7. Miles
Chapter Seven
MILES
Dawn the next morning gives the fallen snow a rosy glow, matching Taylor’s pink cheeks peeking from under the quilt.
I ease myself out of bed quietly so I won’t disturb her. There’s a soft rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps. Getting my snow boots and parka on, I head out onto the trail, relishing the crisp cold air on my face.
That was a perfect night. I can’t get Taylor out of my head and all I want to do is be near her. I make my way along the trail as the sun sparkles on the snow drifts and the darting birds and idyllic landscape are like something from a Disney movie. Passing the lodge, I make my way along the road.
Two guys are just finishing moving the fallen tree from across the road. I recognise one as Tannen, the local arborist and resident Christmas tree provider.
“Hey Miles, we’re done here. This is your car isn’t it? We dug out the snow so you should be fine to get back up to the lodge.” He gives me a nod.
“Thanks man - appreciate it.” I get in my car and sit warming the engine before driving back up the road. Trekking back, I wonder if Taylor is still asleep, but when I open the door of the cabin she’s awake and dressed.
“I wondered if you’d got lost in the woods and I was getting ready to come out and find you.
” She smiles. I can’t resist pulling her in for a kiss even though my coat is covered in snow and it makes her gasp.
I brandish the bag I’ve brought from the trunk filled with supplies I was intending to bring to the cabin last night.
Taylor looks in the bag and smiles again. “Let me handle this.” She whips up bacon and eggs, and I swear it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted.
I hold her hand as we trek back to the Lodge to pick up my car. Driving her home, I don’t want her to go. It was almost painful to imagine her in the house next door.
As we drive up to her house, the front door is open and music is playing. A couple of party stragglers sit drinking on the doorstep. A window looks like it’s been broken and there’s detritus all over the path leading up to the house.
Taylor’s face falls. “Oh shit. I need to handle this.” She opens the door and rushes into the house.
I park up at my house and let myself in.
It’s dark and I turn on a few lights. It seems so quiet without Grandma or Bobby here.
It might be the darkness but doubts rush in.
Will Taylor want someone like me? My position means I’m away a lot and I don’t have a big family like she does.
Her friends are party girls - maybe she should be living it up with them.
It’s like I’m frozen in place. Will all the hopes I’m carrying around in my heart come true? She’s the one for me.
I walk over and pick up a photograph of Grandma, me and Bobby. It’s in a silver frame and we’re sitting on the porch swing. She has her arms around us both and she’s smiling.
Staring at the photo, music starts to play in the distance. Is it from next door? No - it’s coming from outside my house. I head to the front door as the music gets louder.
Taylor is standing there, holding up her cell phone, which is playing Auld Lang Syne. It makes me laugh and I run down the steps to gather her in my arms.
I hold her head, stroking her soft hair. “Stay with me tonight. Fuck it - stay with me forever.”
She gazes up at me and smiles.
“I’d love to. Happy New Year.”