Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
BILLIE
M ason drove at a fast but controlled clip down the drive to Pine Joy Lane and out onto the road. Axl kept up without tailgating. I wanted to remind myself to joke that he was a better snowmobile than car driver, but wasn’t sure he’d appreciate my humor. The main road into town was heavy with snow, and it was clear that no plows or cars had carved a path up any of the hills around town.
Smoke River had snowplows, but we were usually last on the list for clearing behind other mountain towns that boasted more tourism, like the slopes of Echo Mountain. The snowmobile whined and bumped over the road. I held on tight to Axl, leaning against the warmth of his back. The world outside went by in a blur, but I felt warm in my long coat and protected from the wind by his body. I don’t know why I fought him about driving. I just wanted him to know that I was capable and I could do it on my own, even though the benefit of being on the second seat of this sled was clear.
“You good?” Axl shouted, his voice muffled by his helmet.
I held my gloved hand in the air and gave him a thumbs-up. He nodded, acknowledging my signal.
The road dipped down toward the four-way stop where I’d considered stopping at the Buzz On In Bakery Cafe instead of the cabin. That moment in the snow felt as if it had taken place weeks ago, but I knew it was not even forty-eight hours.
“Hold on,” Axl said, and I gripped him tighter as he followed Mason and Ethan through the stop and toward the airfield and away from town.
I wondered what would have happened if I had gone to see Mason first. He might have stopped me from going to the cabin at all, offered to store stuff at the hangar. My heart clenched for a moment as I imagined a scenario where I never got to the cabin. I wasn’t here to visit or truly spend time. My goal was simple: Drop off Mom’s stuff and get out. The idea that I might have slipped in and out of Smoke River without meeting Axl stirred up a feeling of loss deep inside me.
All of a sudden, the snowmobile jerked, and I felt my body rise and smack down on the side.
“Sorry!” Axl shouted. “We have some uneven ground out here.”
“I’m okay!” I called back.
I looked ahead to see Mason and Ethan pointing away from the main road. Axl nodded, so I assumed they were going to get off the road and take one of the walking paths along the river. I looked up and saw a headlight far in the distance. Someone was on the road, which was a good sign, but also an indicator that we should probably not be sharing a path with cars.
We turned away from the road and on a path not far from town that wound along the river. The path was flat here, and we didn’t have to deal with any of the steepness that we had behind the cabin. Holding onto Axl, I wished I could take off my helmet and hear the roar of the water. The snowmobiles buzzed and filled the snowy silence.
We passed the small public restroom and playground where I’d spent hours in the summer playing with local kids. I sat up higher in my seat as we passed an area with trees cleared. That didn’t look right. There was a white-and-blue sign with some sort of a public notice posted. We drove by too fast for me to read.
I wondered if this was the new development Gran had worried so much about. I needed to ask Mason. He was sure to know. I had imagined some sort of an old-school housing development with tract homes, the way Gran described it. This didn’t look huge. In fact, it looked like a lovely place to build.
The road flattened out again as we drove past the other side of Four Clover Farms. I could see a light on inside the house and was glad that power in Smoke River seemed to be back on track. Things would get back to normal soon, which meant I could call Mom, get the truck moving, and go home.
Why did that idea make me feel all nervy inside?
In the distance, I saw the light from the single control tower at the airfield. It wasn’t really a tower, just a second story on the terminal, which was also just a big room with a bathroom, benches, and a latte cart.
When flights were coming in and leaving, the airport staff would go up to the second floor and greenlight planes to land from the north or the south. There was only one runway with parking on the south side for planes. I’d never seen more than three or four planes parked at a time, so I was shocked to see there were six planes parked and waiting. They were all tied down. No one was going anywhere, that was for sure.
Right next to the terminal was the Buzz On In Bakery Cafe. Mason turned before we passed the waiting airplanes, pulling up right in front of an empty bike rack. Axl drove our sled right up beside him and turned off the engine.
My legs felt shaky after the ride and constant vibration. Mason and Ethan went inside the bakery. Axl held the door for me as we went inside.
The Buzz On In Bakery Cafe was once a diner. Booths with maroon vinyl seats surrounded the windows, and in the center of the room were a series of tables. The kitchen café was in the back with a big walk-up counter where Mason showcased his donuts, pies, and cinnamon rolls.
I blinked as I took off my helmet. The warmth of the restaurant felt great against my skin, and I inhaled the scent of gooey cinnamon rolls.
“Amazing.” I sighed, putting down my helmet. Axl and I stood behind Mason and Ethan, who pulled off coats and kicked snow off boots.
