The Winter People

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  After a few minutes, we parked in front of Bailey’s. The place was busy, but Colton managed to find us a booth near the back. The scent of pizza clung to the air, while people talked loud to hear one another over the music. Posters of bands hung on the walls. White and red-checkered tablecloths covered each table.

  The waitress stopped at the table to take our drink order, and Colton let her know he’d called ahead.

  “With the crowd that’s in here tonight, it’ll probably be at least twenty minutes before your order’s up. I hope that’s okay.” She set ice tea down in front of us.

  When the waitress left, Colton gestured for me to follow him. We walked over to the pinball machine, which blinked with pulsating lights and played eighties music my parents would like.

  “Here, you go first.” He dropped quarters into the machine.

  Three balls rolled down, and I pulled the trigger back, shooting off the first one. It banged and bumped against the fake space ships, wormholes, and rubber bumpers. The ball rolled toward the bottom.

  I squeezed the buttons at the side to hit the ball, but missed. “Ah, I just lost the ball.” I laughed, feeling Colton come stand behind me. He reached around me, his breath warm on my cheek as he leaned down, and tingles inched down my spine.

  “If you don’t mind, I can help you.”

  Was he kidding? Of course I didn’t mind. My pulse raced as his chest rested against my back.

  “You’ve got to keep your fingers on the buttons,” he said. “Like this.”

  He let me fling up the next ball. His hands covered mine on the buttons. Colton pushed my fingers down when the ball got close, sending the paddles flipping it back up.

  “We did it.” I squealed as the ball zoomed across the game, triggering more points.

  God, he was gorgeous and sweet. His proximity made me think of anything but pinball. And for tonight, he was all mine.

  After losing again, we sat down and waited for our pizza.

  “That was fun.” I took a sip of tea. “I’ve never played pinball before.”

  “Now you know what you were missing.” He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. “So how come I never see you in town?”

  I grimaced, twisting a straw wrapper around my fingers. “I don’t leave my house much.”

  “We’ll have to change that, won’t we?”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. Did he want to see me again? From across the room, I spotted Bill Decker and Trina Gulvante. They waved, and I could tell they were surprised to see us together. We didn’t run with the same crowds. Colton hung out with the jocks and preps. Me? I just had Kadie. The only friend who’d survived my weirdness and freak outs growing up.

  “Hey, what’s happening?” Bill sauntered over to our table.

  “Not a whole lot,” Colton answered. “Bill, you remember Salome.”

  Bill smirked. “Yeah, we’ve gone to the same school since kindergarten. And you haven’t shut up about her since like fifth grade.”

  “Hey, Bill,” I said.

  “I’m glad you said yes to this dill weed. If I had to spend one more year listening to him talk about asking you out and not doing it, I might’ve choked him.”

  Colton’s face turned red. “Don’t start,” he warned.

  I decided to save Colton from his friend. “Did Colton tell you I’m the one who sent him the flowers?”

  Bill chuckled. “No way, that was you? Damn it! I owe him ten bucks now.”

  Colton grinned. “That’s right buddy, pay up.”

  “I’ll catch ya next week.” Bill hurried off, leading Trina to another booth.

  “Thanks.” He turned to me. “He doesn’t know when to shut up sometimes.”

  I stifled a giggle. “I didn’t mind, really.” And I didn’t because now I knew my fantasies weren’t one-sided.

  My mouth watered as the waitress came over with our pizza. She cut us each a slice and put it on our plates. The cheese was stringy, and I had a hard time keeping it off my chin. And the sauce definitely had garlic in it. Great, my breath was probably rancid. To my relief the waitress dropped some after-dinner mints on the table.

  Colton and I spent the remainder of the meal talking about school and our families. We chatted for a couple of hours, until I glanced down at my watch. It was after eleven.

  He saw me checking the time and clutched my hand. “Sorry, I forgot your curfew is coming up.”

  “Yeah, Mom wanted me home by midnight,” I said.

