Chapter 5
Wynter
Walking out of the bathroom I notice he’s made up the couch with a sleeping bag. Guilt pricks at me, I know how exactly how miserable a night on that thing can be.
He steps past me an arm full of sheets, nodding toward the freshly made bed. “Clean linens, fire’s stoked. I’m going to throw these in the wash. We can finish them in the morning. Get some sleep, Wynter. We’ll make this happen.”
By the time he returns, I’ve put the sleeping bag away. He stops beside the couch.
“I can’t let you sleep on that torture device. You’ll wake up in knots, and I need you to be functional. This is a king bed. We can easily share. We’re adults.”
I climb in on one side, he takes the other. We settle facing opposite directions. It takes a few minutes for each of us to relax. I’m drifting off when I hear his low murmur. “Sleep well, Wynter. We’ll make this happen. I promise.”
Morning light pours through the window, and from outside I hear the truck and plow. He’s already up and working. At the window I see he’s finished in front of the cabin and is heading down the drive to the main road.
By the time he’s done, I have a potato frittata warming in the oven. I’m waiting at the door with a mug of coffee.
He smiles, taking it from me and drinking down half in one go. “Perfect. Thank you.”
“Go shower. Breakfast will be ready when you are.”
Later, he wipes his mouth on his napkin and looks across the table at me. “That was incredible. Thank you.”
I grin back. “Before we leave, you need to change. You can’t go into town wearing your name-branded everything. You said you’re laying low. You’ll stand out.
I nod toward the couch. “I put one of my dad’s flannel shirts and his old coat there.
The sleeves might be a touch short. A plain ski cap and the fact that you’ve grown out your beard will help.
Jeans are fine, and lots of people spend the money for that brand of boot.
And here are a pair of generic snow glasses.
Don’t wear yours. Oh, and I found a Yankees cap.
Pull the coat hood up over it when we get to town and you’ll look like a local.
He smirks. “What’s my story. Hired muscle… or your boyfriend?”
“Good Point. They’ll know you’re not local and we’re driving in together. You’ll be my boyfriend from Albany. I’ll call you Nick.”
“No—Niko. On the circuit I’m called Vasi. Niko’s just for family. If you need a last name, use Doukas, my mother’s. I do have relatives in Albany, since that’s where we ‘met’. And I do have some carpentry skills, if that helps.”
“That’s perfect. We’ve got this.”
He hesitates. “One more thing. My mom sent a couple photos. If Ed has time… would more new shirts help? Like your brother, I don’t want anything for it. I only want to help the town.”
My heart stutters. “Are you serious?”
He laughs softly. “Yes. Mom even came up with a caption for one.”
“Show me.”
The photo shows him face-down on a snow mound, ski snapped in half. The caption read Before he broke records, he broke skis. Lots of skis.
“Niko, it’s perfect. Just perfect.” My eyes sting. “I—”
He touches my arm. “We should go. You said there’s a lot to do, boss.”
At the end of our road sits the rental car, reminding me I need to call the agency. One more nightmare to be dealt with. I handle that while Niko drives to town. The public works department has already cleared the main roads and shop owners are digging out their store fronts.
We stop at the factory first. Ed meets us at the door.
“Ed this is my friend Niko. He’s stepping in because Dom couldn’t make it. You’ve got the all clear on Dom’s shirts, and you should have gotten the signed waiver via email.”
“Yep, that’s already setup and we’re starting the printing now.”
“I think I have more good news. One of Dom’s teammates offered the same deal if you have time and stock. I’ll can get you a waiver this afternoon.”
“I’ve got the shirts and people needing the hours. Come on over to the computer. Send it to me like you did Dom’s. Did he sign it the same way?”
“Yes.”
Let’s see what we have to work with.”
Once he pulls it up, studies the signature scrawled at the bottom and turns to me. “That’s Andreas Vasiliou. He holds the overall speed skiing record.”
“Yes. He and Dom are teammates. He heard about the town and wanted to help.”
Ed shoots Niko a quick glance, then looks back at the screen.
“The slogan is perfect. We can do it. We have shirts from infants to adult in a variety of colors. You good with us just pushing them out everywhere local? We can sell some from our website and others at the gift shops in town. Do you want me to try to get them in at Witt Mountain Lodge?”
“The more we can sell, the more we can make.”
He looks back at Nico. “This is a big name, Wynter. Someone is going to try and buy them all up and sell them for a lot on the internet.”
Nico clears his throat. “Dom said something about using one shirt for display and limiting sales to one shirt per customer. You could also print purchase cards where the orders come directly to you. Then you, the vendor, and the event split the revenue after your expenses are covered.”
Ed nods. “We’ve done that before, so we have the program set. Not a big deal for us. Big vendors don’t always like it.”
“This isn’t about big vendors, it’s about the vendors in this town,” Nico smiles. “Exclusive rights. If they want it, it comes through you.”
