Learn to Fly

by Heidi Hutchinson

  “Well,” Duke stood up and scratched his belly. “I’m going to bed, I have a five am alarm set to get out there.”

  “You’re not coming to the house for Christmas?” Lenny asked.

  “Nah, you’re the only gift I need.” He reached over and messed up her hair. She pushed his hand away and pulled her head back, laughing. A full, hearty laugh, like when she was a kid.

  Duke moved toward the stairs but turned around before ascending them.

  “I’m glad you’re back. Even if it is only for a little while.” He said sincerely, wanting to say more but finding the timing all wrong.

  Lenny smiled faintly, “I am too.”

  ***

  After Duke went to bed, Lenny went into the foyer and grabbed her duffel and headed upstairs to her third floor bedroom.

  When she had first purchased the Lodge years ago it had come fully furnished, which had been a major appeal to her since she really didn't have the patience or eye for interior decorating. Her mother, on the other hand, had taken it upon herself to completely gut the furnishings and start fresh. She had said that Lenny's home should be a reflection of Lenny herself. Lenny had agreed mostly because she really didn't care, and also, she wasn't sure she'd be able to talk her mother out of it.

  What had transpired that summer still amazed Lenny to this day. She was ever thankful that she had let her mother have free reign over the decorating process. Kelli Evans had simplified everything. Creating the perfect, comforting atmosphere that made Lenny feel at home despite the massive size of the estate. Every room was modest yet elegant, a symbol of Lenny's riding style. But out of all the rooms in the house, her bedroom was her favorite.

  The entire third floor was a master suite. Floor to ceiling windows covered the westward facing wall with a majestic view of the Tetons. A King-size bed with heavy, down comforters that had always kept Lenny warm despite the subzero temperatures of a Wyoming winter was centered against the east wall. Her walk-in closet could have been another bedroom in and of itself and it was adjacent to her equal sized bathroom which boasted a shower and full size bath tub. The walls were adorned with original paintings done by her grandmother when she had been a younger woman.

  Lenny slung her duffel into the purple armchair facing the small gas fireplace and sighed. She didn't need to turn on any lights in the main room as she changed for bed due to the brilliance of the full moon coming through her windowed wall. She was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed again, and actually sleeping. The stress dreams and muscle aches had stayed largely absent since...well, since that first kiss.

  Lenny touched her lips absentmindedly and smiled. Luke Casey's kisses had a powerful effect indeed. She snuggled under the heavy covers and checked her cell phone. One new text. She bit her lower lip as she opened the message.

  Luke: I miss you already. It's crazy since I just saw you a few hours ago. I hope this week goes fast. Merry Christmas, Lenny.

  She tapped out her reply and placed the phone on the nightstand. Pulling the covers up to her chin she smiled into the starlit bedroom. Homecoming had never felt so sweet.

  ***

  Duke slept restlessly. He tossed and turned most of the night before he finally got up way too early and made himself some breakfast. He watched the mountains wake up in the chilled sunshine and contemplated changing his morning plans. He would be thirty-six next month and it was Christmas after all. Maybe it was time to do more 'grownup' things.

  He washed his breakfast dishes and started a pot of coffee. Now that Bird was home he was going to have to get back in the habit of making extra again. He rubbed his hand down the front of his face and tugged on his beard. Except she wouldn't be staying for long. Maybe he should go with her to Christmas dinner at her folks' house.

  He shook his head in silent disagreement. He didn't think he could get along with Scott for that long of a time frame. And she should really be with her family for the holiday. He hadn't ever fit into that mix. No, he would spend the day with his first and only true loves. The mountain and the board. His mistress and his passion.

  He jogged up the stairs lightly, being careful not to disturb the other house guest. He needed to get changed and get out of there as soon as possible. If Lenny asked him to change his plans, he would. He struggled with telling her 'no.'

  That girl always managed to turn his world upside down.

