“That’s nice of you guys.” She sighed with relief.
“Ready?” Mayor Murphy yelled out.
“I better get to the float. Nice to meet you, Steve.”
“Nice meeting you. Maybe I’ll see you after.”
“Maybe.” She gave him a simple smile.
She climbed on the float, looking back toward Aspen, but she couldn’t see her. “Where are you, Aspen?” She said it just loud enough for Mayor Murphy to hear her.
“Did we lose Aspen?” Mayor Murphy now stood at Wren’s side.
“I guess so. She was just over there a moment ago.”
“I think I saw her and Trigg walk off that way. No worries, Honey. Those sweethearts will more than likely meet up with us at the lodge. It’s where we’ll all end up. Just enjoy the ride and all the pretty lights.”
“Oh, okay.” Disappointed, she forced a smile on her face.
~~@
“Wren, I am so sorry.” Aspen stood, bent over with her hands clasping her legs, just above her knees. She was trying to catch her breath.
“Excuse me a moment.” Wren turned from an elderly couple, who had been saying a quick hello, to look at a red-faced Aspen. “Hi, Aspen. I assume you know Mr. and Mrs. Swanson?”
“Hi, Earl and Patsy. Nice to see you again.” She stood up straight and grabbed at Wren’s wrist. “I really need to talk to you.” She tugged.
Wren gave her the most polite smile she could muster. “Please don’t yank on me.”
She let go immediately. “I’m…I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“Mayor Murphy has asked me to mingle. Can this wait ‘til later?”
“I would prefer to talk to you now.”
Wren turned back toward the Swanson’s. “It was very nice talking with you. I hope your poodle feels better real soon.”
They gave their cordial goodbyes.
“This way.” Aspen led Wren inside the lodge and to some stairs. “We can talk in the upstairs office.”
She followed behind, taking deep meditative breaths as she ascended the worn wooden stairs.
“Watch your step, okay? This place is in dire need of some renovations.”
They approached an old wooden door with a glass insert that looked like it came out of a detective movie. “We can get some privacy in here.” Aspen pushed open the creaking door and switched on the lights. She shut the door behind Wren. “Sorry for the chilliness in here. They don’t heat the second floor during non-business hours.”
“I’m fine.” Wren crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“Wren, I am so sorry. I mean really, really sorry.” She approached her, but Wren stepped back to sit on the windowsill.
“You already said that, Aspen.”
“I know…and I mean it. Let me explain what happened.”
“Okay then…let’s hear it.”
Aspen pulled up a chair in front of Wren and straddled it. She leaned her chest against the backrest and grabbed on tight to its wooden spindles. “Trigg was really upset.”
Wren blinked hard at the mention of his name.
“I’ve known him since we were kids, for God’s sake. He saved me from a snake.”
“Aspen, that’s fine. I am glad you didn’t get eaten by a snake.”
“Wait a minute. Let me explain.”
Wren absentmindedly tapped her shoe against the floor.
Aspen pretended not to notice. “I told him I wanted to go back to the float with you.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t.”
“He said that I think I am too good for everyone, now that I am hanging out with famous people. That’s not true. He said that I don’t care about this town anymore and that I should be ashamed since it’s this little town that helped get me to where I am today. His accusation was totally wrong. I love Christmas Valley.”
Wren stood up. “Well, glad we had this little talk, Aspen, but I really don’t need your excuses.”
“Wren, wait!” Aspen jumped up to position herself between Wren and the door. “They are not excuses. I am simply trying to explain my actions. Things are different now.” Water puddled in her eyes. “I am not the same girl that left here weeks ago. Christmas Valley was everything to me. Taking care of the family farm with my dad is all that mattered to me…but now—” She approached Wren. “Now I am confused. I don’t think I can choose between you and the ranch, because either way I choose…I choose wrong.”
