  Paden frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Sometimes it’s really easy to hide behind the trauma.”

  He jerked his hands from her. “Are you saying I want to keep cutting myself?”

  “No, but…letting go is hard. Believe me, I understand.”

  He turned away and stared out of the window. Thea wondered if she had pushed him too much. Then softly, she heard, “Thank you.”

  They didn’t talk for the rest of the journey back to Jacksonville. The plane waited, already fueled and ready to whisk them back to Miami where their driver took them back to Bal Harbour. Paden disappeared into his room, leaving Thea to talk to his parents.

  ******

  Paden stood on the small patch of beach near his parents house, far enough from the water to not get his feet wet and yet close enough to hear the occasional break in the water as it crested. Breathtaking oranges and reds painted the horizon and bathed the land in burning streaks. Boats traversed the water, sending out gentle ripples that lapped hungrily at the sand.

  His mind raced in turmoil because now that he was free, he did feel different. Was his mind playing tricks? He wanted to test if the invisible specter that had clung to him for years suddenly wasn’t there anymore, but he was half afraid to try. What if Thea had been wrong, and all of this had been for nothing?

  Yet, what if Thea had been right?

  Could it have been this easy? Just a visit to an old decrepit man rotting away in jail and suddenly he was cured? He understood his parents protecting him and when he was twenty-five he had run off to Alaska to live a life devoid of any feeling or emotional connection. But over the years he had learned to love the starkness of River Ice, the perpetual darkness in the winter. In comparison, Miami was a little too bright. A little too warm. A little too crowded.

  Paden took a deep breath. There was no doubt that he wanted to go back, but would Thea go with him? He owed Thea so much, he figured he’d it would take the rest of his life to make her happy.

  Was he too scared to try?

  He took a deep breath and turned from the last rays of the dying sun. He had a lot to think over.

  ******

  The next morning Thea walked into the kitchen and stopped short. Darlene and Grant were there, dressed with two suitcases waiting by the table.

  “Oh good!” Darlene said as she smiled at Thea. “You’re up before we take off.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I got a call last night that there’s a problem with production in the Marseilles plant,” Grant explained as he finished the last of his coffee. “I’ve got to fly there to figure it out, and Darlene thought this would be a great time to do a little shopping.”

  “Marseilles, France?”

  He nodded.

  “Oh. Okay How long will you be gone?”

  “Two days.”

  “Wow, that’s a fast turn around! I was thinking you’d be gone for a couple of weeks.”

  “Even my wallet wouldn’t hold up to Darlene shopping that long.”

  Darlene smacked him in the arm and Grant winced.

  “Does Paden know?”

  “Yes,” Darlene answered. “He’s going with us to the airport to see us off.”

  Thea smiled. “Good. I’m glad. Have a safe trip.”

  She hugged both and waved as Grant grabbed the two suitcases and headed out of the house. By herself in the huge mansion, she felt a little lost. She grabbed a yogurt and ate it as she headed back upstairs to put on a bathing suit. The pool was heavenly and she decided to take advantage of the luxury.

  She had moved to the hot tub by the time that Paden returned. He walked out on the patio and shaded his eyes as he stared at her. She waved him over.

  “Want to join me?”

  He started shedding his clothes.

  She laughed. “What are you doing?”

  “Joining you.”

  He pulled his pants down, and dressed only in his boxer briefs, entered the water. Then he pulled her bikini clad body against his. She sat nestled in the circle of his arms, her back to his chest and her head leaning against his shoulder.

  “I thought we’d have a romantic evening staying in,” he told her. “I’ve prepared mango chicken and penne à la vodka.”

  She glanced up at him. “You’re cooking?”

  “No, Sylvia, my parents’ chef, is cooking,” he corrected. “I called her on the way here. Did I ever tell you how fast I can dial?”

  Thea chuckled and cuddled closer to his body.

  “Did your father really need to go to Marseilles?”

  “Actually, no. I asked if he and mom could go away this evening. Mom was the one who thought of France.”

  “I thought so. So, now that y
ou have me all to yourself, whatever will you do with me?”

  He was silent for a moment, and just when she thought he wasn’t going to answer, he kissed her temple. “I wanted to have a romantic evening with you. I figured neither of us are really party people, nor going out to clubs and dancing people, so I thought I’d have a romantic dinner in, complete with wine and roses.”

  “When is dinner?”

  “Five this evening.”

  “So we have all day?”

  “Yes.”

  “How about a cruise around the harbor?”

  “You want to go on one of my father’s boats?”

  “Do you know how to sail?”

  “Of course I know how to sail.”

  “I’ll wear a bikini under my shorts.”

  “Deal.”

  ******

  They spent the day on the water, on one of the company’s yachts, just the two of them. When Paden dropped anchor she stripped off her shorts and shirt, holding out the bottle of sunscreen to him. He seemed to take pleasure in greasing up her body over and over and over.

  By the time they made it back to the house, the food was ready to be served. Paden dismissed Sylvia with a thanks and a hefty tip, while Thea sprinted upstairs to take a quick shower. Dressing in a buttercup yellow sundress, she brushed out her red hair until the curls fell in gentle waves around her face. Mascara and lip gloss completed, she headed downstairs where Paden waited.

  He pulled out her chair and pushed it in as she sat before serving her a California Riesling. The plates were already served so she clinked her glass with his and started eating.

  “This is heavenly,” she said after the first bite.

  “Yeah, it’s one of my favorites.”

  “I thought caribou was your favorite.”

  He smiled. “You know, I hated caribou when I first tasted it. It’s really tough meat. But since there wasn’t a large selection at the Suinnak I sucked it up.”

  She laughed. “So, what you’re saying is that it does not taste like chicken.”