Music played in the restaurant, and with a quick glance around, I saw people huddled in the booths playing cards, drinking hot cocoa, and eating plates of cookies. I laughed, thinking that being stuck in the snow with Mason’s baking was not a rough life.
Alfie came out of the kitchen wearing a black apron. “Hey,” he said, nodding at his dad. “You guys took a long time. I had to start cooking the cornbread without you.”
“All good, son. All good,” Mason said. “Ethan, get back there and help your brother finish up the chili. Axl, you get yourself a seat, and Billie, time to call your mom.”
“Right.” I brushed snow off my coat. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Axl.
“I’m good,” he said, walking across the restaurant to a solo booth in the corner.
Mason handed me a cordless phone by the hostess desk. I called my mom’s cell. She answered on the first ring.
“Hello?”
“Mom, it’s…..”
“Billie,”She gasped interrupting me. “You’re okay.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “I’m so sorry, Mom.”
“I can’t believe you left your charger. You know, Abby and I found it just as you pulled out of the drive. We sat down for tacos and then she found it and offered to chase after you.”
“She did?” I said, surprised at her generosity. I took a seat on a stool by the register and menu stacks.
“Yes, and honey, the snow is so bad here,” Mom said. I could imagine her clutching her neck again. “A pipe burst.”
“Mason mentioned that.”
“Yes, water filled the powder room upstairs and then leaked.”
“That sounds awful. ”
“Well, it is, but thank goodness Abby is here to help.”
“Yes, thank goodness,” I said, playing with the telephone cord. Axl sat by himself staring out the window. He appeared to be looking at the planes and the runway.
“So, Mom,” I said. “Did Gran tell you she rented the cabin?”
“No, no, she did not. She absolutely did not.”
“Well, she did.”
“I heard, and I can’t even imagine the shock.”
“Mom, I thought you said you’d been talking to Mason about the property and he was checking on it. He said he hasn’t heard from you in months?”
“Well,” Mom’s voice was high and she sounded flustered, “the truth is, honey. Mason and I have not talked in a while. We had a little bit of a falling out.”
“A falling out,” I cringed. “Mom, what is going on?”
“Nothing, nothing is going on. You should ask Mason what is going on.”
“Mom, you sound like a high school girl?”
“Well, I’m not. I’m a grown woman, and I can decide if I need a break from a grown man who doesn’t seem to know what he wants,” Mom said.
I lowered my voice and turned my back to the restaurant. I had the feeling that Mom was confessing something, and I couldn’t contain my smile. “Mom, did you all have a thing? What happened?”
“I will tell you all about it when you come home, which I don’t want you to do until it’s safe on those roads. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you have power and heat? And is this Axl a gentleman?”
“Do you think Gran would rent to someone who isn’t?”
Mom sighed. “No, I suppose not. It’s just strange, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” I said, looking back to see Axl up in his booth. He was now rubbing the window, clearing the fog to get a better look outside, as if something out there interested him.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything here. We’re going to postpone the open house for at least two weeks. Abby managed to find a plumber and contractor to come in and do a repair, and it won’t cost a fortune.”
“Wait, you’re fixing it?” This didn’t make any sense. Why wasn’t Abby coming clean about considering our home a tear-down?
“Yes. I have insurance, and what family is going to want this place if there’s water damage.”
“Okay,” I said, wanting to raise my concerns about Abby but also not wanting to stress my mother out more.
“So, stay up there until it’s safe. Abby also found a storage spot that’s just a mile away. It’s short term, and it will cost less than the gas driving back to Smoke River. I don’t need you to do any more furniture runs up there, sweetie. I’m sorry I didn’t think of that sooner. You should never be up there all alone.”
Axl sat back down, both hands on the tabletop in front of him. I wanted to tell my Mom that I wasn’t alone and tell her about Cam and how we’d walked to the river, but I knew none of that mattered.
“It’s fine, Mom,” I said. “It was good to check on the cabin, and Axl is taking good care of it.”
“Well, how long is the lease?”
“He paid Gran for the whole year.”
“But what about the summer?” Mom balked. “A year is too long. You need to tell him that we’ll have to make other arrangements.”
“I will, Mom,” I said.
“And are you telling me he signed a lease and Mason knew about it?”
“Don’t be mad at Mason — or madder than you already are,” I said. “He claims Gran made him promise.”
“Well, he should know a thing or two about promises.”
“Mom, what happened between you two?”
“I do not want to talk about it,” she said, her voice singsong.
“Okay, well. I should go.”
