A Winter Awakening (18 page)

Ellie woke up and found that she was still on the tile floor. Her plush robe had been draped over her at some point in the night.

I can’t go to Mexico,
she thought.
Men aren’t going to dictate my choices anymore. Not Jacob. Not Nick.

Ellie tip toed to the room and rummaged through the closet. She found a backpack and change of clothes. She pulled a stocking cap on, took one last look around, and slowly opened the front door. To her relief, there wasn’t any sign of Henry.

He must still be sleeping,
she thought.

Just as Ellie was closing the door behind her, a pang of guilt prevented her from leaving. There was something she had left undone. She tiptoed back inside and found stationary and a pen in the little nook off the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, she composed her letter to Mr. Bennett.

My Dear Mr. Bennett,

It is with regret that I leave you this note. I am appreciative of all you have done for me. Please do not look for me. Trust that I am safe and able to care for myself. I will remain in hiding until such time that I am able to take a more active role in our business.

Until that time, I ask you to manage them to the best of your ability. I will be in touch by email. Please keep me informed.

Warmly,

Ellie

P.S. I remain eternally grateful for all you did for me and will think of you often.

Taking one last look around the room, Ellie took one last deep breathe, trying to rid herself of the guilt she felt, and rushed out of the cabin. This time, she closed the door without looking back.

Winter had always been a magical time for Ellie. Beneath the silence of the snow, she could feel deep rest, the first stage of new growth. This walk, though; this walk was different.

The light of the full moon lit the white snow and made it easy for Ellie to see a path. As one foot fell in front of the other, her ears strained to hear the usual crunch of feet hitting the snow, but they registered no sound. She listened for the winter silence, the sign of earth resting. But the only thing returning back to her ears was the sound of death.

Ellie found a road, and knew that she needed some sort of civilization. She had no food and no money. She couldn’t survive up here without the help of Nick and Henry. From where she stood, she could see the road wind down the mountain to the valley floor. Looking back, she could see the cabin, snow covering it’s roof.

Then she saw it.

A garage! That is my answer,
she thought.

She studied the trees as she walked back to the cabin. The branches drooped under the burden of snow. She kept her eyes on the mountains to the east, waiting for the first hint of a sunrise. Eventually the pink and orange hews covered the horizon. Ellie still saw no sign of life. She knew Nick would be returning soon.

She quickened her pace and headed for the garage, praying she would find a vehicle inside. To her relief, she found an F350 parked inside, keys on the dash.

Ellie knew that once she started the truck, Henry may become alert to her escape. She held her breath and turned the key in the ignition. It started.

She made her way down the drive and when she reached the main road, paused only momentarily before deciding to turn right. This was the option that would take her up the mountain and, she hoped, away from Nick. The last thing she needed was to come across him on the road.

Ellie kept her eye on the rising sun as she drove.

What have you done? Go back and let Nick take you to Mexico.
Miss Sensibility nagged at Ellie.

Oh, you are fine. Just follow your intuition
, replied Inner Diva.
Right now, the person you need to trust is yourself!

Ellie turned up the music to stop the voices in her head, and wound her way through the mountain roads. When the gas tank was nearly empty, Ellie decided maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to listen to Miss Sensibility. She had been on the road for hours, and had not encountered a single person.

Where the hell am I?
She wondered. She considered pulling over on the side of the road and waiting to die. In the end, she knew that hunger would overtake her. This thought forced her to keep driving.

After another 20 minutes, she spotted a sign. It said ‘Willow Springs’ along with an arrow.

She made the turn and noticed snow covered houses along the side of the road. None of them had lights, though a few did have cars buried in the drive.

After about a mile, a lodge appeared on the right. She pulled in with relief.

Now, what to do considering she had no ID, no money, and probably shouldn’t reveal her identity anyway.

She walked tentatively inside the warm building and was greeted by a young, friendly blond girl.

Ellie looked at her name badge.

“Shawna, I’ve been on the road for hours. I wonder if you might have a cup of coffee?”

Shawna smiled, “Of course! Have a seat in our lounge and I’ll bring it out to you.”

The lounge extended to the right of the desk. There were two rows of chairs and couches, facing one another and an open fireplace at the end.

Ellie looked at all the maps and historical looking pictures on the wall as she waited for Shawna to return.

For the next hour, Ellie sipped on her coffee and watched the guests come and go. Most appeared to be here to enjoy cross country skiing. People with hats and red noses passed through the lodge. Some stayed, other’s simply passed through, and still others entered the dining area. A sign labeled the restaurant as “The Dining Car.”

The staff was so friendly. People in Logan were friendly too, but this place had a different quality. The people here radiated warmth. As Ellie sat and sipped, and tried to figure out how she might secure a bed with no money and no ID.

Several young men dressed in coats, hats and winter boots stopped by the front desk to get their next instruction. As Ellie listened, she learned that most of them were employed by this place and their job was to remove snow. There were decks to shovel, walks to clear, driveways to plow. There were some that shoveled, some that operated trucks with snow plows, and still other’s that operated snow machines.

Each glanced at Ellie has he passed through the lodge. Some said hello, and other’s gave her a nod. Ellie heard snippets of conversation between these employees and Shawna. She gathered that Shawna had been working here for one year. She had grown up in this remote mountain town, population 50 and left to see the world. After a bad breakup, she returned home to lick her wounds and re-group.

Now, it appeared, Shawna was ready to venture out into the world once more. Tonight her friends and co-workers were putting on a going away party for her.

On occasion, one of the front desk workers would come and refill her coffee for her. They must have assumed that she was a guest.

When the clock approached ten pm, Ellie knew she had to do something. She took a deep breath and approached Shawna.

“May I speak with you a moment?” Ellie asked.

“Of course, how may I help you?” Shawna replied.

“Oh, well. Nothing like that.” Ellie paused. “I mean to say, I’m not a guest here. May we speak a little more privately?”

Shawna looked around. Ellie guessed she was wondering where her boss was.

When she wasn’t able to find anyone, she picked up the phone.

“I am off shift, are you ready to cover the desk?”

She hung up the phone and gave Ellie a wink. Then she walked over to a corner of the room, and indicated that Ellie should follow.

Ellie took a deep breath and began, “I couldn’t help but overhear that tonight is your last night.”

Shawna smiled, “Yes, it is. I have enjoyed my time here, but I’m looking forward to my next chapter.”

“Do you know… well, do you know if your replacement has been found? I could use a little help,” said Ellie.

At this, Shawna have Ellie a knowing smile. “Most people that work here could use a little help,” she said.

Ellie laughed nervously at this.

Will this actually work?
She wondered.

“Do you need a place to stay?” Shawna asked.

Ellie nodded.

“Do you have any money?”

“No,” whispered Ellie as she looked down at her thumbs, tapping against one another in her folded hands.

“And, you would like a job?” pressed Shawna.

Ellie nodded again, holding her breath.

“Girl, I’ve got you covered. Come to my party tonight. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Shawna hooked her arm into Ellie’s and together they ventured out into the winter weather.

The crisp air filled Ellie’s lungs as they stepped outside.

“Yes, yes it is,” she said.