  ***

  Lenny closed the door to the cold world outside and looked up the open staircase of the home she had grown up in. Mom had the place completely decked out in holiday festooning. Lights, ornaments, wreathes and ribbons hung from every doorway, railing and light fixture. The air was thick with cinnamon and opulence. Lenny took off her scarf and hung it on the hook, she slipped her jacket off and placed it in the closet.

  “Auntie!”

  Lenny was suddenly accosted by four little boys, all under the age of eight. They surrounded her and hugged her while she struggled to stay upright. She finally gave in and collapsed on the floor, laughing.

  “Boys!” Their mother, Felicity, clapped at them from the top of the stairs. “Let your auntie up.”

  Lenny hugged each one individually and they ran off into another part of the house. Felicity had made her way down the steps and embraced her. She started to guide her towards the kitchen,

  “Sorry, about that.” Felicity chuckled, “They've been pretty excited to see you.”

  “Not a problem,” Lenny smiled widely. She inhaled the delicious aroma of turkey as she entered her mother's state of the art kitchen.

  “Lenny, you're early!” Her mother exclaimed from behind a a stack of pies. “Did Duke come with you?”

  “Um, no. He said last night that he wanted to get out there early and I heard him take the sled when I woke up.”

  “I never see that man when there's snow cover.” Kelli muttered more to herself than anyone else.

  “Geez, ma, you think you got enough pies?” Lenny teased her tiny mother. Kelli Evans was only five feet tall but made up for her lack of height with extra spunk. Lenny had gotten her father's tallness but otherwise could have been a carbon copy of her mother, same blonde hair, same dark blue eyes.

  “I hope so.” Kelli answered seriously, eyeballing the tower of pies arranged on a tiered pie stand. “We ran out last year, you know. It was awful, your father cried.”

  Lenny snickered at her mom and made her way to the stove top to get herself some apple cider.

  “Len, dinner won't be ready for a while yet, do you think you and Nathan can take those little boys outside and burn off some energy?”

  “I would love nothing more.” Lenny smiled and drained her cider. She went in search of Nathan to challenge him to a snow fort building competition. They each claimed two of the little boys for their team. In a matter of minutes they were all suited up and out in the cold.

  While the four rambunctious boys started to build their piles of snowballs in their finished forts for the eminent fight, Nathan and Lenny had a little heart to heart.

  “I’m really glad you could make it home for Christmas.” He looked at the house. “I wasn’t freaked that you took off, I totally understood. They have always set the bar a little higher for you than the rest of us.”

  Lenny nodded, “Yeah, I should’ve done it differently but I am glad I got away for a while. It really helped to put some things in perspective.”

  “You ever think you’ll go back out there?” Nathan nodded to the mountains in the distance.

  “I don’t know.” Lenny answered honestly.

  “I heard you have a boyfriend.” His eyes twinkled, teasing her.

  Lenny rolled her eyes at him. “It’s still pretty new. I don’t know what I’d call it.” She knew she would have to deflect any discussion of Luke all day. She wasn’t sure what to say.

  “Well, he’s coming up for New Year’s, right?”

  “Yeah, but the whole band is coming. All of them. So it’s not like a special thing.” Lenny could see
that Nathan wasn’t buying it.

  “I don’t know, Nate.” She said, exasperated. “I like him and he likes me. That’s all I have figured out right now, okay?”

  “Okay, but I may have to question the young man on his intentions with my sister.”

  Lenny hit his coat with her mittened hand. “Stop it! You will not!”

  Nathan was laughing, delighted that he gotten her so riled up. “Oh, now I have to.” He was dodging more smacks from her. Pretty soon Lenny picked up a snowball and hurled it square in Nathan’s face.

  “Snowball fight!” One of the little boys yelled and it was instantly a free-for-all. The air was filled with volleying balls of snow and excited yells. Lenny and Nathan were ducking and trying to ward off the sudden onslaught. It was the adults against the kids, they were completely outnumbered.

