Chapter 7
December 29th
The next morning, I woke up to my alarm. Getting up an hour prior to the teenagers was always my plan so that I could eat breakfast in the early morning, but once that it was in action, I felt groggy and like my face was puffy. Pulling on my bathrobe, I went over to the modest balcony in my room and opened the double doors for some fresh air and stumbled upon the most amazing sunrise.
As the sun slowly rose behind Sage Mountain, a peak known for its angular ridges and blunt shape of a narrow triangle, the fresh layer of powder that lay on every surface started sparkling. Little flakes blew off the roof, swirling around me. The colors in the sky were unbelievable as it lit, going from pinks to golds. I watched in awe, unaware of my cold feet and surroundings. I felt a tear fall down my cheek, both from the cold weather and the humbling beauty that God had shown me.
Alpenglow. I remembered my dad telling me about this term of colors in the sky when I was a kid. Though I could always be reliable with being on time, I was never much of an early riser. I was more of a sunset-chaser. But it was worth getting up for, as I vowed to enjoy it more frequently. Just then, I saw a skier in the distance make the way down a run. With no lifts running yet, that person must have hiked up. Each turn was perfectly carved through the powdery, sparkling white. While I watched, I felt that person’s commitment to skiing was inspiring and found myself wanting to experience a sunrise ski. As our glowing orb of light arrived at its full form, and the skier was now out of sight, I slipped back inside, feeling refreshed at the experience.
After making a cup of coffee in the little machine in my room, I started sorting through my clothes to find what I was going to wear for the day. I chose a black turtleneck with thermal leggings to go under my ski pants and jacket. Black looked good on me when I wore a little mascara, otherwise it washed me out. So, that’s what I decided to do.
No amount of mascara could conceal just how puffy I had looked that morning. Things spiraled out of control and by the time I was done with my makeup, I was wearing mascara, blush, bronzer, under-eye brightener, and a swipe of pink lip gloss. I wondered if it was too much but remembered that Tara wore a full face of makeup, and it didn’t seem out of place at all. It’s just that this was abnormal for me because I normally only wore it on special occasions. But then again, I had a new—er, fake boyfriend to show off to, and an ex to face, so the occasion was pretty unique.
Once I had my hat and gloves on, I headed down the hall, only to hear a door opening behind me.
“Good morning, Claire.” Mayah, with her long, jet-black hair, was one of the older girls in the youth group at seventeen. “Do you want some coffee? I just made a pot.”
My eyes widened to see she was drinking it black. “No, thank you, Mayah. I am more of a coffee-with-my-creamer type, I’m afraid.” I laughed, not expecting to see such a young woman with a taste for black coffee .
“I used to think that, too, until we started getting our coffee direct from a grower in South America. It’s completely fair-trade, organic, and it has hints of hazelnut. Once you drink this in its purest form, there’s no going back to that sugary sludge that’s served in coffee shops.”
“Hmm. I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of enlightening yet because I happen to relish my sludge. Well, I’m going to get some food.”
Mayah nodded in agreement. “Great idea. Most of us are up if it’s okay that we join you? We can be there in just a few minutes.”
Though I’d planned on eating alone, it was a joy to be around the teens and I agreed, leaving Mayah to finish her fancy brew and head downstairs to reserve some seats. The breakfast buffet was already crowded, but fortunately, there were plenty of seats scattered in the back. I made a beeline for the area and took off my jacket and gloves while I waited. Only then did I look around.
To the left of me, I saw Timothy with two other men. Blake was not with them. Perhaps he slept in? I didn’t get to think about it too long before noticing Theo and Tara eating together in a booth to the right of me. Unfortunately, Theo was facing me. I kept catching his gaze unintentionally, and it made me feel sad—not for dating him, not for even wanting to marry him, but for the lies I was uncovering, and for the deceiving he did to both Tara and me. I wrestled in my mind if and how I could tell her without it destroying her day. I saw Tara take Theo by the hand and then they moved seats so my back would be to them.
“Good morning,” Blake’s voice rang loudly as his bright eyes scanned my face, taking the seat across from me. I felt Theo’s eyes on us instantly. “Would you like a coffee? I’m about to go get one.” He had a dusting of snow on his jacket, and to my surprise, he reached his hand out to hold mine, just as Tara had done to Theo. This dating may not be real, but it sure is fun , I thought.