  He smiled then he stood and grabbed the bill. “Then let’s get you home. I don’t want to make a bad impression. Otherwise your parents won’t let me take you out again.”

  Colton paid for our meal, then took my hand as we headed toward the door. As soon as we stepped outside I stopped in my tracks. Large white flakes fluttered from the sky. The ground was already covered under more than an inch of snow. Frigid gusts tugged at my loose hair. Flakes stuck to my skin like heavy masking tape. It was happening. Winter. My knees locked. Crap. Not now. I sucked in deep breaths of air.

  “Salome.” He clutched me to his chest. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m sorry.” I managed a shaky smile. “Maybe, I should wait inside and have Kadie come get me.”

  He stared at me, then seemed to have an “aha” moment. “Why don’t you wait in Bailey’s while I clean off the truck? I’ll pull around to get you when I’m done.”

  Colton touched my face, then ushered me back inside. I sat on a bench in the lobby until he parked his truck in front of the entrance. He rushed from the vehicle to open my door, shutting it only after I had my seat belt on.

  I clenched my hands together. After tonight, I doubted he’d want to see me again. “I’m sorry if I ruined our date.”

  He stopped at a red light. “You didn’t ruin anything. Kadie gave me a heads up about the snow thing.”

  “Wh-what?”

  He pulled the truck into a nearby parking lot then turned to me. “She explained how you fell through the ice when you were six and that winter scares you.”

  I gave a bitter laugh. “Did she tell you I don’t like to leave my house when it gets cold out?”

  Tears painted streaks down my cheeks and I stared at my dress. I sounded insane.

  Colton stunned me when he reached over and threaded his fingers through mine. “I don’t care what issues you have with winter. I like you. And I’m not going anywhere unless you tell me you don’t want to see me.” Squeezing my hand, he whispered, “We’re all scared of something, Salome. It’s human nature.”

  I turned my head and smiled at the sincerity in his eyes. “I’ve tried so hard to forget that night, but it haunts me.”

  “We’ll get through it. I’ll come to your house after basketball games. We don’t have to go into town. We can stay in. Just give me a chance, okay?”

  I tilted my face upward, studying him. He looked serious. Maybe he was as crazy as me. How else could I explain his willingness to date me? The truth was, I’d always been drawn to him. “You might need serious therapy after me.”

  He slid back behind the steering wheel, chuckling. “You’re worth it. Any girl who’d send a guy flowers for Valentine’s Day is a keeper.”

  Even though he’d made me feel somewhat better, nothing he did or said would chase away the terror of facing my nightmares. Tomorrow I’d have to walk the woods.

  Goose bumps prickled across my skin. I’d never feel warm again.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The next day I stumbled from bed, having tossed and turned all night. The visions of icicles falling from the eaves of my grandparents’ house and piercing my chest made me shiver. All I pictured was my body sprawled on the ground, the sound of tinkling voices standing over me telling me I should’ve heeded their warning.

  I cringed.

  When I walked into our dining room, ice and snow covered the floor-to-ceiling windows. The patterns looked like squashed flakes and leaves. Killer veins of cold—waiting for me.

  Mom looke
d up from her coffee when I plopped down across from her at the kitchen table. “You okay?”

  Shrugging, I grabbed two pancakes from the platter; their steaming scent made my stomach growl. “I’m fine.”

  I slathered butter onto my pancakes then drizzled the hot maple syrup on top. After snatching a couple sausage links, I concentrated on my food. I didn’t want to think about what I had to do next.

  “So I thought, if you wanted, I could sit on Grandma and Grandpa’s deck while you check the feeders. That way you won’t be alone.” Mom glanced at me over her mug.

  God, I wanted her to come so bad, but staring at her crutches, the last thing I needed her to do was slip and fall. No. I had to suck it up. I had to do it. Shit, what was I saying? I didn’t want to do this. Not by myself.

  “I’ll be fine.” The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. My stomach knotted, fear settling over me.

