“Fair enough,” Liz said. “In my experience, you don’t have to make a decision right away. The weird stuff is over for the year. There will be some really beautiful moments this winter and then after the spring slog, it’s particularly lovely here.”
Amber sighed and shook her head.
“In your experience?” Jennifer asked.
“Sorry?” Amber asked, but Jennifer was looking over to where Liz was sitting.
“Let’s just say that there’s a reason I don’t go near my house in the month of October. I’ll put up with a lot, but that’s too much,” Liz said.
“Why, what happens?” Amber asked.
Liz began to unwrap herself and worked her way to her feet.
“That’s a story for another time. Thank you guys for the company. I’m going to see if I can get some sleep,” Liz said.
“Goodnight, Ms. Tyler-Harper,” Amber said.
Liz put her hand on Amber’s shoulder as she paused.
“No, Amber, I’m Liz to you now. I’ll be pleased if you stick around, and Bernier won’t hear any of this conversation from me.”
“Thank you,” Amber said.
# # #
They sat in silence after Liz closed the sliding door and retreated to the neighboring room. After a few seconds, they saw the light from the hall reflecting off of the balcony next door.
“If you ever need a place to stay—like you don’t feel safe in your uncle’s house—we have a spare room.”
“Thank you,” Amber said. “That’s kind. Please don’t worry about me though. This is your night.”
“I’m freezing,” Jennifer said.
Together, they began to unravel themselves from the blankets. Back in the room, they shook off the cold and folded everything up. Before she departed, Jennifer gave Amber a hug.
“I mean it,” she said. “Anything.”
“You’re too kind,” Amber said. “Go tell Aaron to hang up that phone and start your honeymoon.”
Jennifer laughed. “He better be off by now.”
Amber walked her to the door.
In the hallway, Jennifer felt unaffiliated. She was unconnected to the hotel and all the guests. Friends, family, and strangers surrounded her behind the various doors. At the end of the hall, her new husband was probably awaiting her return. Whatever happened next was completely up to her.
She looked down at herself. She was basically wearing pajamas and slippers. There was nothing in her pockets—not even a key to her own room.
There really was no decision to make. Jennifer walked down the hall and tapped lightly on the door. The sound reminded her too much of the sound that Amber had made to punctuate her story. To erase that memory, she knocked.
Aaron looked annoyed when he opened the door. He flashed a smile, leaned forward to kiss her cheek and then returned his attention to the phone. Jennifer didn’t have an opportunity to get angry. He interrupted the Australian voice coming from his phone and said, “Listen, I have to go. Sounds like you guys have all the issues under control. Talk to you Monday evening.”
Before his thumb even disconnected the call, he turned to her.
“I’m so sorry. Where did you go?”
He pulled her into a hug.
“You’re freezing. I feel terrible that I had to make that call. I regretted it the…”
“Stop, it’s okay. I’m fine. Honestly, I needed a minute to wind down and I got to talk with Amber. It’s fine. We have two weeks to ourselves now.”
“I do have one more…”
“I know. I mean besides that call. Listen, there are going to be plenty of times when I bring work home. You saw that this summer. I was busy practically every weekend. Don’t sweat it.”
“Thank you,” Aaron said.
“Is this really how you want to spend our wedding night? Thanking each other for being considerate?” she asked.
Aaron’s phone made a noise and he pitched it towards the chair.
“Not at all,” he said.
Four: Drive
“Is this going to be much longer?” Riley asked.
Looking over Nick’s shoulder, it appeared that Nick wasn’t doing anything at all. Two pinballs were in play—one cradled on each flipper. Nick was standing there, motionless, while the lights flashed on the machine.
“I just want to finish this game,” Nick said. “I’m almost at my personal record.”
“I thought you were in a rush to get home.”
“Not a rush,” Nick said. “I just want to get home at a reasonable hour.”
Riley shifted his stance and tilted his head.
“It’s just that it will be hard to get you home when you’re just standing there.”
“I’m timing out the magnets,” Nick said.
“The what?”
“There are magnets under the play field. In tournaments, they’re turned off so the games don’t take forever. But here I have to wait for them to turn off so I can hit that small ramp to the left of the…”
Riley let out a disgusted grunt and turned away.
One of the staff appeared in the doorway of the little lounge area.
“Guys? We’re getting ready to shut down the guest services counter and we like to clear out this lounge when we do? Are you about finished here?”
“Just wrapping up this game,” Nick said.
Riley collapsed into one of the leather chairs.
The young man was still standing in the doorway.
“He’s just wrapping up his game,” Riley said, making an obscene gesture in Nick’s direction. The young staff member didn’t smile. He just nodded and disappeared.
Back at the machine, Nick slapped the side of the table, trying to save a ball. He threw up his hands in disgust.
“Power out lanes,” Nick said, shaking his head. “They need to get someone to replace all the rubber on those posts. You ready?”
“Are you kidding?” Riley asked. He struggled up out of his chair and then practically ran for the exit.
# # #
As soon as Riley navigated down the winding road to the base of the mountain, the snow tapered off. The moon was behind a gauze of clouds. It wouldn’t be long before it started again. Nick was silent next to him.
Riley pointed at a passing sign for a covered bridge.
“My girlfriend—Nadine, did you meet her?—she dragged me up here last year on the harvest moon to look at that covered bridge. There’s supposed to be a ghost that walks