“Aspen, I will make this very easy for you. There is no choice to be made. My home is L.A. Your home is here. Our…indiscretions were just that. Temporary indiscretions.” She held firm to her retort, but nausea taunted her throat.
Aspen almost fell backward.
“Let me know when you’ll be ready to head back to the house. I’ll be downstairs mingling some more.” She walked past Aspen and out the door. The hurt she felt would have to be constrained until she could grieve alone.
Aspen’s legs felt so weak, she fell back into the chair. Her dad was right about the people in LA…but Wren? The tears soaked the sleeve of her jacket. Through blurry eyes she looked at the window Wren had been leaning against. “I don’t understand,” she barely spoke. She refused to go back downstairs and have to pass Wren. She climbed out the window, crawled down an escape ladder, and went looking for Trigg.
~~@
“I’m going with you, Aspen.”
“Trigg. No!” She slammed her foot down like a child not getting her way.
He pierced his lips. “What’s the big deal, anyway?”
“Please, Trigg. I need to step away for just a few minutes and I really need to do it alone.”
“Then step away. Why do you need my truck unless you’re plannin’ on goin’ far?”
“I’m not going that far. Really. I just want to borrow your truck to get there.”
“Then tell me where.”
“I want to be alone.”
“I understand that.”
“Do you? Trigg, if I tell you where I’m going, then you’ll come looking for me. You know it.”
“Maybe.”
“You will. I know you. You have a great heart, but you just don’t listen.”
Trigg thought for a moment. “If you’re not back in forty-five minutes I’ll be sending a search party out for you. Got it?”
“Got it.”
He tossed her the keys to his tow truck. “She’s all fueled up and playing our favorite country song.”
“Thanks, Trigg. I’m lucky to have such a good friend as you.”
“Put ‘boy’ in front of that friend word and I’ll do the break dance for ya.” He started doing the robot.
She giggled. “You’re so darn silly.” She gave him a hug before running to the truck. “I’ll be back before anyone realizes I’m gone. And stop doing the robot.”
“See what you do to me? You make me act like a complete weirdo.”
Aspen hopped in and started the truck. Within seconds she drove away.
“Be careful!” He yelled with his hands cupped around his mouth. “No more than forty-five minutes. Hear me?”
She had already pulled too far away to hear his last words.
~~@
“Getting tired yet?”
“Excuse me?”
Steve handed Wren a cup of beer. “May take the edge off.”
She almost said no thank you, but took the cup and drank some anyway. “That’s pretty good. I’m not usually a beer drinker.”
“Yeah, well…that there is some homegrown moonshine,” he said with a silly accent. “Looked like you could use some and it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Wren hoped her distraught disposition wasn’t as obvious to everyone else as it had been to Steve. “Really…homegrown? It was made here in Christmas Valley?”
“Sure was. A good friend of mine has some equipment in the cellar. My mom always calls him when we’re having a big event like tonight. He stocks up on the brew and financially makes out like a bandit.” He pointed at t
he people nearby. “See?” Almost everyone had a cup in their hand. “I can tell you right now, that’s not tea or coffee in their hands.”
Wren smiled.
“Want me to get you some more?”
“Maybe in a little bit.” She took a deep breath. “So, where’s your friend Trigg? You guys done with towing for the night?”
“Not sure where he went off to. I saw him talking to Aspen a few minutes ago by the tow truck and then last I saw, the tow truck was leaving. I guess they went somewhere.”
Wren looked up at the office door. She hadn’t seen Aspen leave. She wanted to scream. “Steve, would you mind taking me home?”
“My home?” His eyes got big.
Wren gave a sweet laugh. “No, I mean…could you take me to Aspen’s house? I’m not feeling very well.”
“I’m sorry, Wren. I didn’t mean it like that. I really am a gentleman.”
“No worries, Steve. I wouldn’t have asked you to take me to Aspen’s if I didn’t think you were a sweet guy.”
“Thanks, Wren. And sure, I’ll be more than happy to take you.” He presented his arm so he could walk her to his car.