  I loaded my plate into the dishwasher then traipsed back to my room. Eyeing my clothes, I wondered if anything could keep me warm. I hurried to dress then sat on my bed, staring at the movie posters on the wall. They seemed to taunt me, calling me a wuss. My cat, Cleo, pushed into my room, her tail slinking back and forth as she attacked my feet.

  “Hey, knock it off fur ball.” I laughed when she swatted at my toes. “If you don’t quit, I’ll use you as a scarf.”

  She answered by rolling onto her back for a belly rub.

  “Thought you’d see it my way.” With a final pat on her head, I took a deep breath and slid into my fur-lined boots and heavy down coat. I headed to the hall closet and grabbed one of Dad’s Elmer Fudd-looking hats, and pulled it down over my ears.

  “You look like you’re going hunting for grizzly bears.” Mom grinned. “You want me to get your dad’s rifle, too?”

  With a snort, I tossed a glove at her. “Funny.” But maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea.

  “Be careful, okay?” Her tone turned serious. “Make sure you have your cell on you.”

  I gnawed at my dry lips. Her worry made me more insecure about going over there.

  “It’s in my pocket.” I squeezed my keys so tight they left markings on my palm.

  Mom handed me back my glove and I stepped into the bitter winter air. Smoky tendrils of breath snaked in front of me. Standing on the porch, I gripped the railing. Too much white, too much ice. Tree branches bent beneath the weight of the snow. Birds twittered their disdain from their perches.

  I was behind the fence. I’d be fine. I just had to stay out of the woods. One foot in front of the other. My boot sank into the powdery snow as I headed toward the garage and climbed into my vehicle. I sat in the Jeep, letting it warm up. Not that it mattered; the drive wasn’t exactly a thousand miles away or anything. In fact, it’d probably take me five minutes to walk next door—but I wasn’t ready to slog down the wooded path. The vehicle seemed safer.

  Staring at the sparkling landscape, I remembered a time when I used to think winter was magical. Back when I believed in snowmen, Santa, even Jack Frost. Now, they represented the macabre.

  “Come on, just put it in drive and go,” I muttered. And yet, I made no attempt to shift into gear.

  The dining room curtains moved back. I spotted Mom peering out at me. Ugh! Okay. Deep breath. My hand shook as I put the vehicle into drive. It inched forward and I gave a wave, proving to her that I was going to do this.

  Shadows penetrated the trees, casting dismal shapes on the surface of the ivory surroundings. Each dark silhouette seemed to reach for my Jeep, urging me to turn around. I slammed on the brakes in the middle of the drive, skidding several feet before coming to a stop. My seat belt jerked me against the seat.

  Great. Add whiplash to my list of problems. Reaching for the shifter, I contemplated putting it in reverse, then took my foot off the brake and moved forward.

  When I got to my grandparents’ house, I turned off the engine, and went in through the garage. Beams of sunlight captured dust particles in the quiet house. Opening the slider door, I stepped onto the snow-covered deck and slipped on the wood.

  “Keep it together. Just a little bit further.” One. Two. Three. Four. I counted the steps to the storage shed. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen.

  Wind howled through the trees. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. My eyes darted across the wintry landscape, watching flakes swirl down from the treetops. Nothing here.

  I took the keys from my pocket and trudged farther through the deep drifts until I stood in front of the shed. Twenty steps.

  See? Not so bad, you survived.

  It took several tugs to get the door to slide open. The scent of spices hung in the air. It smelled like Grandma. For a moment, I felt safe. That everything really would be all right.

  I filled a bucket with seeds then moved to pick a trinket from the shelf. A beaded bracelet of varying shades of blue caught my eye, and I shoved it in my pocket. Next, I filled up the water jug and set out to fill the feeders.

  After I’d taken care of the first three feeders I headed to the oak tree. I slid the bracelet into the hole in the trunk and stood there staring. What did I think would happen? With a shake of my head I backed away, rubbing my nape.

