Winter Woods

by ID Johnson

  “Right.” She assumed he meant messing up could get someone hurt—or worse. “So what do you usually do for the holidays?”

  That shadow she’d noticed the day before passed over his face again. It took him so long to answer, she thought maybe he’d just ignore her question. Eventually, he said, “I’ve had a girlfriend for the past four years. We usually spent time with our families together. One time we went on a trip to the Caribbean. Basically, whatever Ellen wanted to do, we did.”

  Olivia wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t meant to open any old wounds. “Oh,” was all she could manage.

  “We broke up about six months ago,” he continued. His voice sounded even, but she could tell he wasn’t quite over it.

  “That must’ve been hard,” she said, dropping her eyes to stare at her own boots.

  “It was. But I keep telling myself it was a good thing. Clearly, she wasn’t the right woman.”

  “Clearly,” Olivia agreed, though she had no idea if Ellen was the right girl for Memphis or not, having never met her. Still, the fact that she could walk away from him after four years boggled her mind. Was this woman crazy?

  They were quiet for a long time, and as the road began to wind further up the mountain, and the snow accumulated, Olivia thought it was just as well. Memphis needed to concentrate on the road, and she needed to get her head together.

  “What about you?” he asked out of nowhere as they approached the turn that would take them into Minter Woods.

  Olivia was taken aback, not even sure at first what he was asking. “Me?” she repeated. “No, I’ve never really had a serious relationship. Not since high school anyway. I’ve gone on some dates, but mostly I’ve put my career first.”

  “I see,” Memphis nodded. “Well, that seems to have worked out for you. You’ve been very successful.”

  She knew what he meant, and he was right. She had been successful—but at what cost? There was no way he could possibly understand that it was because of her writing that, so far, no man had come anywhere close to meeting her expectations. But then, he didn’t need to know that because, as much as she’d hate to admit it, that was no longer the case. Her exceptionally high standards had finally been met.

  He eased his way down the lane, and Olivia tried not to reach out and brace herself this time, riding along with the ups and downs. “I think… I think I’m ready to open myself up to possibilities now,” she admitted, wondering why she was saying this to him when they lived so far apart but also glad to have the opportunity to speak to someone she knew would truly listen. “For so long, I know I wasn’t ready or willing to even consider having a relationship, but now, I think it’s time.”

  She turned to look at him, wondering if he thought she was talking specifically about him. If he did, there was no indication. His eyes were focused on the road as he said, “This is the perfect time of year for it. New year, new beginnings, new opportunities.”

  “Right,” she nodded, her eyes still glued to his profile. “I just have to believe that God will bring the right man into my life at just the right moment.”

  Memphis pulled the truck to a stop in front of Olivia’s cabin, and once again, he turned to face her before he clicked the ignition off. “You believe that? That God has a plan for each of us and that He will help us see it through?”

  It wasn’t an easy question, but she found her answer flowing freely, as if He had led her to the right response. “I believe that He always has our best interests in mind, and if we open ourselves up to possibilities, if we trust in Him, then, yes, He will lead us to where we can find true happiness.”

  She could see him considering her answer, the way his eyes shifted, the slight tilt of his head. He was quiet, not quite looking at her but off in the distance somewhere instead. Olivia turned even more to face him, causing him to catch her eyes again. “Do you believe that, Memphis?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.

  “I’m starting to.”

  Chapter Ten

  Memphis pulled into the drive beside his cabin and turned the truck off, leaning back against the headrest for just a minute. The snow was coming down a lot heavier now, and the wind had begun to pick up. It wasn’t the weather that had him lingering; it was Olivia. How he had longed to kiss her just now, before she rushed out of his truck and up the porch faster than he could even get his door open to walk her in. Despite her reaction to the small, quiet moment they’d shared, when he’d been so tempted to lean in and find her lips with his, he knew she was interested in him, too. He could see it in the way she looked at him, the way she reacted when he touched her arm. It was hard to blame her for avoiding anything more than a friendship at this point, however. They both knew they’d be going their separate ways soon enough. What good was there starting a relationship with someone who lived so far away?