~~@
The headlights from the tow truck illuminated Aspen’s path to the heart-shaped stone. She dropped to her knees in front of it. “Mom, I am so confused. My heart is hurting, but I don’t think it’s for the right reason. Wren—” she couldn’t complete her sentence. “I didn’t want to get close to anyone. No strings attached.” She looked down at the pebbles circling around the base of the stone. “I fear that what is attached is a whole heck of a lot more than just a string.” She grasped her chest, directly over her heart. She closed her eyes and focused on the familiar noises around her. The wind blew against her uncovered cheeks and stung at the back of her neck. Cold chills raced up her spine, yet she felt numb to its goading. She kissed the stone before going back to the truck. She had one more place to visit before calling it a night.
~~@
Steve pulled up in his Audi, next to the porch. “I hope tonight wasn’t totally unbearable for you. I know my mom can be pushy, but she sure does mean well.” He raised an eyebrow. “Being pushy, also means, she usually gets what she wants.”
“Oh, tonight was fine and your mom is driven, smart and sweet. Believe me…I have the utmost respect for all three of those characteristics.”
Steve shrugged his shoulders. “I think it’s good to be a strong woman. Heck, that’s one of the things Trigg loves about Aspen.” He didn’t notice Wren’s subtle fluctuation in facial manner when he mentioned the pair. “You’re pretty strong to do what you do, not that I can even begin to imagine what all you do. You’re strong and beautiful.” He blushed. “I’m sure you have guys lining up all over the world for you. Successful and beautiful.”
“That’s sweet of you, Steve. Thank you.” She just wanted to go inside and be left alone, but didn’t want to offend Steve. After all, he was such a nice guy. She contemplated putting her hand on the door handle.
“So…what are your plans for tomorrow? Want to do something?”
“That is so thoughtful of you, Steve, but I really need to memorize my lines for an upcoming movie. The one Aspen is in Los Angeles for. She and I will be heading back within the next couple of days.”
“That soon, huh? That’s a bummer. I do understand, though.”
She put her hand on his knee, hoping not to send him mixed signals, but wanting him to feel good about himself. “I’ll tell you what…next time I’m in town we’ll do lunch. You get to pick the place. Does that sound okay to you?”
“You mean it?”
“Of course, I mean it.”
“I’ll be taking you up on that offer, Miss Wren Emerson!”
“Okay, Mr. Steve Murphy.”
He jumped out of the car, ran around the front and opened her door. “May I have the honor of walking you to the door?”
“The honor is mine.” She reached her arm out for him to assist her out of the car and they walked shoulder to shoulder to the door.
“Thank you for allowing me to bring you home.”
“Thank you for taking me.”
“I am a gentleman, you know.”
“I know you are and I appreciate it.”
“I just thought—”
Wren took a deep breath. She didn’t want to be impatient.
“Well, it would mean the world to me if I could give you one little goodnight kiss. I swear I would never brag about it to anyone.” He looked around. “We’re alone. It would be quick—”
Wren leaned in and gave him a quick closed-lip kiss on the mouth. It was the only way she felt she could get him to leave. She stepped back. “Steve? Are you okay?”
He blinked. “Wow!”
“Really?” Her face scrunched up.
“I…I better get back to the lodge.” He ran toward the railing and hopped over it onto the frozen ground with a thud. “That was between you and me, Wren. I promise not to tell anyone. It’ll be our special secret.” He slid over the hood of car like a scene from Dukes of Hazard. A huge smile tugged at his face as he charged out of the driveway.
~~@
Aspen couldn’t believe her eyes as she lowered the binoculars she had gotten out of the door of Trigg’s car. She had seen the car approaching her house, but hadn’t recognized it. At first she was relieved it wasn’t two men in suits, coming from the bank. Now she wished she hadn’t of even been at the mighty oak tree in the first place.