“Absolutely. I’ll take a vanilla latte. Pretty please.”
He nodded and gave my hand a squeeze, standing up. His dark reddish hair was so striking on his olive skin; he really was quite good looking.
“You got it, Claire. By the way, you look beautiful.”
I felt my face redden at the compliment. Was this part of the act, or did he mean that? With no one around to enjoy the compliment other than myself, I decided he meant it.
“Thank you.” I smiled from ear to ear. I had never met a man who was so unapologetic or bold in his compliments. At risk of ruining the moment by comparing Blake to Theo, I cleared my mind from my ex and savored Blake’s words as the teenagers started shuffling in with Mickey and Tamara in tow. After everyone got their food, Blake returned with my coffee in hand.
“Good morning, guys.” Blake acknowledged the group as he handed me the cup while Mickey immediately went for a fist bump.
“What’s up, my man?” I was surprised at how friendly Mickey was with Blake already, considering Mickey barely spoke to Theo during our fourteen-month relationship. They exchanged platitudes, and I listened casually until Mickey’s question caught me off guard. “Was that you out there tearing it up this morning?”
My eyes widened. Was the early morning skier, Blake?
“Oh, yeah. I didn’t know I had an audience, man.” Blake laughed as Tamara piped up .
“Make that an audience of two.” Tamara waived her hand. “You must have gotten an early start this morning. How long did it take to hike up there?”
“About two hours. I started at four—just something I like to do now and then to get a little quiet time and clear my head. There’s no greater church in the world than God’s creation.”
If just watching him this morning was an experience, I wondered what it would have been like to ski that. Wait… What was happening? Was this a genuine desire to ski bubbling up inside of me?
“Well, I better go join my group. Claire, I will see you on the slopes?” His sudden attention on me with his attractive face made my mind go blank. One of the teenage girls kicked my leg under the table.
“Yes, of course. Enjoy your breakfast.” What a lame thing that was to say; did I work there or something? Blake nodded and went to join his group. When he was out of earshot, the girls started raving.
“He’s so cute, Claire!”
“What a hunk. ”
“He’s a real stone fox.” Mickey’s comment made us all laugh hysterically. Though he said it sarcastically, I caught Tamara’s eyes a moment later, and she gave me a wink and thumbs up of approval. I felt a wave of guilt and sadness that it was all a ruse.
“Alright, everyone. Let’s finish things up. You all need to be in the gear room in ten minutes for the instructors. Parents? Who would like to lead a morning prayer?”
Changing the subject and chasing a sugar high from the pancakes, Vicki led us in prayer, and then I got up to get one more coffee before the day started. Part of me felt weird about this fake-dating scheme, but Blake had the free will to do as he pleased. And it was helping my loneliness in the wake of Theo also being there with his new girlfriend, so truthfully, I didn’t want it to end.
Later that morning, Trevor, my ski instructor in the tie-dye pants, was helping us with our stops when I saw Blake ski down in front of me. My attention was honed in on him when he disappeared inside the lodge, turning my attention back to the lesson.
“Claire, it’s your turn to try it out. Ski down a little way, pick up some speed, and try it. ”
I went for it without hesitation. As I picked up a little speed, I abruptly pointed my skis sideways, using the edges to stop.
“Great job, Claire. Now let’s head to the lift so we can put it all together.”
The instructor was the first one to get to the lift, leaving the rest of us behind. He was standing in line directly behind Tara, and they ended up sharing the same chair. I looked around, expecting to see Theo somewhere, but he was nowhere to be found. Instead, I saw Blake coming over.
“Hey, Claire. Are you up for taking a run with me?”
“Sure, if a ski pro like you doesn’t mind that I’m working on my turns and stops,” I teased.