“Are you at the bakery?”
“Yes. Mason and Ethan drove Axl and me out here. We’ll go back to the cabin tonight. I’m sure the weather will get better in the morning. ”
“I hope so, sweetheart. I know you came all this way to help me, and I’m so sorry you are stranded up there. It must have been quite a shock.”
I heard a voice in the background.
“Oh, Abby’s here,” Mom said. She put her hand over the phone. “I’m talking to Billie. Sure, you can talk to her.”
“That’s okay, Mom?” I said, eyes rolling as I heard the muffled roar of a plane passing overhead.
“Hey, Billie. It’s Abby,” she said, her voice so cheerful.
“I know,” I said.
“I just wanted you not to worry at all,” she said. “Your mom’s power is back on, I’ve got people coming to fix the leak, and I hired one of the neighbor kids to shovel the drive.”
“Oh, that’s really great,” I said, startled by her thoughtfulness. I should have thought of that. “Thanks, Abby.”
“You are welcome,” she said, “and I am sure that once we get the repair done, we’ll be able to schedule the open houses. Good news is that everyone is under snow, so no inventory is moving.”
“And you think our house will appeal to a family, maybe someone with kids who wants to go to our school … ”
“Yes,” Abby said. “Absolutely. I am telling you, families are clamoring for houses just like your Mom’s.”
“And you don’t think a builder would be interested?”
“A builder? Hold on, your mother is talking,” Abby said. “Yes, I would love a ham sandwich. I’m sorry, what did you ask me?”
“Never mind,” I said, sighing. I wasn’t going to do this, be an asshole while this woman took care of my mother. I was the one who drove off in the night, fueled by some weird insecurity or anger at Abby for stealing my high school boyfriend. “Thanks for helping, Abby,” I said.
“You are welcome,” she said. “I’ll give the phone back to your mom.”
“Hi, honey,” Mom said. “Isn’t she great?”
“Yes,” I said. “Okay, I should go. I think Mason is feeding us chili and cornbread, and then Axl and I will head back to the cabin. He has a dog. She shouldn’t be alone.”
“Oh, a dog? Did he do a security deposit for that?”
“I don’t know, Mom. I don’t think we need to worry about that today.”
“I suppose not.” Mom sighed. “Well, your Gran always was full of surprises.”
“Should I tell Mason you say hello?” I asked.
Mom sighed. “Fine. Yes. Tell him I say hello and thank him for feeding you. You can do that much.”
“Okay,” I said. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.”
I hung up the phone and spun on the stool to see Mason standing in front of the counter.
“Moira must have been relieved?” he said, his eyes searching mine.
“She was,” I said, cocking my head to the side. “She also seems like she’s mad at you?” I said mad softly.
“Oh, hell,” Mason said. “I know she’s mad.”
“Were you two?” I wiggled my head back and forth.
“Your mom and I have always been friends,” Mason said, his smile crooked. “And sometimes more.”
“Okay,” I said, standing. “That’s all I need to know about that.”
Mason laughed.
“I’m glad to know it, Mason,” I said. “I always liked how happy she was here in Smoke River, and the truth is, I always figured you had something going on.”
“We did.”
“Do you want to tell me what you fought about?”
“No,” he said.
“Okay.” I nodded. “ If you want to talk, you know where to find me.” I smiled and looked across the room for Axl. He wasn’t in his booth.
“Chili and cornbread are almost ready,” Mason said. “You should make sure you eat before you head out. I’m going to go check on my sous chefs.”
“Right, but I think my ride is missing,” I said, looking around the restaurant. Axl was gone. I walked past the booths, glancing to see if he’d changed spots. It’s not like we were a package deal. He could go wherever he wanted. I passed a couple working on a crossword. They were from out of town. They didn’t look familiar at all.
“Billie, is that you?” I turned to see Zoe Morgan, a local Smoke River girl, smiling at me.
“Hey!” I said.
She squealed and jumped to her feet. “I thought it was you. I hear Mason talking about checking on your family’s cabin, but I didn’t know you were here. How are you? Do you still live in Seattle?”
“Yeah,” I said, rocking back and forth on my feet. “Moved a few years ago, and I love it. I mean, I love it here, too, but I do love living in the city. I’m in property management. I have an apartment that I live in and run, and I’m hoping to take on some more properties this year. It’s pretty fun.”
Zoe had freckles and big gray eyes. She was my age and was one of those girls who made me envious of the year-round Smoke River girls. “Oh, you are so lucky,” she said, sighing. “My mom still does real estate. I’m working with her now. The market has been crazy here and all over the mountain.”
