Chapter 12
12
IVY
It was freezing outside and Ivy tugged her hat over her ears as the wind raged, hurling ice and snowflakes into her face. She carefully descended the steps leading from Grizzle’s house and twisted around as Ross shut the door and checked it was secure, ensuring the hinges he’d just replaced held firm.
He gave Ivy a thoughtful grimace as he joined her and pointed right, nodding that she should walk ahead. She wanted to talk to him, to ask more about his friendship with Grizzle, hoping any titbit about the relationship might help her to understand him more. But the gale was now so loud she could barely hear above its windy shrieks. She headed for the woods instead, relaxing as the birches and firs began to take the brunt of the gusts and the air stilled a little. Ivy looked up and saw snowflakes sneaking between gaps in the canopy as branches got separated by the wild storm. She took in a deep breath and felt the cold air sting her throat, relishing the sensation. Was it odd that she felt more alive in this moment than she had in the last year?
‘The weather’s got worse.’ Ross sped up until they were walking side by side. ‘But I’m still hoping I’ll be able to get you back to Snowman Chalet tonight.’
Ivy felt the smile slide from her face. The man was determined to get her out of his hair. Yet after seeing the photos of his family at the house, and hearing Grizzle’s take on how lonely Ross was, she was more resolved than ever to stay.
‘I’m not sure I fancy our chances,’ she said, looking up into the trees just as her right foot hooked into a stalk of brambles and she started to go over. Ross caught the back of the snowsuit and guided her to her feet.
‘Careful,’ he warned. ‘I’m almost out of bandages.’ He gave her a half smile as if to confirm he’d just made a joke.
She glanced up again soon after and this time her attention caught on an enormous oak tree with beautiful twisty branches and her foot snared on a rock. She cursed as she began to stumble forwards again. Ross grabbed her hand before she could fall all the way and held on.
‘I’m not normally clumsy,’ she promised, keeping her eyes on the ground as she gripped his large fingers through her glove. ‘There’s just so much to look at. It’s stunning.’ And it had been a while since she’d let herself get caught up – let herself appreciate anything outdoors.
‘Not everyone thinks so,’ Ross said, slowing a little. ‘Or perhaps that’s not true. I think many don’t notice what’s in front of their noses.’ He stopped and pointed right to a small clearing. ‘In the spring, that whole area is covered in Scottish primroses – Grizzle told me they’ve been growing here for over four decades.’
‘I’ll bet that’s something.’ Ivy shut her eyes as she tried to recall the Latin name. ‘ Primula scotica ,’ she whispered, delighted the translation had come so fast. She tried to imagine how the flowers would look, wished she’d be here to see them bloom. She swallowed, pulling her mind away from the colourful images. ‘Is Grizzle having trouble with his eyesight?’ she asked abruptly. ‘When we were there just now, I could see you were worried and those pink glasses…’
‘I know.’ Ross pulled a face. ‘His vision has deteriorated recently. But he won’t visit the optician’s to get himself checked out.’
‘Why not?’ Ivy asked.
Ross shrugged. ‘He’s never liked accepting help. He keeps buying glasses on eBay in the hope that he’ll hit on the right prescription. I’ll expect he’ll have already ordered a dozen now we’ve left.’
‘You worry about him?’ she guessed.
‘Only recently. I’ve been concerned he’s not eating properly.’ Ross fell silent and all Ivy could hear was the wind and crunch of their footsteps in the snow. ‘It’s why I’ve been leaving him food.’ Ivy could hear guilt in his voice.
‘Didn’t Grizzle say someone called Mairi is cooking for him?’ Ivy asked, as she followed, trying to recall exactly what had been said. She did remember the look on Ross’s face when she’d been about to ask his friend about it.
It took Ross a drawn-out moment to respond.
‘I’m the one preparing the meals, I’m just pretending it’s her,’ he finally admitted. ‘I feel bad about it, but it’s the only way I could think of getting him to accept the food. He complains, but he eats it. Besides, it’s only temporary. Just until he goes to the optician’s, or orders the right glasses. Sounds bad, doesn’t it?’ He winced.
‘It sounds like you’re a good friend,’ she admitted. Ross was a kind man – and the more she got to know him, the more she wanted to know more. ‘What will happen if Mairi and Grizzle ever meet up?’
