Chapter 10
Ted
Curiosity piqued, I wandered straight to the backyard. What did she cook up this time? My eyes landed on a cardboard cutout of myself amidst the rows of vegetables, a comical thought bubble hovering above my head: “Hopper, you've met your match!”
She had used a photo of me from my website and photoshopped a frying pan in my hand.
A chuckle bubbled up from deep within me as I stepped closer to examine the handiwork. It had been a long time since I'd laughed like that, but Amelia seemed to have the uncanny ability to bring out my lighter side. I shook my head, amused by her playful creativity, and glanced around for the camera she must have set up to capture my reaction.
“Very funny, Amelia,” I said with a smirk as I found the lens hidden among the foliage and turned it off. The effort she'd put into this little prank was amusing. It was refreshing to find someone who could give me a run for my money and keep me on my toes.
As I stood in the garden, a gust of frigid wind tore through the garden, whipping my hair around my face and bringing me back to reality. The sky had darkened, heavy with the threat of an impending snowstorm. What a week. First it was unseasonably hot. And now this?
Cutout Ted was no longer needed as a scarecrow or rabbit deterrent. With snow coming, I needed to harvest what I could. I pulled up the cardboard cutout and put it inside before grabbing my gardening tools.
The first flakes began to fall as I worked feverishly, harvesting my precious vegetables before the storm could bury them in a blanket of white. My hands were numb from the cold, but the urgency of the situation fueled me, pushing me to move faster.
“Carrots for the week, check. All the lettuce, check.” I mentally ticked off the list as I filled basket after basket with fresh produce. At least I wouldn't go hungry this winter.
Finally, as the snow began to accumulate, I finished the last row and hauled my bounty inside. My cheeks were flushed from the biting wind, my muscles ached from the effort, but there was no time to rest. The storm was gaining strength, and I needed to prepare.
In no time I prepped a hearty vegetable stew, the warmth and aroma filling the small kitchen and chasing away the chill from my bones. Cutout Ted stared at me from the corner.
“Maybe Amelia would like some stew,” I mused, ladling a generous portion into a container. A peace offering, perhaps.
With dinner ready, I sat down at the table, the steam from the soup wafting up and fogging my glasses as I took a sip. There was nothing like the flavor of homegrown vegetables mingling with fragrant herbs.
The wind howled outside, shaking the windows and rattling the bones of my house. My heart pummeled in my chest. It was really roaring outside. A thunderous crash echoed through the night air followed by a scream, making me jump to my feet.
“Ames!”I shouted, suddenly gripped by fear.
I bolted out the door, crunching through the snow as it fell heavily around me, my heart pounding in my chest. Thankfully Amelia’s front door was unlocked.
“Amelia!” I called out, my voice hoarse with worry. “Amelia, can you hear me?”
Her house was freezing with snow coming inside.
“Teddy?” came her shaky reply. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. Hastily, I pushed my way inside, not caring about the biting cold. The wind had uprooted the old oak tree from the backyard. It had fallen right into the house, the force of which had caused the roof to cave in.
“Where are you?” I asked, barely able to see anything in the dim light.
“Here,” she whispered, and I followed the sound of her voice to find her huddled beneath a broken beam, covered in snow and debris. Her eyes were wide with terror, but she seemed remarkably unharmed.
“Thank God,” I breathed, relief flooding through me. Without a second thought, I lifted the beam off her, my muscles straining against the weight. “Can you move?”
"Y-yeah," she stammered, slowly getting to her feet, phone still in her hand. The snow continued to pour in through the gaping hole in her roof, the temperature inside plummeting rapidly.
“Okay, we need to get you out of here,” I said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the door. “It's not safe.”
As we stumbled into the storm, her icy hand trembled in mine. A fierce protectiveness surged within me. I may have lived next door, but the walk felt like we lived miles apart.
“Teddy,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind. “Thank you.”
“Don't mention it,” I replied gruffly, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through my chest at her words. "Let's just focus on getting you warm.”
The door to my house slammed shut behind us, the warmth of the indoors a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. Amelia's shivering form was nestled against my side as I quickly guided her to the living room.
“Here, sit down,” I said, gently pushing her onto the couch. “I'll get you some blankets and something hot to drink."
“Thanks,” she murmured, her teeth still chattering from the cold.
As I rummaged through the linen closet for extra blankets, the power flickered before going out completely, plunging the house into darkness. A soft gasp escaped Amelia's lips, followed by a nervous chuckle. “Well, this is just perfect, isn't it?”
“Stay put. I'll grab some candles,” I assured her, navigating through the darkened rooms with practiced ease. Within moments, I had lit several candles around the living room, their flickering light casting a warm glow on the cozy space.
I also lit the wood-burning fireplace in the living room. I loved the smell of freshly burned wood in the fireplace. It reminded me of the being a kid. My mom and I would use the fireplace to make s'mores in the winter when my dad worked late. They both passed away several years ago.
