Liz woke up with a knot in her stomach. She hoped the news would be good at the orthopedic surgeon today. Surgery scared her to death. She’d never been put to sleep for anything, and she really didn’t want to start now.
The soft cast was hard to maneuver around in, and she was lousy with the crutches. At least if they put a real cast on her she could put her foot down to balance herself. She was afraid she was going to break her other leg just trying to get around on the crutches.
Please don’t let this mean surgery. The thought of surgery made her want to cry. All those years of team sports, cheerleading, and gymnastics, and she’d never broken more than a nail. Now, at thirty-two, she had her first broken bone. There wouldn’t be a ski trip this winter.
Liz slipped on her jeans, since they were the only thing that would fit over the cast, having been slit up the side. “We’re going to need to stop and get me some sweatpants,” she called out to Krissy. She hadn’t really thought about it, because she’d been in her stretchy pajama bottoms until today. “I can’t get by with just one pair of jeans.”
Krissy put her purse on her shoulder. “We can stop on the way back from the doctor. Are you about ready?”
“I think so.”
The two of them made it out to the front porch, but then going down the stairs seemed a lot more ominous than going up.
“I think I’d better just sit on my butt and go down,” Liz said.
“That’ll work.” Krissy spotted her to a seated position, then Liz bumped down the stairs one at a time. She was at the bottom stair when Matt pulled up in front of the house.
“Good morning. I wanted to make sure y’all got off okay,” he said as he got out of Krissy’s car. “Looks like you got creative.”
“Whatever works,” Liz said, standing up.
“Let me help you into the car.”
“Thanks, Matt.” She leaned on him and let him balance her as she slid into the passenger’s seat of Krissy’s car.
“Good luck.”
“Thank you.” She raised her crossed fingers, and Krissy started the car and headed down the mountain.
MATT WENT INSIDE and worked on the chili fixin’s. He figured he’d make it now, then put it over the fire when they got home this afternoon. Then they could eat whenever they wanted to tonight.
He had a lot to do, and as much as he would like to share a cozy dinner with Liz and Krissy, there wasn’t going to be time for that tonight.
Liz called when they were on the way back. “Good news,” she said. “I don’t need surgery. It’s a stable fracture, and they’ve recasted me. I’ll be in a cast for at least six weeks. He said it could be eight weeks, but I’m good at coming in ahead of schedule, so I’m banking on six.”
“I don’t think it works that way, Liz.”
“Can’t hurt to hope. I’ll still be on crutches, but he said it could’ve been a lot worse.”
“That’s great news. When will you be back?”
“Krissy says the GPS is showing about forty minutes.”
“Great. I’ll be there to help you get settled back in.”
“That would be great,” she said.
He was relieved she was at least accepting his help now. That was progress.
When they drove up he was just taking the corn bread out of the oven. He shuffled the hot pan onto the counter and turned off the oven, then brushed his hands on his pants and ran for the door. “Hey there.”
Liz was already trying to get out of the car. She was a headstrong girl, but then that was one of the things he liked about her too.
“Hang on. I’ll help.” He swung the door all the way open, and had her lean on his upper arm to get leverage to stand. “There you go.”
She wobbled, then finally got the crutches underneath her and started moving forward.
“I like the red glittery cast,” Matt said.
“The guy said it was Christmassy.” She took a step forward. “Three twelve-year-olds and I are all sporting them this season.”
“It is Christmassy. And youthful.”
“A bright side to everything.” Liz stood in front of the stairs, dreading the climb.
Krissy and Matt each got on a side of her and hopped her up the stairs to the porch. “This is a lot of work,” Liz said, out of breath.
“Hang on. You wait right there. I have a surprise for you.” Matt jogged inside and came back out pushing a deep red scooter. He had one knee on the pad and pushed off with the other foot. “Thought you could use this.”
“Where did you get that thing?”
“Ruptured my Achilles in a skiing accident a couple of years ago. That’s a yearlong recovery. This thing and I were inseparable for a while.”