‘There’s no chance of that. He avoids the village and as far as I know she feels the same way.’
‘Have you known Grizzle for a long time?’ she asked.
‘Aye.’ Ross seemed to relax as the subject changed. ‘He took me under his wing when I moved to the resort, a few years after I finished university – over five years ago now.’
‘How did you meet?’ She wouldn’t use the information against him, but understanding why the older man mattered so much might help with her quest to at least get Ross to talk to Miriam.
He snorted. ‘That’s an embarrassing story.’
‘Tell me.’ Ivy grinned.
‘I bumped into him when I was camping out by the woods at the resort, testing an adventure I run most weeks now.’
‘What did he do?’ she asked. She could see lights in the distance and guessed they were approaching Ross’s house. She tried to slow her steps because she wasn’t ready for their conversation to end, suspected as soon as they got indoors, Ross would start talking about getting her back to Snowman Chalet again.
‘He shoved a stick into my tent and asked if I’d lost my mind,’ Ross explained. ‘When I told him I was sleeping there on purpose he called me an eejit.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘Then he told me I was going to freeze to death and disappeared into the woods. I thought I’d never see him again, but Grizzle sought me out the next day.’ He went ahead, guiding her along a narrowing track, still holding on tightly to her hand.
‘Why?’ Ivy asked, enjoying the story. ‘To check you were still alive?’
He snickered. ‘If I recall correctly, he brought a basket of firewood, a blanket and a loaf of fresh bread and some cheese to share. It was the start of our friendship.’ Ross paused at a tree which was blocking their path and indicated that Ivy should climb over, letting go of her hand before hopping over too. ‘I often wonder if that was the moment when I started to realise not everyone was like my family.’ He caught her hand again.
‘And you continued to see each other?’ Ivy asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the pathway so she didn’t trip as Ross continued to guide her.
‘Most days,’ he said. ‘Grizzle used to find me on the grounds, enjoyed telling me I was wrong about almost everything. I have a degree in horticulture but he decided I knew nothing.’ Ross chuckled. ‘I think he was mostly right. He decided to teach me about the native flora and fauna, where all the animals’ habitats are. He said he couldn’t let me continue to embarrass myself. That if a man was going to work for Connell Baker, he at least had to know a reindeer from a brown hare.’
Ivy hooted. ‘I can imagine that.’
‘He wasn’t even joking,’ Ross said dryly.
‘You’re close though?’ Ivy shot back.
Ross took a moment to answer. ‘In many ways he’s my best friend. I’ve known him a long time.’
‘And you help each other out?’ Ivy checked.
‘I help however I can.’ Ross let out a frustrated sound, stopping momentarily to breathe in the night air before he began to walk again. ‘Grizzle’s difficult to know. It’s a fine line. I think he likes me visiting, but he doesn’t want to admit it, which means I have to be careful not to appear as if I’m helping too much.’
‘What would happen if you weren’t around?’ Ivy asked, suddenly concerned. What would become of the older man if Miriam got her way and Ross was persuaded to leave?
‘If I didn’t visit there are others in the village who would try, but he seems to tolerate me best. Aside perhaps from you.’ The trees began to thin again, revealing Ross’s house and the wide patch of sparkling white land in front. ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.’
‘Perhaps it’s because after today you might not see me again?’ Ivy said breezily, waiting for his reaction.
‘Well, I…’ Ross sobered and then his eyes caught on a lumpy shape to the right of the front door. ‘Dammit, that’s my snowmobile,’ he complained, letting go of Ivy’s hand and striding towards the vehicle, which had been completely hidden by a blanket of snow. He started to swipe at it, pushing the icy layers off. ‘I put a tarp over it when you were sleeping earlier, but I should have parked it in the shed. It’s totally buried. It’s going to be hell to move now. I’ll have to dig it out.’ He cursed. ‘The snow’s a lot thicker than I thought.’ He looked up and around as if the fact that it was still blizzarding was a surprise.
Hadn’t he noticed? Had he been as captivated by their conversation as she had?
‘Does that mean we’re not going to be able to go back to the resort?’ Ivy asked hopefully.
‘I guess not,’ Ross grunted, looking unhappy as he trudged towards the front door.
Ivy watched, wondering if the tingles swirling around the pit of her stomach were because she had more time to fulfil her task, or because she was about to spend the night with Ross.