  With a heavy sigh, he pushed open the truck door and dropped down onto the snow-covered driveway. Little flecks of ice were falling now, too. Luckily, it hadn’t coated any of the walking surfaces so he didn’t have to be too careful making his way to the house. In the distance, he could see smoke coming from Olivia’s chimney. He hoped she’d stay safe and warm tonight and get more of her story written. He’d never heard of her before, but he knew she was a talented writer. Not only was her success proof of that, but having spent some time talking with her now, he could see she had a way of telling a story, of carrying on a conversation. She seemed to understand people in a way most never would.

  The cabin was quiet when he entered. He decided not to track snow into the house, so he took his boots off by the door and slipped out of his coat, hanging it by the entryway. Making his way to the stairs, he rested his hand on his back pocket where his phone was located.

  “You back, Memphis?” his dad asked, stepping around the corner. “Roads pretty bad?”

  “They’re okay,” he replied, pausing at the bottom of the stairwell. “Getting worse, though.”

  “Olivia happy to be back inside?”

  “I suppose so. She jumped out of the truck pretty quickly.” He wasn’t sure why he shared that with his dad. It seemed kind of self-depreciating. “Where’s Nash and Gramps?”

  “Gramps is asleep by the fireplace, and I think Nash is still on the phone with Laney. He wanted to call her before he lost service.”

  “That’s a good idea. In fact, I was just about to call Mom.”

  Lyle nodded and folded his arms. “You know, Memphis, your mom’s been talking about moving out this way. Now that she’s going to be a grandma, she wants to be closer to Nash’s family.”

  “I know,” Memphis nodded. “I’m surprised she’d ever leave Texas—unless she was going back to Tennessee.”

  “She’s always loved her job and the friends she’s made.” Lyle ran his hand through his hair, as if he were thinking back to years ago when he also lived in Hockley, Texas. “Memphis, we could really use you at the company,” he said. “Would you consider coming and working for me?”

  Memphis was shocked his father cut right to the chase. He was expecting a more roundabout approach. At first, he didn’t know what to say. “I don’t know,” he began, absently fiddling with the newel post. “I really like what I’m doing now.”

  “Aren’t you lonely out there on the rigs? No family, none of your friends from back home?”

  “I didn’t really keep up with my friends from home, Dad, and the ones I made in Houston sort of chose their side.” He shrugged, his hands now deep in the pockets of his jeans. “I talk to y’all often enough, I guess.”

  “Memphis, you’re a talented engineer. Having you with us would make the company take off in ways I can’t even imagine.”

  He knew his dad meant it as a compliment, but his choice of words seemed ironic. “I guess I’ve just never been one for taking off,” he said, unable to hold back.

  Lyle took a step forward and rested his hand on Memphis’s arm. “Son, I know you haven’t forgiven me yet for what I did. I don’t expect you to. I
wish I could find a way to explain myself or make you see how truly sorry I am. I missed out on seeing you and Nash grow up—and believe me, I regret it every single day.”

  Though he was tempted to jerk his arm away, he didn’t do it. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand how anyone could do that. Just walk away. How could you do that to Mom? She loved you. She trusted you.”

  Withdrawing his hand, Lyle turned away, running both hands across his face. “I know she did. My actions were inexcusable.” He was quiet for a moment, and Memphis watched him, realizing he’d never seen him this remorseful before. Then, turning back to face his son, he added, “But she has forgiven me. I wish you could, too.”

  Memphis set his jaw, not wanting to show his dad the emotion that was welling up inside. “I don’t know. Guess I’ll need to think on it.”

  “Please do,” Lyle said, stepping toward him again. “We’d love to have you around, Son.”

  Without another word, Memphis turned and headed up the stairs, trying to forget what it had been like the day his dad left. He was six years old, standing at a screen door, watching his father load up the last of his belongings into the back of his truck and take off without even a wave goodbye. He’d begged his mom to let him chase after, but she’d said, “Let him go. We can’t force him to stay with us when he don’t want to.”

