Page 90 of A Season in the Snow
‘Shall I light the fire?’
‘I was hoping you’d say that.’ Vanessa grinned and pulled the covers up to her chin.
Alice pottered about, placing logs into the burner along with a little kindling, and when it was going she went into the kitchen and made two coffees – black and sweet like Vanessa liked – and grabbed a big bag of crisps left over from last night, then cosied back down on the sofa.
They lay in comfortable silence, watching the fire, the soft crackling filling any need for chitchat.
‘So when are you next seeing Marco?’ Vanessa asked through a mouthful of crisps, after a while.
‘I’m not sure. I remember him saying he has a pretty busy week this week because he swapped some shifts around when his parents visited. But hopefully we’ll get to hang out a little.’
‘How do you feel about last night?’
Alice thought about it. ‘Alive . . . if that’s the right word. Like, I’m just so ready to live again, and I’m not saying I’m there yet, and certainly not that kissing Marco has fixed me in any way, but I’m beginning to see how I want my future to be again, and I don’t want to waste time or play games. If I like someone, I want to spend time with them. Stepping into a new year helped, somehow.’
‘In other words . . . ’
‘In other words I’m going to go for it.’
‘Yaaaay!’ Vanessa said and lifted her coffee cup in a ‘cheers’ motion. ‘Now, how do you fancy watching the cheesiest movies we can find on Netflix?’
‘Yes please, the more fondue-like the better.’
Alice and her friend settled in for the long haul, enjoying the simple pleasure of escaping.
Marco called around late that afternoon, and Alice hauled herself off the sofa and rolled her shoulders. They were on their third romcom and Vanessa had fallen asleep twice.
‘Hello, you two,’ he greeted her and Bear. ‘Hello Vanessa,’ he called as she got up and pottered upstairs for a bath.
‘Hey you,’ Alice answered.
‘So about last night . . . ’ Marco looked at her a little shyly, a little happily.
‘About last night . . . ’
‘I had a really nice time.’
In answer, Alice ran her hands around his waist and tilted her chin up to kiss him. It was warm, like everything else about his heart, soul and body. Even before the incident, Alice’s comfort zone had been small. Now it was expanding, and he, Bear and the others were firmly on the inside. She was at peace.
‘How was your day?’ she asked, leaning against him lazily.
‘It was intense. We took the chopter right up the other side of the Mönch to rescue this guy who’d fallen fifteen metres into a crevasse.’
‘Fifteen metres? How does that happen?’
‘The problem is if there’s wind that blows the powder or the conditions are bad you can just not see them until you’rewhoosh. . . in them.’
‘Was he okay?’
‘Nothing more than a dislocated shoulder. And a little cold. Crazy.’
Alice exhaled. ‘Yeah, my day was super active as well.’ she gestured to the sofa.
‘This is really late notice, but what are you and Bear doing tomorrow?’
‘I don’t know. Why?’
Marco looked excited. ‘One of the other paramedics wants to swap shifts, so I unexpectedly have the whole day free. I know the rest of the week is going to be mad so I thought we could go and do something fun.’