Liz pressed her lips together. “With the little basket and everything?”
“Yes. This thing will make your life so much easier. Laugh if you must, but you are going to find that little basket quite handy.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re right. Thank you.”
“Let me show you how it works.” He took her crutches and then lined the scooter up under her bad leg. “Just put your weight on the cushion and push forward with your other foot. Use the hand brakes to stop.”
She moved forward a little. “Oh yeah. This is way better.”
“See?”
“Now if you can just figure out how I can still make a snow angel I’ll be set.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He gently held her arm as she navigated through the kitchen to her chair to make sure she didn’t get tripped up. “Be careful when you cross to the rug or change floor types, this scooter will toss you off if you’re not careful.”
“Oh yeah, that was close,” Liz said. “I guess I almost have to wheelie the front tire a little to get up on the carpet.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
Krissy took over getting her comfortable, so Matt went and got the pot of chili and hung it over the fire. “The corn bread is on the counter. The chili has cooked and simmered, really you’re just heating it back up. Do you think you can maneuver the pot?”
Krissy nodded. “Yeah. I can handle it.”
“I’ve got to run. I’ve got some people to meet up with tonight.”
Liz felt her mood dip. She wasn’t ready for him to leave yet. She’d hoped he would stick around and at least eat dinner with them.
“See you later.” Matt left, and Liz sat quietly as Krissy messed around on her computer.
AT NINE O’CLOCK, the text chime sounded on Liz’s phone. “Who could that be at this hour?”
Krissy looked up. “Can you reach it?”
Liz leaned forward and grabbed her phone with her fingertips. “Got it.” She put in her password, and the message displayed. “It’s Matt texting me. He asked if everything is okay.”
“Well, answer him,” Krissy said.
She texted back that things were going fine.
Then Matt asked her if she was still up, or had she gone to bed.
I’m still up, she texted back.
When Matt responded, she gulped.
“What’s the matter?” Krissy asked.
“He wants to take me for a ride.” She held the phone close to her. “What do I do?”
“Go with him. What’s the harm in that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s complicated. He’s working for me. I have a strict policy about dating anyone I’m working with.”
Krissy sat there for a second, her mouth pulling to one side as if she was about to say something but wasn’t sure if she should. “Look, this isn’t my place to butt in, but—”
“You’re going to?”
“Yes.” Krissy licked her lips, and then pulled her hands into her lap. “Look, there’s a spark between you two. You have to admit it. I get it. You’ve got this rule, but are you really just deeming the relationship not real so he can’t hurt you?”
The words kind of stung. She hadn’t thought of it like that at all, although it was true she was not ready to relive her divorce again. Am I doing that?
“But I’m focusing on Angel’s Rest right now,” Liz said. “It would complicate things for Matt and me to work together and—”
“You have too many rules. If you don’t let yourself be vulnerable, you’re going to miss out on the best parts of falling in love. You need to feel the wild abandon of those stuffy rules, and the rush of emotions that real love will shower down on you.” Krissy paused. “Matt’s a good guy. He would never hurt you. He will forever be your friend. It’s just the kind of guy he is. Me too. I’ve grown really fond of you in this short time. So, just go have a good time.” Her tone shifted from gentle to playfully demanding. “He didn’t ask you to run away to Vegas and get married.”
“You’re right, although Elvis could officiate if he did.” Liz laughed. “Gosh, Krissy, you’ve been so great. I mean, you came to spend time with Matt and instead you’re stuck taking care of me. And apparently giving a free therapy session.”
“Liz, don’t flatter yourself. I love giving unsolicited advice, and trust me, this is not a bad way to spend winter break. I’m loving every second of it. Just text him back and tell him that you’ll go for a ride with him. It’ll be good for you to get out of the house. I know I’m his sister, so you think I’m biased, but he really is a good guy.”
She lifted her phone and typed in, Sure. Count me in. Liz squeezed her eyes tight. “I can’t believe I just did that.”