  It’d been the same with Ellen. When she walked out, he’d wanted to chase her down the hall, beg her to stay. But his mother’s words rang in his head and in his heart. He couldn’t force someone to love him, to accept him, if she didn’t want to.

  Once inside his room, he sat down in the cozy chair and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He didn’t have many bars, but he was able to get a signal, and in just a second he heard the familiar voice of his mother on the other end. “Hello? Memphis, honey, is that you?”

  “Hi, Mom.” Just hearing the sound of her voice instantly brought a smile to his face. He leaned back in the chair and relaxed. “How are you?”

  “I’m good!” The cheer in Gwen Nix’s voice was impossible to miss. “I was just wondering if you were gonna get a call in to me before the blizzard hits. Nash says you’re expecting something awful up there.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. Nash has a tendency to exaggerate a bit. But it is coming down pretty good.” He could see the snow out the window and it did look like it was picking up in velocity and thickness.

  “I wish I could see it,” she said with a sigh. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen a good snowfall.”

  “I guess you’ll have to get used to it again if you’re planning on moving this direction.” He said it with no expectation in his voice, at least he hoped not.

  “Your brother tell you that?” she asked, a touch of concern in her voice.

  “And Dad.”

  “Well, you know me and babies. The thought of having a grandkid all the way across the country where I can’t love on ’em every day just doesn’t sound right to me.”

  “I’m not that surprised,” Memphis admitted. He should have realized sooner she’d head to wherever the first baby arrived.

  “Did he also talk to you about the company?”

  He assumed she meant his dad, but either one would work. “Both of them did.”

  “What do you think?” He could tell by the way she phrased it that her teeth were gritted together, like she was uncertain herself.

  With a sigh, Memphis said, “I don’t know, Mom. It’s tempting. I mean, I like being out on the rigs, but I also like spending time with you. And I’d love to get to see Nash’s family more.”

  “I hear a ‘but’ coming, Son.” His mother definitely had a way of interpreting what her sons did not say.

  “I just don’t want him to think I’ve accepted what he did,” Memphis explained. “Agreeing to work for him sort of sounds to me like I’m letting him off the hook. And I’m still not okay with everything he put you through, put us through.”

  His mother was quiet for so long, he glanced down at his phone to make sure they were still connected. “You know, Memphis,” she finally began, “letting someone off the hook—or accepting their apology, rather—doesn’t mean you have to be okay with what they did. It just means you no longer want to live with bitterness or anger in your own heart.”

  Her words made perfect sense. Forgiving his father wasn’t for his father—it was for him. And yet, he still didn’t feel like he could do it, not right now anyway. “I guess I’ll need to think on that, Mama.”

  “And pray on it,” she added.

  “And pray on it.”

  Gwen let out a breath loudly, sort of a half sigh, half humph. “So, who is this young lady your brother tells me about?” she asked, her voice much more chipper.

  “I don’t know,” Memphis replied, mimicking her tone. “Did Nash meet someone?”

  “Ha, ha, very funny. He said you’ve gone over to her cabin to pay her a visit a few times, even took her into town.”

  Memphis couldn’t help but smile at the mention of Olivia. He knew his mother would absolutely adore her if she ever got the chance to meet her. “She’s really nice, Mom. Sweet. Very smart. But… she lives in West Virginia. And I don’t.”

  “You could.” The sing-song lilt of her voice was almost childlike. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “I don’t think it’s wise to move across the country for a girl I met a few days ago, Mama.”

  “Well, if you really like her, and there are other reasons to move….”

  “Maybe.”

  “What does she look like?”

  Only his mother would ask such a question. “She’s about average height, blonde, straight hair. Past her shoulders. She has really pretty blue eyes and a nice smile.”

  “She built like a cowgirl?”

  He laughed again, assuming that was his mother’s way of asking if she was fit. “I guess so.”

  “What does she do?”