He leaned into his poles, looking over at me. “I think it’s amazing you’re learning to ski, Claire,” he smiled. “And there was something I wanted to ask you.” We loaded onto the two-seater chair lift, and as we gained elevation, I turned and asked him what that was. “My parents are arriving in town today, and I was wondering if you would like to join us for dinner tomorrow night? If you’re even able to, with your plans and all. It would be at seven, if you can. ”
He seemed a little nervous in his question. Meeting the parents? The line of our agreement became blurred in an instant. Or was this what he would gain from our arrangement? “Sure, I’d love to. Mickey had mentioned us having dinner together at five tomorrow, so I can moonlight on both occasions.”
What a relief that his was so much later in the evening. I needed to remember that I was there first for the group. Despite not being a chaperone, I still liked to be available to them, not for my own interests. But since Mickey and Tamara approved, and there were plenty of other parents, I knew it would be okay to be absent after dinner.
“Wonderful. I’ll have a car pick you up at 6:45. It will be at their home over in the Blueberry Basin.”
“Ooh, fancy. They have a ski-in/out home here? I didn’t know that.”
Blake almost looked embarrassed. “Yeah, you know my dad doesn’t ski, but he insists on a collection of ski properties. It’s almost hoarding at this point.”
“Must be convenient since you ski. You can go to them, I mean. ”
Blake shook his head. “No, not really… I live on my own dime. I love my parents, but I am completely independent of them. While I am welcome to stay at one of their properties, I want to make my own opportunities and experiences.”
“Oh, I thought… I mean, Timothy said something about you guys staying here because of your dad…?”
“Yes, he owns the hotel. He called to secure the rooms, but we paid for them. We got an employee discount, at least!” Blake laughed.
It was impressive to learn that despite having unlimited resources in his family, he was determined to forge his own path. Reflecting upon my own feelings, I was so hung up on what I thought my father wanted for my life that I could barely consider what I wanted. I had a feeling Blake would never let that get in his way. There was so much I could learn from Blake.
“So, what is it that you do?” While I felt he knew everything about me, I still knew little about him.
“It sounds pretty cliché, but I work for my dad’s company. It pains me to learn that we were almost coworkers and didn’t know it.” He shot me a smile. “But I work on the finance side of things. I’m on the company’s team of financial advisors. I enjoy it, but I’ve been gaining much more interest in the real estate side of things as of late. I started investing in properties a few years ago, and it’s been really fulfilling.”
“Like what kind? Don’t tell me you’re the guy buying up all the condos for short-term rentals…?” I timidly asked, giving him a playful punch in the arm.
“No, nothing like that. Nothing residential. I’ve been getting commercial spaces and leasing to nonprofits. Right now, I have an animal shelter, a church, and a senior center. My favorite way to spend a day is actually hitting up all three and spending time with them. David is the pastor at Elk Valley Church, and I really connect with his messages. He can explain things in terms I understand, which is a lifesaver. Then I spend hours with the kitties at Fremont Animal Shelter. I’m this close to taking home a dozen, let me tell you.” He held up an inch sign with his hand.
“Ahh, you’re a cat guy? I’d have taken you for a golden retriever lover.” At least that’s what I was projecting, considering that was my dream family dog.
“Oh, I’d take a handful of goldens, too, don’t worry. I have plenty of room in my heart for all pets. I’m looking forward to getting a dog next year since my lease is up at my condo, and I’m looking to buy.”
“That’s great.” Every bone in my body wanted to offer help when he picked out that future dog, but I held back. “And what about the senior center? What’s that all about?”
“Now that’s entertainment. I like to go there on Tuesdays because that’s when it’s line dancing night. You think it gets rowdy at bars? You ain’t seen nothing until you watch Marsha get her two-step on.” We both laughed at the visual. “I’ll have to take you sometime.” It wasn’t lost on me that he was making future plans, but then again, nothing was set in stone.
Looking at Blake in wonderment, I felt an out-of-body experience coming on. “Okay, so Mr. Perfect-looking is also perfect on the inside?” I slammed my hand over my mouth. I didn’t mean to say that out loud!
Blake started cracking up laughing. “Well, I don’t know about any of that. I am an extremely flawed sinner, just like everyone else. But I’m elated to know you think I look perfect… because the feeling is mutual, Claire. You’re a pretty fun girl to fake date. ”
I was relieved to be wearing a full face of makeup and that my cheeks were already rosy from the cold, considering my face liked to betray me with redness any chance it got. At least then he wouldn’t see the difference, and I could keep my poker face about me. Except for one problem: I was grinning ear to ear.
