Winter Woods

by ID Johnson

  She didn’t realize Gramps was speaking to her until he called her name several times. Her mouth was dry and the cards in her hand were fuzzy. “I’m sorry?” she asked, looking up into his eyes.

  “I said, ‘I think it’s your turn, darling,’” Gramps said, his voice gentle. Whether or not the other men at the table picked up on her sudden change in disposition, Gramps certainly did, and Olivia looked away from him, thinking if she continued to stare into his eyes, she might start to cry.

  Somehow, Olivia managed to make it through the rest of the hand, and once Nash claimed victory, she glanced up at the clock. It was a quarter till twelve. At midnight, it would be a brand new day, a brand new year. Her mother always said, “Start the new year off with the people you expect to spend the next year with.” Glancing around the room, Olivia realized she wouldn’t have the opportunity to spend another day with any of these people, not even the cowboy seated to her left.

  Trying to hold back her emotions a bit longer, Olivia stood. “Gentlemen, it’s been a lovely evening, but I’m afraid I need to head back to my cabin now.”

  Memphis also rose. “Already? It’s not even midnight yet.”

  “Yes, I’m afraid so,” she replied, not meeting his eyes. “Gramps, it was so wonderful to meet you.” She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, and he embraced her. “Happy birthday.”

  “It was a pleasure to meet you, as well, Miss Olivia.” She could tell by his expression he fully understood her rush and didn’t try to keep her, though otherwise she thought he might.

  “Mr. Nix,” she said reaching for Lyle’s hand. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

  Lyle seemed surprised, but took her hand and said, “Thank you for coming.”

  “Nash, best of luck with the new baby, and thank you for your help with the generator.”

  He was also standing now, looking a bit bewildered. “Sure thing. It was nice to see you again,” he stammered.

  Olivia turned to Memphis and said nothing, still not able to meet his eyes.

  “Liv, why are you leaving?” he asked, his voice showing he clearly had no idea.

  “I need to get back.” She turned and walked around the sofa in the direction away from him, but he met her on the other side.

  “At least let me drive you home.”

  Her legs were moving now, and she didn’t plan on stopping them until she was safely inside her cabin, far away from the cowboy and his intoxicating eyes. She reached for her coat by the door. “That’s not necessary,” she replied.

  Before she could get it on, he was there, helping her slide into it. She reached for the door, and he grabbed his coat off of the hook as well, but she didn’t slow down.

  Once she was outside at the edge of the walk, Memphis caught up to her again and gently pulled on her arm. “Olivia? What’s going on? What did I say?”

  Unable to free herself without jerking away, Olivia turned to face him. “Nothing. Everything.” For once, she was at a loss for words. With a swallow, she found the courage to look him in the eye. “Memphis, everything you said to your father is exactly right. I’m not your girlfriend. You do live thousands of miles away, and we haven’t known each other long enough for you to give up everything to move here.”

  “Olivia, I was just trying to get him off of my back. He shouldn’t have been trying to use you as an excuse….”

  “No, you’re right. He shouldn’t have been.” She felt tears stinging her eyes now, and she wanted to get away from him. Lowering her head, she said, “I guess… part of me just wishes you would have. If we aren’t going to be together in the new year, we shouldn’t be together to ring it in.”

  He was silent, and eventually, she raised her gaze and saw an expression on his face that told her everything. He had never even considered moving to Virginia. This was just another love story she’d invented in her head, although this one didn’t involve make believe characters. This one involved real hearts—her heart. “I have to go,” she said, and before he could respond, she took off running.

  “Olivia!” Memphis shouted after her, but after a few yards, she could tell he wasn’t chasing her. The snow was deep, and trudging through it in her dress boots wasn’t easy, but she continued to run, and within a few minutes, she was standing on the porch of her little cabin, jabbing the code in, and flying through the door. Once inside she leaned against the solid pine and caught her breath, gasping for air as the tears streamed down her cheeks. At least he hadn’t chased her. There’d be no need to rehash everything. They could both just go their separate ways without another reminder of how she’d fallen so hard for someone who only saw her as a friend.

