Page 16 of A Winter's Wedding

She couldn’t recall the last time she had been in the shed. Or in Edwin’s house for that matter. A work bench skirted the whole of the outer walls, leaving room in the center for the woodfired brewing equipment. Various containers, casks, and tools littered the workbench in what seemed like no particular order, though she was certain there was a method to his process. Being a military man, he knew the importance of structure, which was probably the reason he kept tabs on young Leo the way he did, and anyone else he cared for.

“I don’t spy exactly. But he parked that dang thing across the yard where I can see it from my bedroom window. It’s not my fault he hasn’t moved it in… when did he move back here?”

“Has it been ten years now?” Carol tried to remember but honestly felt like Leo had always been around. People in town say thatshe’sthe glue the community needs, but Carol knew the real bonding force had been Leo for quite some time.

“Either way, I’m gonna miss seeing him come and go when he moves into that house with America next week.”

“Oh, right.” Carol snapped her fingers and set her eyes on Edwin’s face. “That’s why I’m here. America and Leo are road-tripping back from Vegas. She said there’s a winter storm heading this way, and since all the flights got canceled, they decided to drive back home instead of waiting until Friday for a rescheduled flight.”

“That’s a long drive.” Edwin plopped a solid wood lid on the pot and snuffed out the fire below. “When will they be back? In time for the wedding, I hope.”

“About that. I spoke to America yesterday and she asked if we could help with all the last-minute details, since she’s obviously not here. Plus, I thought it would be fun and figured you had nothing better to do with Leo being gone. Not to mention, Grant and Thandie have been holding things down at The Foundry for quite some time now, without much assistance. And the town is getting along just fine with all the new businesses and people moving into the area. And?—”

“Carol. Carol!” he yelled and stopped her rambling. “Of course, I will help with whatever you… whatever they need. You don’t need to convince me.”

She shouldn’t have been shocked, but she was. She had spent so many years being known as Scrooge McCarol and making the lives of her friends miserable, when in reality, it was she who was unhappy the whole time, that she still felt as though she must persuade everyone. But now, it was clear that all she need do was ask, and the people who cared for her would gladly lend a hand.

Edwin had taken her by the shoulders, though she hadn’t realized when exactly. Her eyes followed the line of his arm towards his chest and up to his face. He was older now than he was the first time she had stood before him so closely. His weathered skin framed the same caring look he had given her all those years ago at the winter formal dance. She liked the way his eyes drank her in now the same way they had that dreadful night before her life was irrevocably changed.

But what was, couldn’t be again, she hadn’t let herself think of such possibilities, and wasn’t about to start now. Carol backed away towards the shed’s double doors. “Tomorrow, we have a menu tasting with Alfonso at one-thirty.”

“Great. I’ll already be at The Foundry. I’m helping Grant with a special project.”

“You and your special projects. I— I’ll see you then,” Carol stuttered as Edwin closed the space between them, no doubt sensing what she was feeling. A tiny spark, a little ember of a life they both missed out on. She looked away and her body followed her out the door. “One-thirty. And don’t be covered with dirt or grease,” she yelled back at him.

“No promises!”

Chapter10

With the Four Corners long gone in the rear view, the red desert had given way to the twists and turns of a mountain highway that followed the curve of the land and white foaming river rapids. The valley dipped sharply between steep cut cliff faces and the road turned to the north. Their destination for the night, Colorado Springs, was now only a few miles away. America had held on to Leo’s hand for so long. The moisture and heat caused their skin to seem glued together at the center console and she was afraid to try and let go.

Leo looked at her briefly and smiled. His knee held the steering wheel steady, a necessary habit formed from driving his old red pickup truck. He combed his hair back from his eyes the way he did when he was deep in thought, and America had to know what he was thinking about.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked, though she suspected it had to do with the night’s sleeping arrangements again from the way his fingers flexed.

“I was just thinking about how lucky you are to have your very own mountain. Look, there it is.” Leo pointed out the driver’s window. “America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak.”

“Sounds like Pike’s mountain, not mine,” she joked.

To the west, America watched the sun take its final breath and dip behind the towering mountain peaks. Fingers of sunlight jutted through the splintered terrain and cut brilliant golden streaks through the darkening sky. Colorado had one of the most beautiful landscapes she had ever seen. The rolling hills and pine forests reminded her of New England, but the deep valleys and snow-frosted heights were a dazzling sight to behold. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes, you are,” Leo flattered.

A little cheesy, she thought, but she loved how he showered her with love. She thanked him with a kiss on his shoulder and kept her eyes trained on the scenery. The mountains, tall and broad, were a mere silhouette, but the city was coming to life with thousands of twinkling lights decorating the dimming horizon ahead. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought it was Christmas time, not February. “Do you suppose it’s the cold, clean air that makes the lights sparkle like that?”

“Probably. And I’ve never seen so many stars, and it’s not even all the way dark outside yet.” Leo leaned forward and gazed up through the front windshield.

“Eyes. Road,” America reminded him, though he was right to want to see. “I have an idea. Why don’t we grab something to eat and then find a place to snuggle under the stars.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Burgers?” she asked.

“Sounds good to me,” Leo chuckled.

“A man of few words,” America said and opened the map app on her phone.

“A hungry man has no need for wasting energy on words,” Leo explained with more words than were necessary to get his point across. At least she finally understood why he had been so quiet during the last hour of the trip. He was hungry.

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