Page 8 of Two Weeks in Tahoe

When we reached my door, I was sad that the night had finally come to an end. Liam faced me, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. We smiled at each other, and then he turned to leave. I watched him walk away, taking in all six feet or more of him. He looked back one last time, still grinning, but it was his piercing stare that struck me straight to the heart.

6

Layla

I drive down the hill and spend the afternoon in Tahoe City, shopping around at some local stores and grabbing a bite to eat for lunch. The whole downtown looks like something from a magical holiday movie. Above me I see garlands hanging from lamp posts, lining the streets. Almost every shop window has a decorated tree or festive painting on the windows, and all the buildings have lights strung from the roof, though the lights aren’t visible in the daylight. I’m sure at night, it’s quite the spectacle. The sights and the music playing softly over the speakers fill me with a warm sense of joy. I love this time of year.

I pop into one of my mom’s old favorite souvenir shops, and it’s exactly like it was the last time we came. I wander the aisles, taking in all the trinkets while lost in memories of the past. I’m usually filled with sadness when I think of them, but recently, there’s something new when I reminisce on all the memories. A sliver of happiness. It’s hard to describe, but it’s almost a joyful sorrow. The intricacies of those emotions make me feel guilty at times, but I know she’d want me to be happy and keep living my life. Mom would be so happy to know I’ve returned. She loved being in this place around the holidays, always commenting about how she could feel magic in the air. I never really believed her when she said that, but it did make it seem more magical when I was a kid.

After I leave the shop with a new mug wrapped nicely in a bag, my mind starts to wander to Liam. I walk the streets deep in thought and can’t help but reminisce about our past and what could have been, had things played out differently. If I had stayed. And holy hell, did that man age well. He must be about twenty-seven now, and from what I can remember, he only got even hotter over the years. I wonder what the chances are that I’ll run into him again…

A small silver cart catches my eye up ahead. The sign reads “Hot Cocoa.” I approach it with no real intention of stopping, but I smile at the elderly woman working the cart anyway. She looks like Mrs. Claus stepped out of a picture—rosy cheeks, an adorable grey bun, and a thick red coat. Her smile is so warm and inviting that I feel guilty for walking by, so I stop.

“Would you like some hot cocoa, dear?” she asks, her voice as sweet as a sugar plum.

“You know what? Why not! It’s been ages since I’ve had a good, classic cup of hot chocolate. Plus, it would feel nice on my freezing hands. Win-win,” I say with enthusiasm. I feel for her, standing out here in the chilly weather all day.

Her smile grows bigger, and I watch as she pours hot chocolate from a kettle into a holiday-themed paper cup. I have to admit, it smells amazing from over here.

“Where are you from, dear?”

“Sacramento. But I’m staying for a few weeks in a cabin not far from here. I used to come visit here with my family almost every year. It’s so nice to be back.” Something about the sweet lady makes me want to share more than I normally would with a stranger.

“Oh, that’s lovely. Where is your cabin? Not too far up there, I hope?” she asks kindly, adding a generous dollop of whipped cream to top off the drink.

“It’s a cute little place right off Magic.” I smile.

“Oh. Beautiful views up there. But do be careful. Our winters start earlier than most places. You don’t want to get stuck up there when a nasty storm hits. Are you here with anyone?” She smiles, glancing around me, as if someone is going to show up out of thin air beside me.

“No. Only me.” A look of pity crosses her eyes. I’m not surprised; most people think I’m crazy for going on this vacation all alone, and maybe they pity me a bit too. But I’ve grown comfortable with myself the last year, and those looks don’t bother me. Besides, I’m used to being pitied since my parents’ accident. Maybe that’s part of why I wanted to go somewhere where no one knows me.

“Well, I hope you have a lovely holiday,” she says with an inviting smile.

I smile back. She reminds me of my grandma. Something about her just makes me feel comfortable and warm, like a soft knitted blanket.

She finally hands me the steaming cup of hot cocoa, which smells divine and indeed warms my hands just right. I thank her, pay, and continue my stroll, stopping in at a few more shops before heading back to the cabin for the day.

**

Back at my cabin, I remove my muddy boots, hat, and coat by the door, change into some green flannel pajamas, and peruse the kitchen for a snack. I had a great time by myself in town, but the sun was starting to set, and I felt like I had reached my public outing limit for the day. Now I’m ready to curl up on the couch with a good book and a warm blanket for the rest of the night.

I pull out several snacks from the fridge and am about to dig in when a gentle knock sounds at the door. The sound of it, soft as it was, was jarring compared to the silence that filled this place only seconds ago. My heart pounds in my chest again, and I’m about to grab something for protection when I hear a muffled voice through the door.

“Hey Layla, it’s Liam again.”

“And Big J!” a much younger voice exclaims. This snaps me out of my panic, and I laugh.

I open the door to find Liam and “Big J” grinning at me from the porch. The irony in the kid’s nickname makes me giggle. He seems so tiny, even for a boy of five or six years. But I adore his moxie.

“Sorry if we scared you,” Liam says with remorse in his tone. “We seem to have lost something earlier, and Jackson thinks it’s here. Would you mind if we searched the yard a little?” His intense eyes bore into mine and I’m frozen, withering under his gaze.

“Please, please,” Big J adds, pleading. I look to him, thankful for a reprieve, and nod.

“Yeah, of course you can.” I respond, regaining my composure. One glance from this man and I swear I’m sent back in time, turned into a smitten, giddy teenager again. I need to calm down. I don’t even know his situation. Sure, for a second earlier today I thought he might have a kid and a wife, but then the kid called him uncle, and I will admit that a sense of relief washed over me at hearing that. But none of that necessarily means that he’s not attached. It’s been ten years, and he’s a handsome twenty-seven-year-old man. Of course he must have someone. And let’s not forget the fact that he didn’t even recognize me. Besides, it doesn’t matter—I’m not here for that anyway. I need to put these thoughts about him and his beautiful body away.

“Thanks,” Liam says, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he starts scouring the ground.

I stand there for a moment, observing them, when I realize I should probably make myself more useful. “I’ll come help you guys look.”

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