When we made it to the top, Blake insisted I go down first. “But I’m not fast and you’ll be waiting around.” I pled with him that I would meet him at the bottom, but he insisted.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Claire. Go ahead, take your time.”
For the first time in my skiing experience, I felt safe. Safe to go at my own speed. Safe to try, knowing that if I needed help, it would be there. And that’s what I did. I left the world behind me and put all my focus into carving my way down. I remembered watching Blake that morning; he made it look so effortless.
Tara had given me a tip on turning: to lift the inner ski ever so slightly. I felt brave enough to put that into play. It was difficult to muster the day before, but I was ready to give it another shot. As I attempted it with a little more speed, I found it easier than I thought, but I was also on a flat spot. Earlier, Trevor had said to keep making turn after turn. He called it “making a curve.” He said, “Every time you turn, make another curve.”
Saying it on repeat really stuck out in my mind, and I started repeating it. “Make a curve. Make a curve.” And I did. My skiing went from exasperating to exhilarating. While I was only going marginally faster, I felt at ease. My back went from a hunched, stressed position to fluid and upright. The crisp sounds of my skis’ sharp edges were a familiar song as I cut through the powder. Every part of that gave me confidence and healing for my heart. When I finally made it to the bottom, Blake was trailing right behind me.
“You did amazing, Claire. You have a beautiful form.”
“Thank you. I think watching you ski this morning helped that.”
He looked at me with curiosity. “You saw me? Did everyone see me? I thought I was silent as a mouse.” He yawned as he spoke. It was clear the early day and uphill hike through the deep snow were catching up with him.
“I didn’t know it was you until Mickey asked you at breakfast. I was watching the sunrise. You were just an added piece of art to that. ”
He looked at me with a sparkle in his eyes but was silent for a moment. “Goodness, I’m tired. I think I’ll be paying for that the rest of the day unless I go take a nap.” He took his gloves off and rubbed his eyes. “Thank you for watching me, Claire. Though I didn’t know it at the time, I like the fact that you saw me. It’s like a shared experience for us now.”
“Yeah, I guess it is. Enjoy your nap. I’m going to catch up with my instructor, so I’ll see you later.” Mild panic washed over me as I realized I had nothing to wear to his parents in Blueberry Basin, but then I remembered the swanky boutique in the lodge had women’s clothing. I hoped they had something I could afford.
Blake turned towards the lodge and paused, looking over his shoulder. His eye contact held an intensity that I quickly got lost in. “You know, Claire… I’ve done all the skiing in the world—Japan, Italy, Swiss Alps. And yet, following you at a snail’s pace in Wyoming is my favorite.”
*****
At lunch, more of the parents came up from town to join us since it was Saturday, and some were off work. Tamara and I could catch up, alone, at our own table while we had hot soup together. I told her everything, starting with Blake’s proposal of fake dating; his father being the CEO; and the invitation to their home for dinner. When I was done, Tamara didn’t miss a beat.
“You’re going to need something to wear to your fake boyfriend’s parents tomorrow. I bet that will be one classy affair.” She abruptly stood up, taking inventory over the kids. I followed her lead, realizing she meant we needed to find something to wear right then. There were more adults than we knew what to deal with, so we agreed to check out the boutique on the other side of the lodge.
The store had beautiful glass double doors that were heavy to open, but once we did, we were met with an incredible fragrance of cinnamon, vetiver, and warmth. They had a gorgeous fireplace on the west wall with sparkling glass stones inside. Tamara quickly went to the smaller-than-I’d-hoped selection of women’s clothing and began sliding through. “Claire- this would really play up your eyes! I think they are your best feature. You will look beautiful in something like this.” She held up a boat neck black sweater dress that looked like it came just above the knee, so it would give warmth and a flirty style. “And what size shoe are you? I brought some black heeled boots that my feet are way too swollen to wear.”
I loved the dress. Immediately checking the price tag, I found the price high, but easy to swallow. And, since we knew we were the same shoe size, there was one less thing I had to worry about. As soon as I tried it on, I loved it. “What do you think? Will it work?”
