Weathering the Storm: Secrets in the Snow, # 6

by Roz Marshall

  "Not right now."

  There was something else about Allan. The pieces were starting to click into place now. He'd been seen with a girl. Mike had seen him with a girl. In New Zealand. She'd been trying to decide what to do about it. "Is Mike here?"

  "Yeah, I'm here." A warm hand took one of hers.

  "What did I decide to do about Allan?" she whispered.

  "Dunno," he murmured back. "You went for a ski to decide."

  "Oh." Why couldn't she remember? "I can't remember."

  "Don't worry about it, you'll remember soon."

  Will I? But it was important, she knew it was. She'd have to remember. She would remember. A wave of fatigue washed over her. "I'll have a wee sleep. Maybe I'll remember after that."

  Mike looked down at the sleeping Jude then raised his eyes to Geoff. "We'd better get Lucy sorted. I should've remembered about her."

  "Surely Allan will be looking after her?"

  Mike wasn't so sure. "He was away on business today. I'm not sure if he'll be back yet."

  "I'll give him a phone."

  A few minutes later, Geoff put his mobile down. "The house phone's ringing out. And his mobile is off." He looked at his watch. "Lucy will be out of school soon. Does she get the bus back to the village?"

  "Yeah, unless she's got drama class. But she's old enough to be in the house on her own, at least for a bit."

  "I'll get Fiona to check she gets off the bus and tell her that Jude's stuck up the hill. Fiona will make sure she's okay."

  "Sounds like a plan." But something Geoff had said to Jude nagged at Mike. "Did you say Forbes wasn't here? That's not like him."

  "He's at a board meeting for the ski area. They need to work out what to do, now that Haywoods are pulling out."

  "Pulling out of the village?"

  "Well, yes, but they'd also put in a bid to buy a stake in the ski area. Convert the lifts to take mountain bikes up the hill in the summer, or something."

  So Forbes was on the ski area board, and they'd known about Haywoods' plans. Mike clenched his teeth. Forbes' clumsy attempts to buy Jude's land were starting to make a lot more sense now. And could that be where Allan had disappeared to on his mysterious 'business'? What's he up to now?

  It felt nice to have Kaitlyn in his arms. She seemed to just fit — not too big, not too small. And her hair smelled nice. Like the pine forest.

  Spock felt her take a huge breath. "Think we're safe now," she mumbled into his chest. "Better get out and inspect the damage."

  "Okay." He opened his arms, and she sat up, blinking.

  Pulling on the door handle, he tried to push his door open, but it was jammed fast against the banking. "Uh-oh."

  "Let's try mine." She pushed her door open a crack, but as soon as she did so, a squall of icy wind pushed its way into the car and dumped soggy snowflakes everywhere. She slammed the door again and turned to him. "Might be safer to wait here till help arrives. But it looks like the other car hit the snow bank as well, not us. So that's something, at least."

  He nodded. "Gonna get cold, though."

  "Let's climb in the back. I've a rug and a spare jacket there." She looked up at him from under her lashes. "We can keep each another warm."

  He liked the sound of that.

  Chapter 24

  BY THE DIM light of a storm lantern, Mike stared down at Jude's face, trying to memorise the planes and contours; the colours and the shadows. She was beautiful. Maybe not classically beautiful, but her inner warmth and goodness shone through, animating her features and sparkling from her eyes in a way that captivated him. He'd been entranced by her almost from the start, he realised; he just hadn't admitted it to himself. From that first day in the ski shop, when she seemed so bewildered and yet determined to succeed, and then under the stars when the snow had started to fall and she'd entreated him to stay and work with her for the season. He'd stayed for her, and he'd come back from New Zealand after his father died for her. There was very little he wouldn't do for her, now. She'd captured his heart.

  Green eyes flickered open and the fingers of the hand he held fluttered in his grasp. He took her hand in both of his and raised it to his lips. "How're you feeling?"

  "G—groggy. Wh—what happened?" She tried to sit up, but he pushed her down gently.

  "You've had a bump on the head. You're concussed. Can you remember what happened?"

