Page 2 of Peak of Love
Instead, Celina raised her enormous eyes to meet his gaze and mumbled, voice softer than a caress.
“But Dane, you need it more than I do.”
Maybe it was all in the name.
Her sister, Victoria, had a name that evoked knights and maidens, castles and romance. Katerina, the youngest of the Espinoza sisters, had the perfect moniker for playful nicknames. Aunt Kit Kat was the favorite of Celina’s twins. There were lots of cute contenders: Kat, Katie, Rina, Trina.Trina?
Anyway, the point was, Marcelina sounded vaguely forlorn. It wasn’t a terrible name; it might even be pretty. It had the benefit of being unusual enough to standout but plenty melodious to roll off the tongue. Unfortunately, Marcelinasounded like the name of a tragic widow people avoided because she was such a downer.
She was, in fact, a tragic widow. Celina was no downer, though. She was a mother with a wonderful career and a loving family.
Undoubtedly, losing Asher three years ago still felt as raw as an open wound. It was the kind of wound she learned to keep to herself, nursed only when alone and in the dark. Her boys didn’t need to see it, and the world had no business poking at it.
She straightened her back and cracked her neck while putting her driving hands in the ideal ten and two position. She affixed a pleasant expression as she approached the immigration officer at the border between Washington State and British Columbia, Canada.
“Good afternoon, officer,” she greeted respectfully even though the man in full uniform barely looked past high school.
“Purpose of your trip?” he asked, while perusing her passport.
“Vacationing for a few days in Whistler.”
She kept out theI’m leaving my kids with family for the first time in years to spend three days in a winter mansion by myself which is probably a bad idea because what the hell is that even likepart.
He checked her face before punching something in the computer. “Anything to declare? Firearms? Alcohol?”
“Nope.”
“Planning to ski?”
She couldn’t help wincing.
I know what you’d say, Asher. You’d tease me about going to an awesome ski destination without bringing my gear. You know I have my reasons, love.
The entire visit was based on Dane inviting her and the boys to an elaborately posh ski trip as a New Year’s gift. Just one of his many over-the-top indulgences, and not the first one that included a helicopter ride. Aside from the disproportionate and displaced generosity of their good friend, Celina didn’t feel comfortable replacing her boys’ memories of skiing with their father with something so extravagant. They were ten years old. Impressionable. Easily excited. Daredevils.
“No skiing this time,” she blurted because the very thought ofdaredevilsshook her.
Jerome and Jonas were healthy, wonderful, and gifted boys in their own separate ways. But that wild streak—the one Asher had carried with pride till the day he died—lived in both of them. She couldn’t help the nagging feeling that if she held them back from their true natures, she was being a hypocrite. After all, she had loved those adventures with her late husband. Still, if she didn’t curtail the risk-taking that came instinctively…
“Really? The snow’s gnarly this year!” the immigration officer declared like the snowboarder he probably was. The man oozed shock and disappointment.Et tu, officer?
“Yup. Just relaxing.”
“Have a pleasant visit. And happy holidays.” He said it dismissively, as if a perfectly awesome mountain vacation was wasted on her. He wasn’t wrong.
“Thank you. Happy holidays,” she responded while putting away her passport and giving him a final nod.
She drove off and joined the highway that would take her through downtown Vancouver’s traffic before she crossed the Lions Gate Bridge towards the mountains. Knowing there were a few more hours of driving ahead, she stopped for a coffee and bathroom break.
Stretched and refreshed, Celina nibbled her Tim Hortons Timbits—Canadians really loved those donut holes—and called Kat.
“Cel, you’ve been gone for a couple of hours. They aren’t even awake yet,” her sister whined.
“Sorry! Did I wake you?”
With less irritation, Kat answered, “No. Max and I are making breakfast.” A deep chuckle and Kat’s giggle gave Celina an idea of what those two lovebirds had in mind for breakfast. She was happy for her sister and her boyfriend, who spent Christmas with the family. There was a lot of giggling from Kat, who was normally a snarky curmudgeon. That’s love for you.
“Just taking a break from the road and thought I’d say hi.”