  ***

  Memphis stood outside and watched Olivia’s form fade into the night until he couldn’t see her anymore. Once he noticed the lights had come on in her cabin, he turned and slowly made his way back inside, still not sure what had happened.

  He knew his comments to his dad sounded flippant—as if he and Olivia were only friends and nothing more. But he thought she would know he was only saying that because he didn’t want his father to use her as a pawn. Didn’t she know how he felt about her? Couldn’t she see it in his eyes?

  Once inside, he went straight up to his room. He could hear the rest of the family talking in the den, and even though he felt bad about walking out on his grandfather’s birthday party, he didn’t want to face them just now. He went upstairs and dropped into his comfy chair, wondering what in the world he should do about Olivia.

  A few minutes later, there was a knock on his door. He expected it to be Nash, or maybe even his dad, but when he reluctantly said, come in, it was Gramps. “Mind if I talk to you a spell?” he asked as he opened the door.

  “No, have a seat,” Memphis replied, gesturing toward a nearby chair.

  “Did you catch her?” he asked as he sat down, his bones creaking.

  “I did. Not that it did much good.”

  Gramps only nodded. He studied his grandson for a long moment. “Do you love her, Memphis?”

  It seemed like an odd question. He’d known Olivia for less than a week. Was it even possible for him to love her already? And yet, he didn’t have to think about the answer. “Yes.” His answer was quiet but resolute.

  Once again, Gramps nodded. “Do you think she loves you?”

  Memphis shrugged. How could he know that for sure? He’d known all along the comment she’d made at the door the other night was nothing more than a remark she’d made out of excitement. But he did think she liked him. A lot. “I’m not sure,” he finally admitted.

  “If there’s a possibility that that girl loves you, too, then you have to fight for her,” Gramps directed.

  “But… what if she doesn’t?” Memphis asked. “What if I did quit my job and move halfway across the country to see if what we have is real—and it isn’t?”

  Gramps pursed his lips together for a moment before answering. “You have to ask yourself if the possibility of getting hurt is outweighed by the possibility of being loved for the rest of your life by an amazing woman who clearly knocks your socks off.”

  Memphis couldn’t help but grin at his grandfather’s choice of words. However, his return to solemnity was quick. “I’m not sure I can take that risk again so soon, Gramps.” He wanted to. Nothing sounded more inviting than the possibility that Olivia was the one he’d been looking for all along and that they would spend the rest of their days together, happily walking hand-in-hand wherever life’s adventures might take them. But that wasn’t necessarily what might happen, and finding himself in despair again just wasn’t something he was willing to chance so soon after Ellen’s departure.

  “Well, son, take my advice. Tomorrow morning, you run over there and talk to her. Listen to what she has to say, but more importantly, listen to your heart. If she really, truly is the one for you, there won’t be no mountain or ocean can stand between ya.”

  Gramps stood and patted Memphis on the shoulder before he quietly exite
d the room. Off in the distance, through the window, Memphis could see a thin trail of smoke rising through the air. He knew she was over there, likely curled up in front of the fire. Hopefully, she was thinking of him, but he hated to imagine her upset or crying because of what he had said. While it had been his every intention to continue to get to know her, he had planned on doing so from afar until he knew for certain she was the one. Now, it seemed like that wasn’t even an option. Had he blown everything because he was too timid to take a leap of faith? Why couldn’t he be like Olivia and throw caution to the wind, jumping out across the expanse, just assuming he’d land safely on the other side? Maybe because he’d landed one too many times flat on his back in the cold water.

  Memphis resolved to try not to think about it anymore that night. A glance at the clock on the wall told him it was not only a new day but a new year. He decided to take Gramps’s advice and go over to the smaller cabin the next morning and try to talk to Olivia then. For now, he went about getting ready for bed, trying to push thoughts of Olivia out of his mind, but her blue eyes haunted his dreams.