  She looked confused for a moment. "I was skiing?"

  "Yeah."

  She frowned. "I can't remember where. Or when." Her eyes clouded. "Why can't I remember?"

  "It's just the concussion." He stroked her forehead. "Geoff said you might remember later, just not all at once. Don't worry about it."

  She gave a slight nod, then her eyes tracked around the room. "Wh—why are we h—here? Why am I not at home?" Panic entered her eyes. "Where's Lucy? Who's looking after Lucy?"

  "Sssh, it's okay. There was a storm and the hill got shut, and now the power's off. But Fiona got down before it got so bad up here, and she's looking after Lucy."

  "And Allan? W—what about Allan?"

  His shoulders tensed. How much did she remember about earlier? Did she remember what a dirtbag her husband — no, her partner — was? "Allan wasn't at home when we phoned. That's why Lucy's with Fiona."

  In the semi-dark of the ski patrol hut, Mike had all-but nodded off when a commotion out in the car park startled him awake. At the window, Geoff wiped a hole in the condensation and peered outside. Mike unfolded himself from the uncomfortable chair beside Jude's makeshift bed and crept up beside him.

  Bright headlights strobed through the gloom, piercing sharp cones of light through the driving snow. A snowplough! Behind it, a flashing blue light glowed eerily.

  Geoff grabbed his jacket. "Mike! Can you watch things here? I'll go find out what's happening."

  A few minutes later he was back, stomping the snow off his feet on the mat by the door. "Right," he called over, "The storm's died a bit and that plough made it through with an ambulance behind it. He's going to lead a convoy down the hill. Those two," Geoff jerked his head at the schoolboys lying on the cots in the corner, "will go in the ambulance. I think you should take Jude and get her checked out at the hospital; she's not getting any better up here and if there's anything sinister going on that we're not seeing she'd be better off down the hill."

  "But…" Mike ran a hand through his hair. "How will I get her down?"

  "Take her car. It's got snow tyres, hasn't it?"

  "Yes, but…" I don't drive. But Geoff didn't know that. Geoff didn't know about the accident two and a half years ago that had killed Mike's wife; about how he hadn't driven since then; about how he'd been running from his past until he'd shipped up in White Cairns a few months ago and found a community he could feel a part of and a woman that he wanted to make a part of his life.

  Mike looked down at Jude. Geoff's right. She's not getting any better. He'd have expected her to have woken properly and been more alert by now, unless the concussion was more serious. Which, as Geoff said, would need hospitalisation. I want her to get better. He took a deep breath and started pulling his jacket on. "O—Okay."

  "Drive the car over here, and I'll help you get her in."

  Being stuck in a storm isn't so bad, Spock thought, snuggling closer to Kaitlyn. He was warm, dry and— soft lips moved upwards and nibbled his ear, derailing his train of thought. "Nice," he muttered, turning his head so their lips met. Very nice.

  Some time later — he'd lost track of how long — they were interrupted by a rapping at the window. Spock struggled upright, pulling his dishevelled clothes into some semblance of order, and rubbed the condensation off the window with his fist. Outside, a figure in a black ski suit and goggles wiped the built-up snow off the glass and motioned Spock to wind the window down. One of the ski patrollers, Spock realised once he'd cracked it open.

  "There's a snowplough coming through in a few minutes," the patroller said. "It'll clear the road and then we'l
l pull you out and send you down in the convoy." His lips curled upwards. "Better get back in the front so you're ready to go, eh, pal?"

  Kaitlyn leaned past him and gave a wave. "Thanks." Then she wound the window back up, brushing the snow off the windowsill onto the floor.

  Spock turned to her. "We've, um, still got a few minutes?" He jerked his head at the back seat.

  She wriggled onto his lap, placing a quick kiss on his lips as she did so, and his heart almost stopped. "Lots of time for that later," she said, pushing backwards and disappearing into the front of the car. "I'm staying all week — and then there's LegendCon at the weekend."

  "But — I can't go."

  "Yer you can."

  He frowned at her. "Can't afford it." Pushing his shoulders through the gap between the headrests, he negotiated his way into the passenger seat.