  The sky darkened with ominous storm clouds. Giant flakes fell onto my face, sticking to my eyelashes and cheeks. Snow blew unhindered across the yard in what looked like small tornadoes.

  Oh God. It was happening again. The frigid air. The creaking of the treetops beneath the wind. Even the way the snow blew across the yard. My mouth went dry, my pulse thundered like a spring time storm.

  “Everything’s okay. Just keep it together. You can’t lose it now,” I said aloud, hoping to calm myself before I had an anxiety attack. I didn’t want to have to go back on the meds again or start seeing Dr. Bosworth, who had breath that smelled like rotten mangos.

  One more feeder. Toss the seeds in then I could leave.

  The pond water rippled while the trees bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon, everything became so white I couldn’t see the house. In the distance a strange tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind chimes. Not the chimes. Not the chimes. Not the chimes, I repeated over and over in my mind.

  What had the shrink told me to do?

  Ten, nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit! I held my head in my hands for a long moment. Get it together.

  Panic stole my thoughts and I raised my head, backing away from the pond as the flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me.

  I bumped into something—something that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms, hands. Not something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my lips and I spun around to face my captor.

  “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my arms as he kept me from falling.

  My gaze followed those long fingers, then up black leather sleeves, to the most gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath caught in my throat. I was gawking. But I couldn’t help it. His raven hair was shot with strands of blue, his face was pale and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His eyes—oh God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had to be over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore beneath his unzipped leather jacket.

  His mouth turned up at the corners as if enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that made my cheeks warm and my whole body buzz.

  “You’re trespassing.” I tried to keep the tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read the signs?” Bravo. I’d scare him off with my bitchiness.

  He chuckled. And it sounded like the low song of chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In fact, I’ve met you before, Salome.”

  My name on his lips made my knees go buttery. I groaned inwardly.

  “You know my grandma?” I fidgeted with the bucket still in hand.

  He gave a nod. “Yeah, I’ve known her for years. But I haven’t seen you since you were a child.”

  Years? He looked ar
ound the same age as me. Warning bells went off in my mind, but something made me push them aside. Like when I tried to focus on what bothered me, it blurred. I relaxed. If he knew my grandma, then he must be okay. “Funny, I don’t remember you at all.”

  “Don’t you, Salome?” Strands of my hair blew about my face. He reached a hand out as if to touch them then stopped, dropping his arms back to his side.

  “No. Grandma’s never mentioned you.”

  He gave me another cocky grin. “Well then, maybe we should be reacquainted.”

  “Or maybe not.” I snorted. “I’m not sure how you got on the property, Grandma keeps all the gates locked.”

  He produced an antique-looking skeleton key. “She gave me this. Like I said, Doris has known me for a long time.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything, it’s just my grandma never mentioned I’d have visitors.” In fact, I wondered why she didn’t ask this guy to watch her house instead of me.

  The arrogance left his face and he stared at me. “Perhaps, we can try this again.” He held his hand out to me. “I’m Nevin.”

  I stretched my free hand until our fingers touched. The chiming intensified and a jolt went through me. My heart pounded in my ears. My stomach rolled over with butterflies. His touch was cold, but familiar. We stood gazing at one another for long minutes, my hand cupped in his.

  “She’s back and Nevin’s found her.” A voice drifted across the yard.

  I turned toward the tinkling words. Maybe I was going mad. Who left plates in trees and crazy crap like that? When I didn’t see anything, I glanced back up at him. He peered off into the distance like he’d heard them, too.

  “She’s as beautiful as he said she was.”

  This time, I had no doubt he heard them too because his lips turned up into a dazzling smile. I wanted to ask him about the voices, but couldn’t work up the courage. For now.

  “So, will you be coming around a lot?” I held my breath waiting for him to answer. If he noticed the things in the woods, maybe he knew what they were. And maybe he could help me, be someone I could to talk to. Someone who wouldn’t chalk the voices up to my insanity.