Sept

 

Leona stopped the snowmobile and waited for Cameron to drive alongside her. "How'd I do?"

"Perfect. I need a bathroom break before we head back."

"Me, too."

They zipped into the lodge.

Elvis’s Blue Christmas wailed through the living room. Chef loved Elvis.

"What are you two doin' here?" Chef's raised brows made Leona laugh.

She explained the situation to him. "We've just come in for a quick break then we're back on the trail."

"Fine but not without a cup of coffee or chocolate."

"I've had my fill of chocolate for now. Coffee for me," she said as she went up the stairs.

When she returned Cameron sat at the long kitchen bar drinking from a steaming mug. "Julian made us coffee and insisted we sit and warm up before heading out again." Another steaming mug sat on the counter in front of the stool next to Cameron's. Chef was nowhere in sight.

Leona would have a talk with him later. She slid onto the stool and sipped. "Oh, that's good." She wrapped her hands around the mug and allowed the warmth to transfer to them. "I loved the ride today. So beautiful."

"It is a beautiful ride. Dad picks that one for the first ride because it's so easy and has the best views."

"Good choice. Oh, I wanted to tell you, I have a friend in the real estate business if you need someone to help you find a place to live. You are moving to New Orleans, right?"

He swiveled his chair to face her. "I am. Next month. I was hoping you might have time to look with me. Maybe I could find something in the Quarter close to where you live."

Marissa's current amusement with Bryan didn't change the fact that Cameron had come here with her. Could he just trade one woman for another so easily? Was that how the people in his circles operated? That wasn't the type of guy she wanted. Regardless of how he made her feel, she had to keep her head straight about him.

"We'll see. The first of the year can be busy. It just depends on many factors. I'll give you one of my friend's cards."

His lids drooped over his intense blue eyes, and Leona sensed his disappointment.

Had he expected her to just fill in Marissa's vacated spot? He didn't know anything about her. She sipped the last of her coffee and then slid off the stool. "We should be heading back."

"Yes, we should." Cameron donned his stocking cap and followed Leona toward the door.

Before they mounted the snowmobiles, Cameron stopped. "Leona, I want you to know that your words last night touched a nerve."

What could she have said? This was the story of her life: always opening her mouth and inserting her foot. "What words?"

"Last night when we were outside you talked about seeing God's majesty. Few people I'm around speak about God. I've allowed Him to slip away. Your words were a reminder for me. Thank you."

She hadn't expected that. Thank you, Lord. Draw him closer to You. She averted her gaze to keep him from seeing the tears forming in her eyes. "I'm glad God is speaking to you, Cameron. It sounds like he wants you back in his life." She'd never been good at evangelism, but she'd never shied away from talking about her faith.

"I think you're right."

"I feel closer to Him for some reason here. Maybe it's the beauty of this snow, these mountains—all new experiences for me. Maybe I feel such gratitude in having this opportunity. I'm loving my time here. I’m thankful to Chef for inviting me and your Dad for hiring us." She mounted the snowmobile.

"I'm thankful for them, too." He grinned then donned his helmet and started his machine.

She started her snowmobile. The engine fired up, and she turned the throttle and followed Cameron up the powdery trail. She absorbed the awesome beauty along the trail. The sunlight reflected off the snow making the fresh powder sparkle like a field of diamonds. The snow brushed up by Cameron's machine captured the sunlight making tiny rainbow prisms in the air. Everything seemed a wonder to her, and she believed she'd been given the best Christmas gift ever.

Thank You, Lord. She prayed for Cameron and for his relationship with God and with Marissa. There seemed to be a story with those two, but she couldn't figure it out. Chef was right. There was more to Cameron Fleming than what she saw.

 

****

 

Cameron pulled into the clearing where the group waited. Everyone boarded their respective snowmobiles, and Bryan hopped on the back with Leona. She turned around and followed the Chambers back down the mountain. Once again, Cameron and Marissa pulled up the rear.

Leona had become distant when he'd mentioned moving into the Quarter near her. Was she seeing someone? He hadn't bothered to ask. She was more reserved than most of the women he met. Usually, after one date, he knew more than he wanted to. Already, Marissa had shared far more than he needed or wanted to know.

Marissa hesitated getting on the snowmobile when he'd returned. She and Bryan sat next to the fire deep in conversation. Maybe Bryan would be the recipient of her affection for the rest of the vacation time. She wasn't holding on to Cameron as tightly as she had on the trip up.

When they entered the lodge, Chef had readied the kitchen for their cookie-making adventure.

Leona took charge and began setting up stations for Cameron, Marissa, and Bryan.

"Bryan, would you like to help me roll out the dough?"

"Sure."

"Cameron, you and Marissa can use these." She handed Marissa several aluminum cookie cutters. "Once you've cut out the shapes. You can place them on these trays." She sprayed each tray with cooking spray.

With Christmas music playing in the background, they began working. Max bounced in the nearby living room with CG and Coco, who chatted quietly. The Chambers had retired to their bedroom for a nap before dinner.

Bryan measured the ingredients and added them into the mixer Leona manned.

"Your mom taught you well. She'd be proud." Leona scraped the flour off the sides.

Bryan smiled. "Thanks. Must admit it's the first time I've received a compliment for working in the kitchen." He grabbed the rolling pin and began rolling one of the five balls of dough Leona had separated.

Cameron and Marissa stirred food coloring into batches of icing.

The afternoon rushed by without any of the underlying tensions Leona feared.

Once the trays were filled with cookies, they began decorating them.

Marissa dotted the last button on a gingerbread man. "This is kinda fun. I've never done anything like this before."

Both Bryan and Cameron spoke in unison. "Really? Never?"

"Never." The word was coated with sadness.

Leona walked next to her and squeezed her shoulder. "Well, I'd never know." She pointed to Marissa's gingerbread man. "This guy is perfect. You really have a knack for this. Not everyone does, you know." She nodded toward Cameron's gooey mess.

Marissa laughed. "Thanks. I see what you mean."

"Hey, these are the best kind." He popped the icing-cookie concoction into his mouth. When his gaze met Leona's, he sent her a huge icing-laced grin.