“Because we can’t see the roads.” Grey motioned through the window at the darkening sky. “Here we have food, water, and shelter. If anyone tries to drive out now and gets stuck, it could be potentially dangerous. At this point, the airline will have to help switch everyone’s tickets and move things around. We’ll get home, it just may be a mess.”
Abby glanced at Flynn who put an arm around her shoulders in response. Another look passed between them, one that had Grey wondering if there was a particular reason why they wanted to get out of here so badly. Surely a reason beyond getting away from Cora.
Mom looked around the table. “You know, I think Grandpa would get a kick out of the fact that we’re all stuck here like this. He always used to say that sometimes it takes something drastic to bring people together, and I think that’s what this weekend was all about.” She looked around the room with tears in her eyes. “I think we need to try to get together like this more. It doesn’t really matter what the occasion is, as long as we make sure we don’t lose touch with each other.” She put an arm around Cora, who was sitting next to her. “Too much time has already gone by. If there’s one thing that Grandpa’s passing should have taught us, it’s that time is too precious to waste.” She used her napkin to wipe at the tears that threatened to escape and laughed. “Speaking of being too precious to waste, I just may have some dessert I’ve been saving for tonight. Cora, would you mind giving me a hand?”
Cora smiled and followed Mom into the kitchen. They returned with a frosted chocolate cake, a plate of cookies, and napkins.
“Dessert was included with all the sandwich fixings, but I wanted to save the cake until everyone was here together. It seemed fitting to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday.”
Murmurs of approval followed her words. At the mere mention of cake, Zac abandoned his game and came running for his sugar fix.
Once everyone had their cake, they settled down to eat. Mom addressed Cora. “Will the hospital understand if you don’t show up for work on Monday?”
Cora swallowed her bite. “My boss knows where I am, and I mentioned the storms they were expecting here. I’d like to actually contact him so he knows to get another nurse in to cover my shift, but there’s nothing I can do about that.” She shrugged. “But I’m not worried about losing my job or anything. Registered nurses are in high demand. With any luck, we’ll get power back tomorrow so I can call in.”
Dare grimaced. “I may not be so lucky. I just started working at this ranch a couple months ago, and the owner isn’t the nicest guy I’ve ever met.”
Flynn said nothing as he focused on his dessert. Grey couldn’t imagine he had much to worry about with the family store. They’d had a great manager working for them for years. It was the same with Grey and his store. Brody had things under control.
Once dessert was finished, everyone dispersed. Grey found Cora looking out the living room window. It was dark outside, but between the moon in the sky and the bright white snow, they could still make out the shapes of items on the porch and the trees beyond. Grey went to stand behind her. “I don’t know about you, but I’m glad we’re not hiking out in that again.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, me, too.”
He studied her profile. “Look, when you decided to come up here for Grandpa, I know you didn’t sign up for all of this. Hiking to the cabin or getting stuck. I’m sorry it’s harder than it should’ve been.”
“It’s okay. Really.” She paused for several moments. “Am I the only one who suddenly feels as though we’ve lived a lifetime in the last five years?”
Her words hit on exactly how he was feeling. He thought he wanted to keep distance between them. But now that they were here, he felt like he’d missed so much of her life. It’s not like he’d expected any different, but the reality was still a bit hard to swallow.
“No. It’s not just you.” For the first time in a while, a pang of regret threaded its way through his memories of the last months of their marriage.
Her lashes lifted, and her pretty hazel eyes focused on him. How many times had he gotten lost in those eyes when they were together? Their effect hadn’t diminished. If things had gone differently, and they’d never separated, this weekend would probably be a romantic getaway.
He wasn’t sure which of them broke eye contact first. She looked as though she were going to say something and changed her mind.
“I have a crazy idea.” His words brought her gaze back to his. “What if, just for the rest of this weekend, we pretend we’re friends again?”
Cora’s eyes widened as she seemed to consider his suggestion —one he’d completely spoken on a whim, but now hoped she’d agree to. They’d been best friends for a long time, surely they could remember how to find a little of that now.
“Come on.” He nudged her shoulder with his arm. “What do you say? Temporary truce?”
A quiet chuckle accompanied a small smile on her face. “Sure. How hard can it be, right?”
Chapter Eight
The temperature in the cabin wasn’t too cold if you were in the main room with the large fireplace or the attached dining room. The rest of it, however, was quite chilly. Thank goodness each bedroom had a fireplace in it. Since he and Cora had only arrived that morning—had it just been a few hours ago?— her fireplace would need to be lit. He volunteered to accompany her and help, and she agreed.
Frosty air engulfed them the moment they opened the door to her room. Cora crossed her arms in front of her. “It may be a while before it’s warm enough to go to sleep.”
Grey thought about last night and how comfortable it ended up being in the little cabin. Between the warm fire, blankets, and sleeping so near the hearth, he hadn’t felt the effects of the cold weather outside at all. And the company? Well, that was complicated.
The only light in the room came from Grey’s flashlight. He handed it to Cora who kept the beam trained on the hearth. It wasn’t long before he had a roaring fire going. The flames cut through the darkness just like the warmth began to carve a space in the night’s chill.
He got the comforter off the bed, folded it, and set it on the floor near the hearth.
“Thank you.” Cora smiled at him as she sat down and scooted closer to the fire. “I remember the first time I watched you build a fire.”
Grey eased himself down next to her. “Our senior year. You were so nervous about going camping for the first time.”