  ***

  They clamored into the mud room off the back of the house, Lenny instructing the little boys to take off all wet clothes before going through grandma’s kitchen. They happily obeyed, satisfied that they had won the snowball fight against their aunt and uncle.

  “I don’t know how you do it, Fe.” Lenny said to her sister in-law as she got herself another cup of hot cider off the stove.

  Felicity laughed, “Neither do I!”

  Lenny leaned her back against the warm stove and breathed in the amazing scents in the kitchen.

  “You ladies sure have been cooking up a storm in here. It smells so good!”

  “Thanks, Lenna! Would you mind checking the table to see if Scott needs anything?” Her mom asked as she scurried down from a step stool with an enormous turkey baster held like a weapon as she headed for the oven.

  Lenny nodded and walked onto the dining room. “Mom, wants to know if you need anything else.” She addressed Scott who was pushing the kids table into the corner.

  “No, I think I have it all.”

  “Kay.” She sipped her cider, studying her tall, older brother. “Where is Simone?” She asked about Scott’s longtime girlfriend who was always at every holiday. The photographer he had met in New York a few years ago was tall and willowy with vibrant red hair and a smattering of freckles. She was noticeably absent this year and no one had mentioned her. In fact, Lenny hadn't spoken to her since the night before her interview with Carl.

  “We decided to take a break.” Scott didn’t look up from his task.

  “What does that mean?”

  Scott straightened up and put his hands on his hips. “She wants something I’m not ready for yet. We decided to take a break and see how we feel after the holidays.”

  “That’s stupid.” Lenny couldn’t stop herself from declaring her view point.

  “That’s your opinion.”

  “Whatever. She’s too good for you anyway, I can’t believe you won’t just marry her already. It’s been what, five years of dating?”

  Scott frowned at his sister’s reprimand. “That’s interesting, coming from you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Lenny could feel her neck heating up.

  “You’ve had one boyfriend your whole life and now this thing with the rock star that we all know won’t last, and you think you should give relationship advice?”

  Lenny knew he had a point but it irritated her. “I liked Simone, that’s all.”

  Scott grunted and went upstairs to get more chairs. Lenny took her cup back to the kitchen and checked to see if they needed her help. They were fine and sent her out to the den to see her father and other brother, David.

  Lenny curled her legs under her and sat on the big leather sofa in front of the fire while her father and David played chess. What Scott had said about Luke bugged her. He didn’t know if it would last. How could he? It was still brand new. Lenny wasn’t even sure where it was going. Maybe that was the problem.

  She leaned her head against the arm rest and stared into the fire. She thought about the guys and the road and how exciting going to Europe would be. She also thought about Duke and the Lodge and the whole life she had waiting for her here, whenever she decided to rejoin it. Was there even the possibility of a future with Luke? Wouldn’t he just move on to the next girl when the tour was over? Yes, more than likely, that’s what made the most sense. She could just enjoy what little time they had left. New Year's would be fun. And Europe would be great too. But Lenny decided that after Europe she would come home to the Lodge. She may never snowboard again but she could be close to see her nephews grow and be around if her parents needed her.

  It was time to make grownup decisions.

  “You okay, kiddo?” Her father broke into her thoughts. “You look like you're thinking about something pretty hard.”

  Lenny twisted her head so her chin was on the armrest and she was looking at her dad. “Yeah, just thinking about New Year's.”

  “Your mom and I are leaving for the Caymans tomorrow, you need us to stay?”

  “No, I think Nathan and I have it pretty much handled.” Lenny gave him a small smile.

  “How is Duke?” David asked, making a move on the chess board that caused her father to grunt.

  “He's the same.” Lenny replied. Duke really was the same. Nothing with him ever changed. She smiled to herself as she thought of him. Christmas Day and he was out on a run. This was the first one in a long time where she wasn't sharing it with him and wishing she was.

