“We save each other,” I finally whispered.
She smiled, and it was mixed with relief. I pinned her to the wall and kissed her breathless. Stella had bought us—literally—another four weeks to figure something out. With any luck, I wouldn't need four weeks, but the fact that she wanted to save me as much as I wanted to save her rang something deep in my chest.
For the next day or two, we could enjoy the sunshine together before the storm. I wouldn't let her out of my sight. Joshua would leave us alone, and we'd be happy here in the fall mountains, when life was still vibrant before it faded into cold and quiet. Benjamin could come check the place out, she'd realize we had saved Adventura with his willingness to set up a training camp here, and we'd celebrate with another 007 movie.
Somehow, I had to believe that everything would be okay.
25 Stella
While Mark and Benjamin stood in the dining hall the next day, arms waving as they mapped out something with mats and bumper plates, Atticus and I slipped away from the kitchen.
Benjamin had arrived alone in a black SUV with shiny rims and thumping bass. Despite arms like mountains and an intense expression, he had a warm smile. Mark had an interesting way of playing off of other people’s energy in different situations. Instead of his usual vivacious self, he'd been more subdued and even-keeled with Benjamin as they spoke. With the muscles I could see moving beneath Benjamin's jacket, I had no doubt he'd destroy whatever opponent waited for him in three months.
The fresh fall air had turned chilly and gray, with a loamy blanket of clouds racing from the far horizon, when I headed toward the woodpile. Pre-emptive snowflakes fluttered down in anticipation of the big storm that was supposed to start soon. A warm lunch sat in my stomach, and my phone lay heavy in my pocket. My mind skipped around a few movies I wanted to snuggle up and watch, but there were chores first, and I sort of loved that.
Atticus lolled around on the ground while I restocked the cabin, swept up the dried pieces of bark scattered around the hearth, and puttered around Adventura. I stayed within earshot of Mark while I cleaned out the cabin where Megan had stayed. Mark looked back for me often, but kept the rest of his focus on Benjamin.
Once all the main chores had been settled, books updated, and dinner set in a crockpot in the kitchen, I grabbed a coat, my phone, and headed for the lake. Atticus trotted happily next to me, content to stay at my side while Justin ran Megan to her Mom's house in Jackson City.
After this, I'd never live without a dog.
Or Mark, if I could help it.
Mark caught my eye as I hit the footpath. I showed him my phone, pointed to the lake, mouthed grandma before he looked for Atticus, and gave a quick nod. With a storm like this, we may need to hole up for days. I'd rather enjoy the open space before the snow collected too heavily.
Minutes later, I sat at the edge of the pier, legs crossed, and stared at a grumpy sky. An unusual thud, thud, thud rocked beneath me. When I peered through the slats and into the water, I could just make out an old canoe stuck under the pier.
Mark really needed to audit his equipment better.
I made a mental note to ask him about it later, then dialed grandma, eager to hear her voice. She was like hot chocolate on a cold day. Atticus foraged through the trees at the edge of the lake, looked up every now and then, then turned back to his nose work. Seconds later, the ringing stopped.
“Stella Marie?”
I grinned. “Hey, grandma. Happy birthday!”
“Well, it's about time you called. And let's not talk about birthdays.” Her voice dropped. “It's rather gauche.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. “I'm sorry, it definitely has been too long since I called. But yes, we're going to talk about your birthday. Your life should be celebrated, especially when you're in your 80's!”
“You could call me every day, Stella Marie, and it wouldn't be enough. Not until I can hug you again. My birthday is fine. My stocks are up. Ranger brought me a new pen. The staff sang to me at breakfast, and rumors of an ice cream cake are circulating around those of us that aren't diabetic. Enough about birthdays. How are you? Tell me everything.”
Her creaky voice soothed the rattled soul inside me. She always underplayed her birthday, then overplayed mine. It was our favorite game.
“The mountain getaway continues to be wonderful,” I said, “and it's so lovely up here. I wish you could see it. I'll snap some pictures. There's a storm blowing in and it's just starting to snow.”
“Sounds magical. Is it that boyfriend of yours?”
Shock rendered me momentarily surprised. Had I mentioned Mark to her? Yes, but not with that word.
“Boyfriend?” I asked.
“The one that brought me the flowers a while ago. Oh, what's his name?” She tutted under her breath while my heart turned to ice. “Something with a J. He called to tell me happy birthday this morning. Wasn't that kind of him? Joe, was it?”
“Flowers?” I repeated needlessly.
“Jonathon?” she mused. “No, that's not quite it . . .”
“Joshua?”
“That's the one! Nice guy. Bit . . . unusual though. He said you met at work. Why haven't you mentioned him? Seemed pretty odd that he was all the way down in Florida, but I do appreciate the thought.”
My spine straightened with a snap. Joshua had visited my grandma. When? How? What . . . The questions filled my mind like a snowglobe. I had to force them to settle by taking a deep breath.
Was he trying to frighten me? Threaten me? What was his game? Why fly all the way to Florida from Cincinnati to talk to my grandma?
Unless that was how he found me.
My latest number with Mark hadn't received