“Let’s get you dressed. Maybe some mascara?”
“Fine.” It would feel good to primp a little. Liz rolled off the chair onto the scooter and zipped to the back of the house. Krissy showed up with her makeup bag and curling iron and went to work on her.
By the time Matt’s diesel truck rolled up, Liz had decent hair and eyelashes. Krissy stepped back and looked at her. “You’re ready, my friend.”
Liz looked in the mirror. “Wow. That is better.” She picked up on the handle of the scooter, turned it around, and headed back down the hallway.
Matt was walking into the living room as she sped by.
“Whoa!” He hopped out of her way. “Looks like you’re getting along a little better.”
“I am.”
“Good. Let’s go. Krissy, do you want to come?”
“Nope. I’m reading a book, and I can’t wait to see how it ends.”
“Great. I guess it’s just you and me, Liz.” He held the door as she maneuvered the scooter out to the deck.
She started to try to sit on the top step to go down and he came racing to her side.
“No need for that.” He swept her up in one motion and carried her to the truck.
He set her down next to the door.
With his help, she hopped up in the front seat. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see in a minute.”
“I’m not in any shape to snow-bowl.” She was joking, but that had been an awesome night, and not only because she’d won.
“I don’t know.” He leaned forward and patted his hand on her cast. “I think it might be the perfect time for a rematch.”
“You better be kidding.” She swatted his arm. “That would not be fair.”
“You’re right.” He rode out to the edge of town and then took a left on a dirt road off of Underpass Road. The dark road came to a stop in front of a pond. The moon shone bright, reflecting the silhouette of the trees on the water.
“This is so pretty.” And peaceful. The water was so still.
“I’ve always thought this was the prettiest spot in town. There used to be a house over there on the other side of the pond. It burned down. All that’s left of it is the old chimney.”
“That’s too bad. Who owns it?”
“I do.”
She shifted in her seat. “You?”
He nodded. “It belonged to my mom’s family, before she married my dad. They met and fell in love here.”
“Right here in this spot?”
He nodded.
She let out a sigh. “That’s so romantic.”
“Yeah. It is. They had a big love. You know, I never once knew them to have a fight or harsh word to say to one another. Not once, and trust me, Krissy and I pushed their buttons once in a while. Nothing could tear them apart.”
Except death. She wasn’t that close with her parents. She ached for his loss. He still felt the void that losing them had left. She could see it in his face. “Why haven’t you done anything with it? You should do something special in their honor here.”
“I have. I saved it.”
She smiled. “You did.” She nodded, unsure of why he’d brought her here tonight, but happy he’d seen fit to share it with her. He made her feel special in a way she’d never experienced.
“I’ve got a surprise for you.” His voice was soft, caressing her imagination.
Her lips trembled as he leaned toward her, but then he reached into the backseat.
She caught her breath and swallowed, embarrassed that she’d assumed he was going to kiss her. He tapped her on the head with a long narrow square box of something, then got out of the truck.
She touched her head where he’d just bonked her. “What was that for?”
He came around to the passenger side and pulled her door open, then grabbed her legs and swung her toward him.
Before she really understood what was happening, he was wrapping her left leg from hip to toe in plastic wrap.
“Are you crazy? What are you doing?”
“My little angel, we are going to make snow angels here tonight.”
“What?” Was he crazy? “Oh my gosh. You’ve thought of everything. I love it!”
“You’re welcome.” With a zip, zip, zip he pulled the wrap around her leg again, then patted it so it stuck to itself. “I don’t think anything is getting in here.”
She couldn’t stop giggling. It was the most innovative idea ever.
“Mission Snow Angel has commenced.” He grabbed her and lifted her from the truck. “In five … four … three … two … one!” He laid her in the snow, and then plopped down next to her. “Let’s do this.”
She began flapping her wings and he did the same.
The tiniest snowflakes began to fall over them.