“I’ll make a couple then send out emails and start making calls. This is a great idea, Wynter. It—it could save us. Be sure you tell Dom and his friend how much we appreciate it.”
“I will. Now, the decorations.”
“Couple of the guys volunteered to take them to the VA hall. They’re there now doing some sorting. I’ll need them back to get going on these orders.”
“No problem. I’ll get you the waiver in the hour. I have my helper, and some of the ladies from the coffee shop said they’d come help with decorations when they can. I—I can’t pay but if anyone has time to help, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll get the word out. Wynter—” He looks at me then at Niko. “I, we, the town appreciates what you’re trying to do. We won’t forget.”
“It’s going to be alright, Ed. Next year will be easier.”
At the VA Hall two guys I recognize are working on the lights. One is on drywall stilts, hanging them in the hooks around the ceiling while the other is testing that they work. They’ve already completed two walls.
“Hey Wynter,” Bobby calls. “Good to see you.”
“You, too.”
“Heard you may have drummed up some work for us.”
“Yep. Ed said to get your butts back there, he needs you stat.”
“All right! You hear that, Ted?”
“Hell yeah. I’ll be right there.”
Niko drifts over to talk to Ted while Bobby gestures at the supplies.
“These strings are tested.” Bobby waves a hand over about eight strings, then points to boxes on the floor.
“The rest of the strings and the spare bulbs. It’s quicker if one of you tests and the other hangs.
We’ve always put the lights in this room with the tree and the entrance room, so the hooks are still up.
Those big boxes in the corner are the tree.
“Lights first, then tree,” he adds. “Tree needs at least a day to settle in and get its droop on. Tomorrow, you decorate. It’s pre-lit but some of those bulbs may need to be replaced. Ted prefers the stilts but there’s a step ladder as well.
“I gotta work and the wife took a night shift. If I can get back I will. But it may be tomorrow.”
“That’s fine, Bobby. Go. We’ll get as far as we can. We appreciate anyone who can stop by.
“Don’t worry. Go. We’ll at least have a tree, presents, and the food baskets.”
Once they’re gone, I look around and the panic starts to set in. What have I gotten myself into?
“Wynter, I need another string.”
I spin. Niko’s on the stilts now and towering over me. “Oh my god, that looks dangerous. Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Ted showed me. Doesn’t seem that hard. Move it, girl.” He smiles.
The next two hours we push. Thankfully, Ted and Bobby had at least laid out all the lights and my testing and replacing took about as long as Niko’s hanging. We’re almost finished when Sall shows up with coffee and sandwiches.
She gives me a big hug, before shooting a glance at Niko. “Hmm. I heard your man was here helping. Very nice, girlfriend. Very nice.”
“How’d you hear that?”
“Well, Ted called his wife and told her he was at work. That the shirt shop got a rush order and that you and your man took over putting up the lights. She peeked in when she was taking her kids to the sitter on her way to work. She called her sister who works with me at the coffee shop and said you were in town and your man was a hottie. The cook at the coffee shop overheard and is so excited the kids will have Christmas that he sent me with lunch for the two of you.”
I hear a snort and look up.
Nico’s trying to hide his laughter behind a hand. He clears his throat. “Omorfiá mou, I need two more sets of lights, and we’re done with the ceilings. Let’s finish these and we’ll take a break.”
Sall gives me a hug. “I’ll be by after work to help.”
Before we eat I have him sign the waiver for the shirts and send it off to Ed. He immediately replies with a sample photo of how thee shirts turned out. “Look Niko, they are amazing.”
“They really are. You’ve got vision. And you’re right, they’re fun for all ages.” He clears his throat. “I…ah asked a couple more friends, a female skater and a snowboarder, and sent them the waiver. I’ve gotten photos and signatures from both. You interested?”
“Yes! Absolutely yes! Show me.”
Both photos are perfect. I forward them instantly, and within minutes my phone is blowing up with heart emojis and thank-you’s.
“You, Nico are making this happen.”
He shrugs. “You are. I’m just the wing man.”
He finishes his sandwich. “I like your little town. Think we could take a twenty-minute walk and stretch our legs? Show me this place you love so much.”
“We’ve earned a break.”
He takes my hand as we cross the street and doesn’t let go. I point out all my favorite places. The farther we go the more the empty storefronts tell their story.
“It’s a vicious cycle. People sold their homes to cash in on vacationers. Then closed the businesses that made people want to come here in the first place.”
We walk past one of the larger restaurants that’s now closed.
“What was this,” he asked.
“A five-star chef’s place. He used to bring his family to ski at Witt Lodge.
This restaurant alone brought people to town.
Then it closed. Not long after the lodge lost their big-name ski instructor when he retired.
They haven’t found a decent replacement that has stayed for more than half a season. ”
“When was that?”
“Two years ago. Last one left right after last season.”
“And the town hasn’t recovered since?”
“No. Everything in our area has taken a hit. Our economic downhill really started when they elected the braggadocios mayor two years ago. He has done nothing to bring in new businesses when that’s what he campaigned on.”