Page 10 of Snowbound Hearts
“Thanks.” Sarah closes the door and retreats to the ruckus out in the common area.
Sydney looks at me and gives me a small smile and waves towards the kitchen door, “I’ve got to go.”
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “Talk to you later?”
She nods, “I’d like that.” and I watch her walk out of the kitchen.
I can hear Emily unpacking more bags, “Thank god. Now, will you please help me here?”
“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that, right?” I tease my sister as I start unpacking more bags.
“Yep. You’ve been telling me that my entire life. Love you, too.”
Chapter 7
Sydney
Thank god chef Franco had another pie in the refrigerator. Letting both Florence and Joan be winners was the only way to settle the argument over who won the Bridal Bingo game.
Once everyone went to bed, I took a bath in the enormous tub and just sat there thinking about all that Emily said that day and that moment between Mason and me in the kitchen when our hands touched. Did he feel it, too, or is it all in my head?
When my skin looked like a prune, I climbed into bed and dreamed all things Mason. The chill in my room wakes me up. I can see my breath in here. What the hell?
Slipping on my robe, I try to turn on the light, but nothing happens. Grabbing my cellphone to use a flashlight, I shuffle over to the thermostat and see that it’s not on. I tap it a few times like that would even help, and no surprise, nothing happens. “Shit.”
I look at the dark fireplace and wonder if there is a switch or something to turn it on. That’s when I notice firewood sitting in a basket next to it. It’s not a gas fireplace. Great. Now I have to remember Girl Scouts from forever ago. “How the hell am I supposed to build a fire? I’m a damn Floridian.”
There’s a loud knock on my door. “Sydney? Are you okay? The storm knocked out the power.” Emily’s voice comes through my door.
Rushing over, I open the door. “Yes, I’m fine. What about everyone else?”
Emily is bundled up in lots of layers of clothing to keep warm. The hallway is colder than my room is. “Come in. It’s freezing out there.”
“No. I can’t. Mason’s outside babying the generator; I’m going to help him. Once it’s up and running, it will only cover the common areas and the kitchen. We’ve got a roaring fire in the main room, if you want to go in there, or I can get the fire going in here for you.” She points to my dark and cold fireplace.
“No, no. I’m fine. I’ll just get dressed and go out there. What time is it?” With the storm hitting us, it looks so dark outside.
“Almost seven.”
I nod, time to get up anyways. “Is there anything I can do to help?” I offer but have no idea what I could do. If the storm was a hurricane, I’m your gal. Hurricanes, I know what to do for those. Snowstorms? Not a clue.
“If you wouldn’t mind, just checking on the guests, especially the older crowd.”
I give her a small nod. “Of course.”
“Great. Thanks. I’ll be out back with Mason if you need anything.” She leaves and I quickly close the door to keep what little warmth I have in my room.
It took about two hours to get everyone up, dressed, and downstairs where the large fireplace was roaring. The commonarea along with the kitchen and dining rooms were much warmer than the hallways or the individual rooms.
Thankfully, Chef Franco lives next door to the ski lodge, so he was able to make breakfast for everyone. He even had a stove top percolator and was producing coffee by the gallons. Kris, the groom for tomorrow’s wedding, was fascinated by the old-time technology.
Now that breakfast is done, everyone has gathered in the living room by the fire and is drinking their coffee. There’s really not much more to do until the power comes back on. A few people have even fallen asleep where they are sitting.
“Sydney, tell me you have some kind of plan,” Sarah asks, panicking.
I smile at her. “Of course I do. Now, go sit down.” I point to the spot next to her groom.
Throughout my tour of the ski lodge with Sarah, Kris, and Emily the other day, I noticed that there wasn’t a Christmas tree up, but then I saw it sitting in a box in the corner of the common area living room.
