Page 68 of Love's Harvest
“I thought we could have some fun with these,” Sarah said plopping a paper crown on his head.
Aaron picked up one of the noisemakers she handed him and blew on it, tickling her cheek with the feather at the end of it.
Laughing, Sarah did the same to him.
A harmless battle broke out, sending them into gales of laughter.
“Oops!We’re almost missing the countdown,” said Aaron.
On the television, an on-air party was counting down to one, then a barrage of fireworks went off.
Aaron drew Sarah to him and gave her a kiss that deepened as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
When they pulled apart, Aaron said, “I want this to be a special New Year for you and the girls.For us.”
“Me, too,” she said.“For all of us.”
She waited for Aaron to say how much he loved her, but he’d already turned off the television and announced he was ready for bed.
He held out his hand to her and she took it, but doubts pushed in when he didn’t declare his feelings.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Should we take an afternoon walk?”asked Sarah, coming out of the shower.“It’s lovely out, with snow still falling.”
“Sure, if you want to,” said Aaron, wrapping a towel around her.“You can try using snowshoes again.Enough snow has fallen that it will be better to use them.That will allow us to go off the paths I’ve made with the snowplow.And I want to show you something.”
Sarah understood that being outdoors was important to Aaron no matter the season.He was at peace when he was in nature, something she thought the girls would benefit from.
It took a while to get bundled up.She sat outside on the porch steps and attached her snowshoes, excited to be active in an entirely different way enjoying winter weather.
She stood.The sun sent light glistening against the snow, making her grateful she’d thought to bring sunglasses.
“You ready?”asked Aaron, looking delicious in his gray Irish sweater and blue jeans.He stood on his snowshoes and held out a gloved hand to her.“We’ll leave the dogs behind so they can’t ruin the clear snow for us.”
She took his hand.It had been a fabulous two days and nights together and she was sorry she had to face reality and return to her work at the store tomorrow after just one more night with Aaron.This morning they’d talked and talked.She’d quizzed Aaron about his thoughts on raising children, and they’d discussed every other topic they could think of until they were both satisfied with the idea of moving ahead with their relationship.Her doubts from the night before calmed.
They entered the woods quietly and moved in sync until Aaron wanted more exercise and went ahead.Sarah was content to follow.Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move and turned to see a rabbit hopping in the snow.She let out a sigh of contentment at such an innocent sight.Though Aaron’s cabin was a short drive from the town of Lilac Lake, it seemed to her they were on a planet of their own.
She heard a loud crack and looked up.The snow on top of the bare tree limbs was melting in the sun, making the branches heavier.
Concerned, she called out to Aaron and went in the direction he’d gone, moving faster and faster when she heard no response.
The stillness became eerie.
Her heart pumped with worry.
She came to an abrupt stop and let out a scream.
Aaron was lying face down in the snow next to a broken tree branch.
Sarah’s body froze while her mind played nasty tricks with her, seeing Jesse all over again lying in the woods, his head bleeding from a gaping hole.Feeling sick to her stomach, Sarah bent over and gagged.
She was unaware of the tears streaming down her face as she raced to Aaron, crying out, “Aaron!Oh my God, Aaron!”
Gently, she rolled his body over, and saw where the branch had hit his head.There was an ugly, bloody bump on it.She stared into his blank eyes and started screaming, “Oh, no!Please, Aaron.Wake up!”
She patted his cheek.