A tear shed from her eye. Had she really just witnessed Wren kiss Steve on the wrap-around porch? Her wrap-around porch? She felt insignificant. Crushed. She slid backward against the tree until she hit the ground and shoved both thumbs against her eyes. “How could I be such a fool?” She slammed her fists against her knees.
She looked up when her cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“Aspen, are you okay, Honey?”
“Yeah, Dad. I didn’t mean to worry you.” She tried to stifle the distress forsaking her voice.
“Are you with Wren? We can’t find her, either.”
“No, Steve took her home.” She felt a sharp pain in her chest.
“Where are you?”
She looked up into the leafless branches overhead. “I’m just up the road. Needed a few minutes alone, but I am fine. Actually, I am getting ready to return Trigg’s tow truck. He let me borrow it.”
“I know. He’s standing right here next to me.”
She could hear Trigg ask her dad if she was all right. She took a deep breath.
“Sure you don’t need us to come get you?”
“Nope, I’ll be there in a few minutes. Okay?”
“Okay, Sweetheart. Drive carefully. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
“Is she coming—” Aspen heard Trigg’s voice in the background before her father had a chance to hang up. She wiped the dirt from her clothing and got back into the tow truck. Her eyes stung and her heart ached.
~~@
The moment Wren reached into her jacket pocket to find her chapstick, she found the piece of paper the two young girls had given to her at the parade. She ran her fingers across the neatly folded edges before slowly unfolding it, revealing the picture within. She stared at the drawing of her and Aspen, hands clasping, before it became too blurry to see. She set it on the nightstand, laid her jacket back across her suitcases with the clothing she wore that night, and climbed into bed. She stretched the covers up to her chin and closed her eyes.
How could she have said those horrible things to Aspen? Plain and simple, she had to. This is your home, Aspen. I don’t want you to have to choose. Her head was spinning as thoughts of Aspen and Trigg together, assaulted the images playing in her mind. “He’s from here. If it’s what she wants…” she told herself. “Just try to be happy for the little amount of time you did have.” She sobbed into the pillow until she felt as though she were suffocating. She flopped the pillow to her side. “God I am such an idiot! I let her g
o. I had to let her go.” Memories from the previous night made her body swell in a moment of fervor. She could have sworn she heard a coyote wail in the distance. “Was it all just a dream?” She thought about the touching. The holding. The heavy breathing. How much their mouths yearned to find one another’s, not separating until they exhausted all their energy. “Oh, Aspen. Please forgive me.”
~~@
“Are you all right?” Trigg threw his arms around Aspen and hugged her head tight to his chest.
“I’m better.” She pushed away from him. “Thank you for letting me borrow your truck.” She looked around. “Where’s Dad?”
“I told him I’d bring you home.”
She slumped a little. “Yeah, I should get back to the house, too.” She almost wanted to stay as far away from the house as she could, but going home now was better than the alternative. She looked at Trigg. “You wanna abduct me one more time tonight, only take me home this time?”
“You know I’ve been missing you, Aspen. I just wanted to spend time with you.” His eyes were big and brown.
“I know.”
He leaned forward to press his forehead into hers. He paused, searching her eyes.
“Trigg, I really care about you, but—”
“Damn it, Aspen.” He pulled away.
“Trigg, don’t be like that. You know I have more important things going on than settling down in a relationship. I’m not saying that to hurt you. I just want to be honest with you.”
“Aspen!” His fists were clenched. “I can help you with these important things. I work, too. I can help you keep your farm.”
“So, my dad told you?”
He nodded.
“Trigg…I don’t want you to help.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t. I don’t want to feel like I owe you for the rest of my life. I want to take care of things myself. I can take care of things on my own.”
“You won’t owe me. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is I will owe you and I don’t want to owe anyone ever again. That’s what put us in this predicament in the first place.”
“Let’s get married. Then it will be our predicament…together.”
“Trigg, no!”
“Aspen, I love you.”
“I know you do, but I’m not ready.”
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