  ***

  Duke slowly peeled off his sweater, being careful to not tug on his left shoulder. He rotated that arm a few times, trying to loosen the tightness that had built up.

  “You tweak your shoulder again?”

  Lenny's voice startled him. He hadn't seen her sitting at the bar when he'd come in the backdoor.

  “Aren't you supposed to be in town?” He ignored her question, continuing to strip out of his wet clothes without grimacing from the pain running through his arm.

  “Ma sent home some leftovers. And an entire pie.” Lenny wasn't being fooled. He saw her watching him closely and irritation shot down his spine. The last thing he needed was for her to be worried about him.

  “Can I help you with that?” She jumped off the stool and started towards him.

  “I got it.” Duke didn't mean to snap but that's what had happened. Lenny wasn't even fazed. She rolled her eyes and smacked his hand out of the way as she grabbed the bottom of his shirt and tugged it over his head. Duke didn't have the coordination to fight back even though he knew what would happen next and he wasn't disappointed. As Lenny dropped his shirt into the pile on the floor, she gasped.

  “Oh, stop.” Duke growled. He tried to push past her with the intent of going to his room and closing the door. But Lenny wasn't having it.

  “Holy crap, Duke.” Her eyes were wide as they took in the bruises that adorned his torso. It must have been worse than he had expected by the shocked look on her face. “What the hell happened out there today?”

  “I took a spill,” his mouth crooked up on the side, “maybe a few.”

  “Well,” Lenny scrutinized his wounds and he had to fight off the self-conscience feeling washing over him from her careful gaze. “You look terrible.” She leveled at him. “But,” she turned him around and gingerly touched some of the marks, feeling for cracked ribs, “I don't think anything is broken.” She gently rubbed his sore shoulder and gauged his reaction. “I don't like that you keep messing this up, you might need to see a doctor one of these days.” She raised her eyebrows at him and her sweet concern made is heart melt.

  “I'll be fine.” Duke reassured her. “It's not like I've never wrecked before.” He grinned as he hobbled towards the stairs, this time she let him pass. “How about I put some clothes on and you heat me up some of that food you were talking about.” He didn't turn around to see if she would comply, he knew she'd do it.

  In his room, Duke surveyed his body in the mirror. Yep, I do look terrible. He slipped his arms in a loose button up flannel, only bothering with half the buttons. His skin still burned from where her fingers h
ad touched him and he silently scolded his anatomy for letting her still affect him like that. He put on some baggy pajama pants and stood before the mirror again.

  He gave himself a stern look and let out all the air in his lungs. Get it together, dumb ass.

  He took a few more minutes to clear his head before he made his way back to the kitchen. Lenny had an impressive spread set out for him on the bar; turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, biscuits and green beans. She was sitting on the counter top across from the bar, her legs dangling.

  “I thought you said there would be pie.” Duke grumbled as he took his seat.

  “You can have pie if you finish all of that.” Lenny laughed and Duke relished that sound that had been missing for way too long. And he knew the credit belonged to someone else. Not that he hadn't tried, they'd all tried to snap her out of her funk after the wreck but no one could reach her. Now, she seemed closer than she'd been in ages.

  “How was the family?” He asked between forkfuls.

  “Good, everyone's happy and healthy.”

  “Scott?” Duke looked up in time to see her scrunch her nose.

  “The usual.”

  Duke nodded knowingly. Scott was always harder on Lenny than Duke felt she deserved. One of the many reasons he couldn't get along with that guy.

  “What's the plan for New Year's?”

  “Nathan will move up here tomorrow to help me set up. He has mom's gift for decorating.” She smiled at him crookedly. “I'd really like it if you were here for it. I really want you to meet all the guys.”

  “I'll be around.” Duke nodded as he took a drink of water. He knew what she was really asking. She wanted his approval of the new guy. He had never approved of Shane and he suspected that was one of the reason's she had stopped talking to him about the important stuff. Now that things with Shane were over, Duke was back in Lenny's confidence...for the most part.