  "You don't need to." She was smiling at him now. "They gave me a 'plus one' ticket."

  "What?"

  "Got an invite to the convention. Gave me a weekend pass, and one for a friend." She tucked her chin into her chest and gave him an impish look. "Yours, if you want it, like."

  "But…" How did she get a free ticket?

  "Remember I said I did some coding? They had a security bug in the game code and I sent them a fix." She shrugged. "They sent me the tickets as a thank-you."

  "Cool."

  "So — you coming?"

  Could he? Could he get time off? He'd need to ask Jude. She'd let him, wouldn't she? Unless Allan is back in charge. His heart sank. He'd have no chance then.

  Chapter 25

  Wednesday 22nd March

  MIKE HATED HOSPITALS. He knew he wasn't unusual in that; probably most of the population did. But he also hated being worried, and he hated doing nothing, so a night in a hospital waiting room was his special kind of hell.

  He tried to distract himself by flicking through a three-year-old copy of National Geographic but couldn't summon any enthusiasm for the intricacies of spear fishing in the West Indies or rug-weaving in Peru. Throwing the magazine back on the table, he started to pace at the far end of the room, ignoring the annoyed looks of the other occupants.

  Fortunately for him — and them — after just a couple of minutes, Jude walked in.

  He smiled tentatively as she approached, his eyebrows asking the question.

  "I got on fine, but I've to take it easy for the next twenty-four hours. They say my memory will come back gradually, although I may never remember the actual fall."

  "Right. Let's get you home then. Lucy will be glad to see you."

  Her forehead creased. "Did you get hold of Allan yet?"

  "No." He led her towards the door. "Have you— Oh!" He pulled up short. Seriously?

  Jude's hand flew to her mouth and she felt Mike's grip on her arm turn to iron.

  Walking down the corridor towards them was Allan. But not just Allan; Allan looking dotingly at a blonde girl by his side who was carrying a bundle which could only be a baby.

  Hearing Jude's gasp, Allan stopped dead, a look of guilt briefly crossing his face before being replaced by a clenched jaw and steely eyes. "Jude. This is Hayley." He paused briefly. "A friend of mine from New Zealand."

  At this description, the girl shot him a look.

  "And her baby, Kyle."

  Suddenly, the fog which had clouded her brain since her accident cleared away, and she remembered the decisions she'd made yesterday.

  Every single one of them.

  "I'm glad we bumped into you, Allan."

  A quirk of uncertainty marred his handsome face. Looks that no longer did anything for her, she realised, a bit like their owner.

  "I decided yesterday that I'm going to run Dad's ski school. My ski school. I was managing fine without you when you were in New Zealand, and I'll manage fine without you now. So I don't want you back up the hill." She narrowed her eyes at him. "And I want you to move out of the house. I'll pack up your stuff when I get home and you can collect it tonight."

  Turning on her heel, she stalked off down the corridor towards the exit, an image of Allan's open-jawed expression seared on her brain and a smile broadening on her face.

  Mike caught her up as she stepped outside the main door of the hospital.

  "Take me home, Mike. Please." There was iron in her jaw but tears in her eyes.

  He nodded and led her to the car park, still processing the scene he'd just witnessed, when Jude stopped abruptly and turned to him. "How did we get here last night?"

  Jerking his head at the car, he held up the keys. "In your car."

  She frowned. "Did I drive?"

  "No, I did."

  "But…" her eyes were huge.

  "Yeah. I drove. In a blizzard. Behind a snowplough." He shrugged. "But you were sick. You needed to get to the hospital, and there was nobody else to do it."

  As Jude gazed at him, another memory came swimming back; an image of his chiselled face appearing through the snowstorm, of a fervent kiss that had caused her heart to dance and had made the world stop spinning.

  "Let me get this straight. You found me at the bottom of the Highlander yesterday lunchtime?"

  He nodded.

  "You took me to ski patrol and stayed with me until when — teatime — when the snowplough arrived?"

  "Thereabouts." Mike blipped the lock and opened the door for her.

