Page 86 of A Season in the Snow
‘Exactly.’ Sonja beamed. ‘Now Alice, how have you found living in Switzerland? Tell me all about the things you’ve done.’
‘Oh, I feel really at home, especially because these guys have been so welcoming. It’s such a beautiful country. Um, we went into Zurich a couple of weeks ago to see the Singing Christmas Tree . . . ’ As Alice prattled on about the Christmas market and the beautiful lights, she was acutely aware of Marco’s arm pressed up against hers. He almost seemed to be leaning into her, like Bear would do, in a protective but also really comfortable kind of way.
After the meal was done and their bellies were full, a tiredness washed over Alice, as if the past few days and the lead up to the festive period had caught up with her. She stifled a yawn and after being refused point blank on her offer to help clean up, she thanked Marco’s parents and the others and she and Bear took their leave.
Seeing everybody else plodding about, overstuffed and distracted, Marco slipped out of the door with Alice to walk her the few steps home.
‘So, that is my mum,’ he said, laughing as they stepped into the frosty night air. The snow was still falling, a gentle breeze picking up the flakes and dancing them around the sky. It was beautiful, like a Christmas card, the mountains vast and indigo under the blanket of night, the snow thickening on the roofs of the buildings that sloped down into the village, and golden lights glowing out of windows.
‘She’s nice,’ Alice said as they stepped through the snow, leaving deep footprints.
‘She’s mad.’
‘We’re all a little mad, I think it makes us interesting. Seriously though, the whole evening was nice. I meant what I said about feeling very welcomed here.’
They stopped outside her chalet and Bear took a moment to throw clumps of snow in the air using his snout, searching for the best spot for an end-of-night wee.
Marco shrugged. ‘It feels like you’ve always been here. It wouldn’t feel the same without you now.’
She breathed out, slow, her breath icy, and saw him shiver. ‘Do you want to come in?’
Marco faced her, matching her breath, the world seeming to still and wait for his answer. He smiled. ‘I’d better not.’ He tilted his head back to his own house, indicating his house guests. Then he added, ‘Not tonight.’
‘Okay,’ Alice replied, relieved that the intensity had passed, disappointed it had to end.
Marco inhaled deeply and wrapped her in his arms. ‘Goodnight, Alice,’ he said to the top of her head.
‘Goodnight, Marco,’ she said into his chest.
She closed the door behind her and Bear and went straight up to her nook, where she climbed in and gazed at the inky view, hopeful about what might come later.