Tamara laughed and vigorously nodded her head. “Girl, are you kidding me? You slay in that dress! It’s not too tight, not too short, or overly revealing. It makes your eyes pop, especially with your makeup today. You just need some hosiery. Don’t worry, you could wear that to church next week, so it’s not just a onetime wear.”
At Tamara’s encouragement, I bought the dress and excitedly went with her to retrieve the boots. They were perfect slouch, mid-calf boots made of a soft velvet material. “Do you have a long necklace?” Tamara pulled out a small selection of jewelry. “I figured at least one night here, I will go out for a solo dessert date with Mickey, so I came prepared.” She held up a long chain that had little assorted flowers, shapes and pearls. It was black and white. She layered it once around my neck and let the rest hang low. “That’s a wrap. You look perfect.”
Thanking her wholeheartedly, she said my excitement was contagious and that the moment I got back, I was to text her about everything that happened. “I have to get through the rest of this day first, and all of tomorrow, with no idea how I’ll manage that. Only ten minutes have passed since I last checked. For a fake relationship, this is the giddiest I’ve ever been.” We giggled our way to my room, where I dropped off the new dress, necklace, and boots, before making our way back downstairs to rejoin the group.
Instead of getting back on skis, I sat with Tamara until the rest of the group finished, as she had been sitting it out alone so far. We got hilarious videos of Mickey skiing with the kids, we talked about her pregnancy, and we enjoyed each other’s company. When it was the group’s dinner time, we had reserved the largest table in the dining room so we could all sit together with the other parents. The Saturday night dinner special was Ravioli di Aragosta, and I savored the garlic bread. At six, Tamara announced she was going to lie down for a while. I also felt exhaustion hit and excused myself. Though everyone was so preoccupied, only a few noticed, including Mickey.
I walked Tamara to her room and said goodnight and made my way to my own. The carbs were hitting my brain faster than I could walk, and when I turned the corner of the hallway, I almost ran smack dab into Melanie.
“Excuse me, I’m so sorry.” Nerves ran down my fingers as I was looking at my fake boyfriend’s very real ex-girlfriend, face to face.
“No worries, dear.” Her brows squinted together as her smile widened. “Hey. I’m Melanie.” She extended her hand with impeccably manicured nails, and I shook it.
“Claire.”
“I saw you with Blake. I hope I’m not overstepping here, but I…” she trailed off.
“You dated; I know. It’s nice to meet you.” And it was nice to meet her. It certainly piqued my curiosity. She exhaled, her eyes widening.
“I dated Blake for about five months, nearly a year and a half ago. And it appears you’ve found your way into his heart now, and I just want to say I’m thrilled for you… And I’m sorry to be here. My parents can’t accept my new re lationship because he’s older. But I want you to know I’m not here for Blake. Frankly, I’m embarrassed that my parents invited me to this, knowing he would be here.”
I had questions and wanted answers. “How did you know he would be here? I don’t understand.”
“Sasha, the bride? Her mom and my mom are best friends… So, here we are.”
It all came together at that moment. I felt Melanie’s struggles. Though they differed from my own, I considered what she must have been feeling. “I’m sorry your parents are struggling with your relationship.” I thought of my own parents and considered how they were going to accept the fateful news that Theo and I were no longer. “Maybe they will come around.”
“Thankfully, we all saw you and Blake together, so now that he’s not a single guy, I think they just might. We have a lot to work through, starting with their fears about my marrying an older man. I’m just really looking forward to going home tomorrow. I’ve got the red-eye flight booked, and it can’t come soon enough. And I wish you the best with Blake. He’s a wonderful man. Judging by his character, I know you must be an incredible woman. He and I weren’t right for each other, but I’ve prayed he would find you. And it looks like he did.”
I considered coming clean with her about our arrangement , but she hurriedly tiptoed away, vanishing around a corner. After taking inventory of my mind, I crept back into my room. Melanie was a kind soul, and while I believed Blake that she wasn’t here for him, it was lovely speaking to her face to face. Checking the time; it was still early, 7:30 p.m. I lay down for a moment, fully intending to get back up and go play board games with the teens and their parents, but I ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, I was still in all my daytime clothes, and it was 3:45 in the morning.