  "Then you, who hadn't driven for, what — three years — drove me down the mountain in a snowstorm and waited all night at the hospital for me?"

  "Two and a half years. But, yeah."

  She got into the passenger seat and stared sightlessly ahead. Mike, whom she'd only known for a few months, had behaved like a hero — rescuing her, keeping her safe and delivering her to hospital. Meanwhile Allan, who'd been her partner and supposed husband for fourteen years, had been out of contact all day because he was at the hospital with his mistress while she was having a baby. His baby, presumably. And before that, for months, he'd been pretty much un-contactable in New Zealand while she struggled to run the ski school and restore their bank balance.

  I was with the wrong man. She could see it now. Allan had never appreciated all the loyalty and love she'd given him. He was selfish, a user, and — she found herself smiling at this thought — poor Hayley was welcome to him.

  The driver's door opened and Mike slid in, turning to give her a quizzical look.

  And Mike has given me nothing but loyalty and— her heart flipped. She could see it in his eyes as he searched her face.

  Love.

  Yes. He loved her; it was written in every line of his body, and obvious in every little thing that he did for her. Emotion swelled in her chest, and she put her hand up to touch his cheek.

  The tingling on his skin where she touched him reminded him of yesterday's passionate kiss at the Highlander, and he felt himself melt inside.

  "Mike, I've just realised something I should've worked out weeks ago." Liquid green eyes mesmerised him.

  He held his breath.

  "All the time I was waiting for Allan to come home, and being loyal to him, I was blind to what he's really like and what I really felt. I should've been with you." Her voice faltered. "If you want me, that is." She bit her lip, in that way that was so familiar to him, and dropped her gaze.

  In the distance, he was sure a choir were singing the hallelujah chorus. Fireworks were going off somewhere and birds were singing nearby. He didn't answer. He couldn't. He just wrapped her in his arms and kissed her until he couldn't remember his name, where he was and what day it was. He just knew that this feeling inside was happiness. Pure, unadulterated, undiluted happiness; and he never wanted it to end.

  Chapter 26

  MIKE STOPPED THE car outside Jude's house and turned to face her. "Don't forget to tell Lucy what to look out for with your concussion." He took her hand. "And you need to speak to her about her dad."

  She nodded, looking down at their hands. "We'll keep it cool for now, though, until I've spoken to L
ucy? And to stop the neighbours talking."

  "Yeah. Though I think there'll be plenty for them to gossip about once word gets out about Hayley and her baby."

  "Mmm." She let out a long breath, then looked up. "Shall I give you a lift to work tomorrow? We can chat more then?"

  "Yeah." He tilted her chin towards him and kissed her softly. "Look after yourself. Let me know if you get any headaches or nausea."

  "Okay."

  He jumped out and hurried round to open the passenger door for her, but before she could get out, the front door flew open and Lucy ran out.

  "Mum!" She threw her arms around Jude and buried her face in Jude's chest. "Are you feeling better?"

  "I am now that I've seen you. Did Fiona look after you okay?"

  "Yes. But that man from the posh school is here. He wants to speak to you. I told him you were on your way home so I let him sit in the lounge and made him a cup of tea." She looked up. "I hope that's okay?"

  "Ah—" Mike cut in, "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet, sorry. Two of their boys had a pileup yesterday in Callum's class. They got sent to hospital the same time as you."

  Jude felt a clutch of fear in her chest. What had they done wrong? If we lose the Beechfields contract, we'll be in real trouble. "C— can you come and speak to him with me? Since you know about the accident?"

  "Mrs Winters!" Mr Paton stood up as they entered the room. "How are you? I heard you had an accident yesterday?"

  "I'm fine now, thank you Mr Paton. Just some concussion." She sat down and waved Mike to a seat. "And — erm, actually it's Ms Winters."

  "Oh, my apologies."

  "Don't worry. It's a common mistake. You know Mike, my chief instructor?"

  "Yes, yes. Been in one of his lessons."

  The muscles in her shoulders tensed. "Lucy said you wanted to speak to me?"

  He sat up straighter in his chair. "Yes. You'll have heard that two of our boys had a fall yesterday?"