  His mother could ask questions all night. But then, as long as he was talking about Olivia to someone who wouldn’t pester or tease him, he could accept that. “She’s a writer,” he replied. “She writes romance novels.”

  “Romance novels?” Gwen echoed. “Sounds like her and I would get along just fine.”

  “I know,” he agreed. “I think you would, too. She doesn’t cook though. And she has an unhealthy addiction to coffee.”

  “Well, there’s worse things to be addicted to, Son.”

  There was a bit of static and the phone went in and out. He realized he was likely going to lose his signal soon. “That’s true. She’s a nice person, Mom. I think you’d like her. But, like I said, it’s not very practical for me to get too attached.”

  “Well, the heart knows what it wants, my boy. Olivia. Pretty name.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Wait—what’s her last name?”

  His mother’s voice morphed into a more urgent, serious tone. “Kensington. Why?”

  “Kensington?” The pitch and volume increased tremendously.

  “Yes.”

  His mother squealed in his ear so loudly, Memphis had to hold the phone out. “Oh, my stars! She wrote my very favorite novel of all time, Memph! Love in the Wind! Oh, I just can’t believe you met the Olivia Kensington.”

  While Memphis had had no idea his mother was so attached to any book, he couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. “Well, I guess I’ll let her know.”

  “Did she say when the next one will be out?”

  “I believe she’s working on it now.”

  She squealed again, but this time he saw it coming and already had the phone away from his ear. “You tell her I can hardly wait. Also, tell her that she best make sure Margot ends up with Elliott or else I’ll just be beside myself.”

  Memphis had no idea who those people were, but he decided they must be characters in Olivia’s book. “I will let her know. Listen, Mom, the weather’s getting bad, and I’m afraid I’m going to lose you.”

  “
All right, honey. I love you. You take care and be safe.”

  “I will. I love you, too, Mom.”

  After disconnecting the call, Memphis rested his head back against the plush chair and looked out the window at a blur of white. He could hear the wind howling outside and thought it was likely they would need the generators before the sun came up. Ordinarily, the idea of trekking through the ice and snow to stand outside and turn on a generator wouldn’t have sounded at all appealing to him, but he knew he’d be up and out the door in a heartbeat if Olivia needed him.

  He couldn’t see her cabin now through the weather, but he knew she was there, likely working on her book, sipping coffee, all snuggled up in front of the fireplace. Wouldn’t it be nice to be curled up nearby in a chair, just watching her write? Or better yet, she could prop a pillow in his lap and type away as he lovingly stroked her hair. “Gah! What is wrong with me?” He shook his head and slumped forward so that his elbows were resting on his knees. It had only been two days, and yet Olivia had completely taken over his every thought and emotion. While the idea of going to work for his dad did not sound promising, neither did going back to Texas and the oil rigs, with Olivia so far away. Taking his mother’s advice, Memphis closed his eyes and said a little prayer. “Lord, if this is meant to be, please help me find a way to make it happen. Otherwise, please help me find a way to let go.”

  ***

  Olivia sat next to the fireplace in the chair Memphis had used when he’d visited her just the day before, though it seemed like a forever ago now. She’d grown so accustomed to him, it was like they’d known each other for years. Her laptop was fully charged and sat open on her lap, but she wasn’t writing. It wasn’t that she had writer’s block or didn’t know where the story was headed; she just couldn’t keep her mind off of Memphis.

  Thanks to him, there was a full cup of coffee on the table in front of her. The wind was whistling through the trees, picking up now, and she was glad she’d moved her car far away from where most wayward branches would likely land. She was hopeful that the storm would die down and that the electricity would stay on, but she was also thankful that, if the power went out, she still had a fireplace and a generator. The thought of running outside in the cold in the middle of the night to turn the generator on wasn’t appealing. It crossed her mind that she might just sit by the fire all night so that if the electricity did go off, she’d still be warm. She had a flashlight by her bed upstairs so she could use it to get down the ladder should that be necessary, but traversing the ladder in the dark might be just as treacherous as going outside in the storm.