Chapter 14
***COOPER***
After helping Stephanie bundle up in a heavy coat hanging by the front door, they stepped out into the storm, but instead of the blizzard they’d arrived in, the snow was drifting harmlessly to the ground.
He looked over to find her glancing around at the blanket of snow, an enchanted look on her face that slowly turned to a smile.
“Oh, Cooper, it’s beautiful, just like in a movie,” she said, walking down the steps and then spinning in a circle. “It’s hard to believe that just a little while ago, it was a blizzard out here.”
“Mother nature can be tricky, sweet one minute, punishing the next,” he said, joining her in the yard. “Let’s get going before she decides to be grumpy again.”
She laughed and took his hand when he held it out to her. “Where are we going?” she asked as they left the yard following the path that led to the barn and then the snug little house tucked back into the trees on the other side of the meadow. “You said you wanted to introduce me to someone.”
“Four someones-- my uncle Ricky, his wife Sue, and their two girls, Melinda and Bridgette,” he said, guiding her through the snow. “He’s not really my uncle, but he’s just like family. He helped raise me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without him.”
“Family is about more than just blood,” Stephanie said, an understanding look on her face. “I still talk to the woman who raised me at least once a week, even though she’s halfway around the world. She’s like a second mother to me. I would have been lost without her so I get it.”
They walked on in silence, the warmth between them enough to keep the cold at bay, but when they got to the barn, Stephanie paused.
“I love horses,” she said. “I always wanted to ride the ponies instead of the stupid camels when I was a kid. Did you know the disgusting creatures spit when they’re mad at you? ”
“You’ve ridden a camel?” he asked, trying to picture her on top of one of the huge animals. “I don’t know if that’s funny or frightening.”
“Everyone rides camels in Egypt,” Stephanie said, shrugging her shoulders. “They’re really very safe unless you count the spitting.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it, I’ll stick to horses,” he said, guiding her past the barn. “We’ll stop on the way back and I’ll introduce you to everybody. We’ve got six beautiful quarter horses and a couple of paints. They need to be ridden more. Maybe you can help out with that.”
“I’d love to,” she said, a big grin on her face, but then it faded. “If I’m around.”
“Let’s not think about that right now,” he said, taking her hand again. “Maybe you’ll be here longer than you think.”
Ricky was standing in the open doorway of the cabin when they walked up, a big smile on his face. “I was hoping you’d make it down here,” he called. “The girls have been whining about how long it’s been since we’ve seen you.”
“Well, tell them to stop whining, I’m here,” he called back. “And I’ve brought a new friend.”
When he stepped inside, Melinda and Bridgette came running across the room toward him, calling out his name, but stopped short when they saw Stephanie come in with Cooper.
They’d grown since he’d last seen them, but they were still just as adorable as ever, and he tried not to laugh when they got their first look at Stephanie.
He could practically see the wheels turning in their eight and ten-year-old heads, and hoped they didn’t say anything to embarrass him.
“Girls, come meet Dr. Warner, she’s a real live archeologist,” Ricky called, instantly diverting their attention. “Use those manners your mother taught you and come introduce yourselves.”
“Did I hear someone mention me?” Sue said, coming out of the kitchen, a white towel in her hand. “Cooper, it’s good to see you, it’s been too long since you’ve been home.”
“Don’t you start in on me too, Sue,” he said, but there was a smile on his face. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Not when it means we don’t get to see you for months at a time,” she said, walking over and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “And who is this?”
“Sue, I’d like you to meet Stephanie,” he said, pulling her away from Ricky and the two girls. “We’ve been working together on a project at the university and needed grandma’s advice. She’s making us dinner right now, so we can’t stay long. I just wanted to stop by and check in.”
“Let’s all go into the living room. I’d love to hear about this project,” Sue said, herding them down the hallway. “I’ll just pop into the kitchen and get us some coffee and hot cocoa for the girls.”
She was back in only a few minutes, and he was fairly certain she’d been prepared for their visit. With the girls perched on either knee, he sipped his coffee and listened as Stephanie explained about the settlement, relieved when she left out their discovery of the crypt.
“That’s all so exciting, imagine living underground like that,” Sue said, then shook her head. “Imagine the dust.”
“I never pictured you as the archaeology type, Cooper,” Ricky said. “I thought you wanted to be an architect.”
“I do, that hasn’t changed,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “This internship has taught me a lot about ancient architecture and a few other things. I’m glad things worked out the way they did, even though I thought it was the end of the world when it happened.”
They talked a bit more, but then he looked out the window and saw that the sun was going down. “I guess we should be heading back to the big house,” he said. “Grandma will have dinner ready by now, and you know how mad she gets if we’re late.”
“The last thing we want is Gilda mad, you’d better go,” Ricky said, laughing as he got to his feet. “I can remember a few times when you were a kid watching her blow her top when you came stomping in half an hour late for dinner.”
He winced, the same memories popping into his mind. “Don’t remind me,” he said, standing up, then offering Stephanie his hand. “I still want to run and hide when I think about it.”
“It was so nice to meet you all,” Stephanie said. “I hope we’ll see each other again.”
“Oh, I’m sure we will,” Sue said, giving her a hug. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”
“I’d like that,” Stephanie said, hugging Sue back.
When they got outside, Stephanie looked over at him. “Do we still have time to meet the horses?” she asked. “I don’t want to be late to dinner, though. I’d like to stay on your grandmother’s good side.”
He laughed. “If we’re quick, it should be fine,” he said. “Grandma isn’t as bad as we made it sound, and she likes you, so I think we’re safe stopping for a few minutes.”
***Stephanie***
Stephanie enjoyed dinner more than she thought she would.