Liz let out an audible sigh, blinking away the snowflakes from her eyelashes. “This is fabulous.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He rolled over onto his side and propped his head on his hand. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”
“Me too.”
“It doesn’t change anything, you know.”
She closed her eyes.
“You’re going to be fine.” He dropped a soft kiss on her forehead, then stood and helped her stand, balancing on one foot like a flamingo. “Grab me around my neck.”
She did, and he scooped her back into his arms and carried her back to the truck. He took his knife out of his pocket and cut the damp plastic wrap away, and tossed it into the backseat.
He walked around to the driver’s side of the truck, and slapped the snow off his clothes before he got back in.
“Matt, this was amazing.”
“Maybe we can make it our tradition.” He sat there for a moment, then started the truck. “Maybe?”
She batted her eyelashes, hoping the tingle that usually happened right before tears fell was a false alarm. She couldn’t imagine anything more magical. What she was feeling wasn’t just from a good time. Something more had happened here tonight. This would be a wonderful new tradition—sans the broken foot, of course. But all she said was, “Maybe.”
He took her back to his house. Krissy had already gone to bed.
Matt made cocoa and they sat in front of the fire without a word, just warming up and sipping the chocolaty goodness. She was sprawled out on the couch with her foot elevated on the arm.
The next thing Liz knew she was waking up on the couch.
She felt vastly better than she had since the fall. It took her a minute to put all the pieces together that she had fallen asleep while Matt was still here. Then she remembered making snow angels and lay there smiling.
Krissy walked into the living room carrying two cups of coffee. “Hey, sleepyhead. Did you have fun last night?” She handed one to Liz.
“Thanks. ‘Fun’ doesn’t even begin to describe last night.” Liz pushed herself up on the couch and took a big swallow.
“Nice artwork, too.”
“Art?”
Krissy nodded toward the cast.
“What?” Liz leaned forward, trying to see what it said. “I can’t see. Did you sign my cast?”
“Wasn’t me. Looks like it was Matt.” Krissy took a picture of it and handed her phone to Liz.
Matt had drawn the shape of a snow angel on her cast. Below the angel he’d written in perfect draftsman lettering,
Spread your wings and see how far you fly.
Angels will always spot your landing,
Matt
“THAT’S SO SWEET.” Last night had been special. She hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time, but the gesture itself had meant even more. It was thoughtful, and personal. “Wow.”
“Wow is right. I wish someone would do something that romantic for me,” said Krissy. “And you can’t complain about his beard anymore either.”
“He’s really good looking, isn’t he?”
“I told you,” Krissy said as if there were no doubt at all. “Very.”
“I’m glad I met him again. I wish I’d remembered him from back when we were kids. I have so many great old memories from being up here with my grandparents, but I’m thankful to be making new ones too. Like you.”
“I feel the same way. Antler Creek was such a great town to grow up in.” Krissy pulled her feet up underneath her. “Sometimes I can picture myself living here again, maybe running a specialty shop on Main Street in one of the new buildings with the apartments above. I think that would be fun.”
“Really? Now that surprises me. I mean you saying you’re a beach girl and all that.”
“Yeah, but I’d love to sell candles and high-end linens. Specialty gifts. And nowadays you can have an adorable little storefront, but sell online so your marketplace is bigger. Plus with Mom and Dad both gone, I hate Matt being here alone. I miss him way more than I love the beach.”
“I always wished I had a big brother,” Liz shared.
“So, you need to get Angel’s Rest open to help build my customer base. Then I can buy one of those cute little buildings on Main Street and be your neighbor.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Or better yet, maybe we’ll be family. I’d be a pretty awesome sister-in-law.”
Liz waved her hands. “Oh no, don’t go jumping the gun. I barely know your brother.”
“Well, I happen to know he’s been crazy about you since before you knew he existed.”
Liz didn’t know if Krissy was serious or not about moving back, but it sure painted a nice scene, and imagining Matt as part of the picture was very appealing.