“Much better,” Amelia said, wrapping herself in the blankets I'd given her. Her hazel eyes sparkled in the candlelight, and despite our harrowing ordeal, she managed a small smile.
I walked into the kitchen returning with a hot cup of tea.
“Here, drink this. Hope chamomile is okay.” I handed her a steaming mug of tea, watching as she gratefully sipped at it, her hands cupping the warm ceramic.
“Thank you,” she repeated, her gaze locking onto mine. “Teddy? What do you think is going to happen? With the storm, I mean.”
“I'm not sure. It’s moving faster than I’ve ever seen,” I admitted. “But I promise, I'll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
"Thank you," she whispered again, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You're a good man, Teddy Cranston."
My cheeks grew warm at her words, but before I could respond, the wind howled louder outside, rattling the windows in their frames. We both jumped, our gazes drawn back to the storm. It was dark, but the faint swirl of snow still showed.
“Hey,” I said gently, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “We'll get through this together, okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed, entwining her fingers with mine. My heart rate spiked. We had never been this close before. She pulled her hand away to grab another sip of tea.
“Are you still too cold?” I asked, concerned. “I can grab more blankets if you need.”
“No, I'm okay,” she replied with a small smile. “Thank you, though.”
An awkward silence settled between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Instead, it seemed to invite deeper conversation and connection. Amelia glanced at the floor, contemplating, before looking back at me. “You've lived in Moonridge for a long time, haven't you?”
“Since I was a kid,” I confirmed, my thoughts drifting back to the countless memories I had of this town.
“Did you always want to be a lawyer?” she asked, genuinely curious about my life.
“Oddly enough, yes,” I admitted, chuckling. “My father was a lawyer, so I guess it's in my blood.”
“Following in your father's footsteps. That's nice.” Amelia's voice was warm and approving. “What about gardening? How did you get into that?”
“Ah, well, that's a different story altogether," I said with a wry smile. “My mother loved gardening, and after she passed away, it became my way of honoring her memory and staying connected to her.”
Amelia's eyes softened, empathy radiating from her. “That's beautiful. I'm sorry about your mother.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, grateful for her understanding. “What about you? Why did you choose marketing instead of pursuing law after law school?”
“Truth be told, practicing law wasn't for me,” she confessed. "I loved the intellectual challenge, but my test anxiety got the best of me. I couldn’t pass the bar exam. I tried twice, and well, your odds of passing after that are profoundly less. So I went a new route. I found myself drawn to the creative aspects of marketing, and I took a chance and switched careers.”
“It seems like it paid off,” I said encouragingly. “You've got guts, Amelia.”
“Thanks,” she replied, blushing slightly. “It hasn't always been easy, but I try to stay true to myself.”
As we continued to chat, sharing stories and opening up about our lives, I couldn't help but feel an undeniable connection forming between us. Despite our differences, there was something powerful there.
The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow over the room, casting shadows that seemed to dance to the rhythm of our laughter. Amelia's eyes sparkled as she recounted her experience in Phoenix, and I found myself captivated by the way her expressive face lit up when she spoke.
“…and so there I was,” she chuckled. “My skirt caught in the car door, conference call in progress, with my coffee spilling down my blouse.”
“Amelia McKenna, always the epitome of grace and poise,” I teased, smiling at the thought of her flustered expression.
“Hey, even I have my off days!” She laughed, playfully swatting my arm. Our fingers brushed against each other for a brief moment, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I glanced at her, noticing the slight blush creeping up her cheeks.
“Teddy,” she began hesitantly, looking into my eyes with a newfound intensity, "I…I wanted to thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you tonight."
“Amelia,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad I could be here for you.”
As we sat there, lost in each other's gaze, a magnetic pull between us grew stronger. The distance between us seemed to shrink, and I couldn't help but notice the way her lips looked so inviting in the dim light. My heart pounded in my chest as I leaned in closer, feeling the warmth of her breath on my skin.
“Teddy…” she whispered, her voice wavering slightly. Our eyes locked, and time seemed to stop entirely.
“Amelia,” I breathed, my hand moving instinctively to brush a stray hair from her face. Our lips were mere inches apart, the anticipation of our touch electrifying the air between us.
“I… I should go to bed. It's getting late.”
“Of course,” I replied softly, my heart sinking as the moment slipped away from us. “You must be exhausted. I’ll show you where you can sleep.”
I led her to the spare bedroom. It doubled as my office, but the full-size bed was comfortable enough. “It’s just the reverse of your place,” I said and pointed out the hall bathroom and the linen closet.
“Goodnight,” she murmured, giving me a small, uncertain smile before closing the bedroom door behind her.
The storm outside raged on, its howling winds echoing the turbulent emotions swirling within me. I went to my room, shutting the door. She’d sent me the signals, right? Maybe I’d misread the situation.
I put a pillow over my head and laid back on the bed. Shoot . Did I just cross a line?