“Well, who wouldn’t want to live in Smoke River,” I said.
“Yeah, but this is not exactly a bustling metropolis,” she said. “I wish I could be brave like you and make a big life change.”
“Well, I don’t know if moving from Denver to Seattle is brave.”
“Sure it is,” she said, sighing.
“I’m surprised to see all these people here,” I said, nodding at the booths crammed with unfamiliar faces.
“I know,” she whispered. “This last year, air traffic has gone way up to Smoke River. Alfie was telling me all about it. Apparently, there has been very big interest from some Florida investment companies in our town.”
“From Florida? That’s oddly specific. ”
“I know. Well, Alfie was saying that there is actually some interest in expanding the airport, adding another runway even.”
“Wow, a two-runway town. Can you imagine?”
“I know, right?” Zoe had a buzzing energy about her.
“Hey, babe.”
I looked up to see Alfie at our table. He held a tray with bowls of chili. “You want some? It’s pretty dang good.”
“Sure, babe,” Zoe said, eyebrows dancing.
Alfie set down the bowl. “Good to see you, Billie,” he said, and then he walked away, all tall, dark, and broody.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered. “You and Alfie.”
“He wore me down,” she said, both hands on the table. “He’s seven years younger. I know. Cradle-robber. Cougar. I don’t care what you call me. He is sweet as pie, wickedgood in bed, and he makes me happy. He makes me so happy.”
“That’s great, Zoe,” I said, leaning back in the booth. “I’m happy for you two.”
I scanned the restaurant again, looking for Axl. I hated the feeling that I’d lost something. We were simply roommates right now, travel buddies, like people who decided to hang out in a foreign city for the day.
“How about you?” Zoe asked. “You have anyone special in Seattle?”
“No.” I sighed. “I just broke up with someone, and I’m taking a break from relationships for a while.”
“Well, I hear you,” Zoe said. “I was on a break with Pete for, like, the billionth time when Alfie cornered me at the Gold Digger. The boy was relentless, and I finally agreed to play darts with him and guess what … ?”
“He’s great at darts?”
“No, he’s terrible, but he was so sweet and so kind. He asked me out and offered to pick me up and drive me home, and you know what I realized?”
“No, what did you realize?”
“I had lowered the bar so much, I wasn’t used to a man making any effort at all. He made an actual plan, and I swear to God, I about dropped my pants right then and there.” She sighed as Alfie continued his rounds serving people in the cafe. “Nothing is hotter than a fully functional man.”
I laughed and thought about Axl. The man cleaned the kitchen, made his bed, cooked, and looked out for me. No wonder I’d ended up in bed with him. “I’ve missed you, Zoe,” I said.
“Missed you, too, sweetie,” she said, pulling the bowl toward her.
“Babe, you want cheese?” Alfie was back with a bowl of shredded cheddar.
I got up from my seat. “Alfie, I’ll grab myself a bowl. Why don’t you sit down and eat.”
“Awesome,” he said, scooting in across from Zoe. “Will you finish serving the chili? I have only a couple more to pass out.”
“Of course,” I said, taking bowls of chili off the counter. I worked my way around the room, passing out two bowls, and then going back into the kitchen for more. In one booth, I assumed it was a group of pilots. A woman and three dudes sat with logbooks and cups of coffee in front of them. I figured they were waiting for a break in the weather.
I came back out of the kitchen with a tray in my hands. Axl stepped in front of me, a scowl on his face.
“You ready?” he said, nodding toward the door.
“Um.” I looked at the table in the corner, “I was going to help out and deliver some more chili. Did you eat?”
“I’m good. I’m worried about Cam,” he said. “I think we should get out of here.”
“Oh, okay,” I said, looking for a place to put the tray down. “Why don’t I just pass these out.”
“Right,” he said, taking sidesteps toward the door.
“Why are you moving like that?” I said, squinting at him.
“Moving like what?” He shrugged.
I looked over his shoulder. In the corner booth, a group of people stood up. Axl had his back to them and was working his way toward the exit as if he didn’t want to be seen .
“Are you hiding from someone?” I said, whispering.
He exhaled as if laughing. “No, pfft , hiding,” he said.
A bell rang, and the door opened. I heard a woman’s voice cut through the crowd. “Holy shit. I knew it. I knew I’d find you,” she called.
Axl stiffened, his eyes wide. “Please, let’s just get the fuck out of here — ”
“My missing pilot, Axl Grey!”
Bear Coat stood behind the bakery counter.
Axl’s ex was back.