  The next morning, Memphis awoke with a heavy heart, the first thought that entered his mind was of Olivia’s expression as she’d left the night before. He’d dreamt of the possibility of kissing her at midnight; instead he’d transitioned to the new year all alone in the snow. Maybe that’s how this coming year was meant to be for him.

  He quickly showered and dressed, thoughts of what he might say to her replaying in his mind. While he wasn’t willing to move across the country just now, he did want to continue to get to know her. He hoped she’d give him her phone number so they could talk for a while, and then, if things continued to proceed, they could discuss what the next step might be.

  As he pulled on his coat and slipped out the door, Memphis was full of optimism. Surely, Olivia liked him well enough to continue to converse with him. She didn’t really expect him to drop everything and move based on one week’s worth of friendship, did she? He understood her comment about not wanting to be together at the stroke of midnight if they weren’t going to be a couple during the new year, but she would understand that working on their relationship for the next few months could still allow them to be together eventually—wouldn’t she?

  He rounded the corner on foot, hoping she’d be awake already, even though the sun was barely up, rehearsing his apology as he went. Before he was halfway across the distance, he noticed there was no smoke coming from the chimney. A glance in the driveway showed no sign of her car either. He began to run.

  Memphis flew up the steps and into the cabin, punching the code in so fiercely, he hardly waited for the click of the lock before he flung the door open. Once inside, it was painfully obvious that Olivia was gone. Everything of hers was missing. The cabin was cold. The fire was out.

  He crossed to the sofa where the blanket he had wrapped her in after she fell in the stream was folded neatly and laid across the armrest. He picked it up and held it to his nose. The quilt still smelled like lavender and roses, like Olivia. Walking into the kitchen, he saw she’d taken all of her belongings from there as well. Upstairs, the bedroom was tidied and devoid of everything related to the blue-eyed woman who’d made it seem like a home.

  Memphis sat down on the edge of her bed and held his face in his hands. He didn’t have her phone number, email, any way to contact her. While he thought he might be able to send a message to her through her fan page, that seemed impersonal. If she really wanted to see him again, she would have left a note or something. Surely she would’ve guessed he’d come to talk to her again before he left.

  Reluctantly, Memphis straightened his hat and made his way back downstairs and out of the cabin. He didn’t feel the cold wind hitting his cheeks as he made his way back across the yard. “At least my prayer was answered,” he muttered under his breath. “And the answer was no.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Olivia’s house seemed cold and empty. She’d enjoyed New Year’s Day with her family to the best of her ability, but her thoughts kept returning to Memphis. After a good cry on her sister’s shoulder, she’d managed to pull herself together for the rest of their visit, but now that everyone was gone, the house ironically seemed too quiet.

  Sitting in her office staring at her laptop, she wasn’t having any trouble writing her next novel. It was about a Korean War vet who fell in love with a beautiful young woman while they danced together. He liked country music and fishing. He was also one heck of a cook. The character was loosely based on Cal Nix, but whenever she pictured her leading man in her mind, he had warm brown eyes, caramel hair, and an affinity for cowboy hats.

  From time to time, her eyes darted across the room to the dried out rose she’d placed on a shelf there. She wasn’t sure why she’d kept it, but once she’d returned to the cabin that night, she couldn’t imagine throwing it away. It was the only tangible item she had to remind her of Memphis. Looking at it now made her heart heavy, but she hoped one day she could look at it and remember a friend whom she’d enjoyed an enchanting winter walk with.

  Even though the silence in the house wasn’t keeping her from writing, Olivia finally decided it was time to make it out into the world again. And her stomach was rumbling. She hadn’t been downtown in the days since her family left, and as tempting as it was to stay in her house wallowing in her misery, she thought seeing a friendly face or two might do her some good. Grabbing her laptop, she went downstairs and threw on her coat.