She even managed to forget about the incredible things Gilda had told her earlier that afternoon for a little while, but all too soon, the meal was over.
She sensed that there was more she needed to learn, and it frightened her, although she couldn’t explain why.
It wasn’t long before she was sitting tensely at the table, anticipation making her heart beat a little faster.
“Grandma, that was the best meal I’ve had since I left home,” Cooper said, patting his stomach. “I’ll do the dishes since you cooked.”
“It was an amazing meal, I eat out most of the time, so I really appreciate all the hard work,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’ll help Cooper so you can relax.”
“You two don’t have to do that,” Gilda said, waving her hand at them. “I have a dishwasher for that, just leave them for later.”
“Grandma, we really should get going, it’s going to be a long drive home in this storm,” Cooper said, getting to his feet and beginning to stack the dishes. “I wish we could stay longer, but we both need to be back at school tomorrow.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen, look outside,” Gilda said, getting to her feet and taking the stack of plates out of Cooper’s hands. “Trying to get down the mountain in this would be dangerous. I think the two of you had better stay the night.”
She looked out the window and shivered when she saw the big white flakes blowing around in the wind and pinging against the glass. “I think she’s right, maybe we should stay put,” she said, looking over at Cooper. “Kendra can run the site tomorrow, she knows what to do.”
Cooper went to the window and watched the storm for a few minutes. “The road is going to be a slippery mess, I don’t think we should risk it either,” he said, then turned to Stephanie. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you stranded here. We should have left earlier.”
“It’s okay, you can’t control the weather, Cooper,” she said. “This will just give me more time to get to know your grandmother.”
He let out a relieved sigh. “I’m sure we’ll be able to get back tomorrow,” he said, then began searching his pockets. “I’m just going to check the weather. I’ll help with the dishes when I get back.”
“I’ll just go see to your rooms,” Gilda said, then looked over at her. “Unless you want to share one.”
“No,” she said, feeling her face turning pink. “I mean, no thank you, I think I’ll take my own room, but I don’t want you to go to a lot of trouble.”
“No trouble,” Gilda said, reaching out and squeezing her arm. “I’m happy to have you here. I won’t be gone long, then we’ll have another nice little chat.”
Far too nervous about their little chat, Stephanie started doing the dishes, happy for any distraction.
“Well, it looks like we’re stuck here for sure, we’re supposed to get a foot of snow overnight,” Cooper said, walking back into the kitchen.
“I think I’ll be able to get us out tomorrow, but no promises.
I don’t think anyone will miss us though, they’re supposed to get even more snow there. ”
“I guess I’d better call Kendra,” she said, putting the last plate in the dishwasher. “Do you want to finish up here?”
“Sure, looks like you’re almost done,” Cooper said, stepping into her place. “Only the pots and pans left, lucky me.”
She laughed. “You snooze, you lose,” she said, grinning at him. “I won’t be long; your grandma went upstairs to get our rooms ready.”
“Rooms?” he asked, a disappointed look on his face. “Darn, I was hoping…”
“Well, you’re going to have to keep hoping,” she said, shaking her head, hating how tempted she was to ignore her principles when it came to him. “You’re still my intern, so it’s still a bad idea. I’m going to go make my phone call now, so I’m not tempted to do something I shouldn’t.”
His laughter followed her out of the room and all the way into the living room, and she found herself smiling even though her cheeks were flaming. Kendra picked up on the first ring, “Stephanie, where are you?” she demanded. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Cooper and I are still at his grandmother’s. We stayed for dinner, now it looks like we won’t be leaving tonight,” she said. “Can you handle things there until I can get back?”
“Sure, but what are you doing there?” Kendra asked. “It’s not like you to just take off like this.”
“I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you,” she said. “I promise I’ll explain when I get back.”
“You’d better, I don’t like worrying about you,” Kendra said, some of the tension gone from her voice.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to work tomorrow, there’s a foot of snow on the ground here already.
Do you want me to give everyone a snow day tomorrow or open up and see how many people can get there? ”
“Let everyone stay home, we don’t want anyone to get hurt trying to come in,” she said. “Those ruins have been there for hundreds of years; one more day won’t make any difference.”
“You got it, boss,” Kendra said, then hesitated. “Stephanie, there is one thing I’d like to know. You don’t have to answer, I mean it’s your private business and all, but I just wondered what’s up with you and Cooper?”
She wasn’t surprised by the question, knew that her friend deserved an answer. “That’s complicated, he’s my intern and everything, so we’re trying to keep it professional for now.”
“Trying?” Kendra asked, her voice perking up. “Does that mean something unprofessional happened? You know you can trust me; I won’t tell a soul.”
It took her a second to answer. “He kissed me,” she said, wondering why she was blushing when Kendra wasn’t even in the room. “The most amazing and wonderful kiss I’ve ever had, and I want him to do it again.”
“I knew it, I could tell there was something going on,” Kendra said. “It’s about time you met someone who turns you inside out. I don’t know why you’re waiting; you should just go for it. Life is too short for rules.”
“That’s easy for you to say, it’s not your reputation on the line,” she said, but she was laughing. “I think I’ll stick to my plan, but thanks for the advice.”
Cooper and Gilda were sitting at the kitchen table when she came back. “Is everything okay?” Cooper asked. “Are they going to be all right without you for another day?”
“Yeah, it’s snowing hard there too. Kendra is going to give everyone the day off tomorrow,” she said. “We’ll decide about the next day after the storm is over.”
“Well then, it looks like we’re all set for the night,” Gilda said, getting to her feet. “Let’s all go into the living room by the fire. It’s going to be a cold one tonight.”