  Bishop’s wasn’t as busy as it had been before Christmas, but there was still a nice crowd downtown, and Olivia was hopeful that the area would stay popular so these hometown businesses could continue to grow.

  Once inside, she spied her friend Valerie standing behind the counter, dressed in her pink uniform, her smiling face a comfort to Olivia’s heart. At the counter, another friend from high school, Erin O’Connell, and her older brother, Alec, looked to be finishing up their lunch. A woman Olivia had known most of her life, Mrs. Gregory, was standing at the counter chatting to Valerie.

  “Olivia!” Valerie shouted, as soon as she’d made it through the door. “You’re back! How was your trip?”

  While she’d normally be happy to tell Valerie everything, with all these other ears around, she wasn’t about to spill her guts. “It was good. I’m all finished.”

  “That’s wonderful to hear,” Mrs. Gregory beamed, her rosy cheeks aglow. “I just can’t wait to see what happens next.”

  “Congratulations, Olivia,” Erin agreed with a grin. She had long curly red hair, which was currently up in a ponytail, and the friendliest green eyes Olivia had ever seen. Even though she was a year younger than Olivia, they’d been friends for most of high school, and seeing her smiling face always made Olivia feel at home. Next to her, Alec smiled, too, though he didn’t say anything. Olivia didn’t know him as well since he was a couple of years older than her, but he seemed like a nice guy.

  “Thank you,” she said. “It is off to the editor and should be ready for publication in a few months.”

  “I can hardly wait!” Valerie exclaimed, her yellow curls bouncing around her pretty face. “I really wish you could write some handsome hero to come in here and sweep me off of my feet,” she added, her hand to the side of her mouth as if it was a secret.

  “You and me both,” Olivia muttered, forcing a smile at the end.

  “Love is in the air, ladies.” Mrs. Gregory leaned in closely to Olivia, one hand on her hip, the other elbow on the counter. “Melody found true love, and then Delaney. Who knows who’s next?”

  Olivia wanted to say, “Definitely not me,” but she kept her mouth shut, the smile still frozen to her face.

  “Well, I’m all for that,” Valerie replied. “Wouldn’t it be nice to meet some handsome, romantic man who still has manners and knows how to treat a lady?”

  “Do those kinds of guys still exist?” Erin asked, her eyebrows raised.

  “Hey,” Alec finally chimed in. “Ye
s, they do. Though we are a rare breed.”

  The ladies couldn’t help but giggle. “All right,” Valerie said, rocking her head as if to say she could see that. “Present company excluded.”

  Olivia had no idea whether or not Alec was just the sort of prince Valerie had described, but she thought it was kind of Valerie to exclude him from the declaration.

  “Well, we have to go,” Erin said, standing. Alec followed suit. “Olivia, it was so nice to see you. We need to get together soon.”

  “Yes, we do,” she agreed, giving her friend a quick hug. Valerie hollered goodbye to both of her customers, and the O’Connell siblings went out the door.

  The chef rang a bell, getting Valerie’s attention, and she excused herself.

  “Is everything okay, Olivia?” Mrs. Gregory asked. “You look… sullen.”

  Mrs. Gregory was very good at picking up on the emotions of other people. “I’m fine,” Olivia assured her. “I’m just missing my family.”

  “Are your parents back from their trip?”

  “They are, but they decided to go spend a little time in Baltimore with Fiona and her family, so once the plane landed, they went straight to her house.”

  “I see. Well, hopefully, they’ll be back soon.”

  Olivia nodded.

  “Are you sure there’s nothing more?”

  It was tempting to tell the kindhearted woman the truth, but Olivia didn’t think she knew her well-enough to pour her heart out. Still, keeping it all bottled up inside was becoming overwhelming. She contemplated telling Mrs. Gregory all about the cowboy she’d met on the mountain, but then Valerie returned. “Here’s your pie, Mrs. Gregory.” She offered a box wrapped in a plastic bag that smelled heavenly.