The Après-Ski Proposal

Chapter 8

December 30th

I rubbed my eyes, remembering only then I had applied copious amounts of makeup. “Darn it,” I said under my breath. I went to the bathroom and washed up before walking over to the balcony and getting fresh air. As I slipped out, I took a moment to enjoy the stars in all of their glory. I said a prayer of gratitude for all God had shown me, that week especially.

“Thank You, Lord, for showing me the character of those around me, especially Theo. You have soothed my broken heart and shown me what You were protecting me from. Thank You for your blessing of sending me Tamara as such a good friend. And Lord, whatever it is with Blake, I am enjoying being around him. I pray that Your will is shown in this situation, as it always is, but please continue to watch out for me, and I will take the path You show me, no matter where it leads. Amen.”

I slipped back inside my room and pulled out a fresh pair of pajamas, when the sounds of crunching sent me back out to the balcony. I peered over the edge and made out a man walking with skis hanging over his shoulder. My heart leapt for a moment, thinking it was Blake, but then another man joined him and from the words I could hear, they were speaking German. What was I going to do if it was Blake, call out to him? That would make me look like a real psycho. I laughed that idea off and went back to bed.

*****

A few hours later I was on the slopes. My legs felt stiff from the cold and exertion of the last few days, especially my knees. Tara had been right about that.

I had yet to see Blake that morning. Because I crashed so early the night before, I hadn’t run into him since the previous afternoon. During the morning lesson with the ski instructor, my eyes kept wandering over to the lodge door to see if he would walk out of it. Nothing happened for a while until finally, Theo walked out of the lodge. I assumed he’d been looking for Tara, but I didn’t see her on the mountain that day where she usually was in the ski school zone. None of my business what he’s doing , I reminded myself. The next time I looked over, Theo was standing at the base, and it appeared he was watching me. Was he ? That would be so strange. I tried to carry on with the instruction as we were working on our form, but I suddenly felt the urge to be performative.

Something I always felt with Theo was the need to be perfect. Blake had shown me just the opposite, and in fact, had embraced my flaws. That was the difference between the men; though one I was dating, the other was just pretending. It was beginning to feel the opposite.

After several minutes with Theo watching my every move, Tara came expertly swooshing down the ski hill, laughing loudly. She was with another instructor, which I knew by their matching jackets. He took his goggles off, revealing himself to be young, blonde, and clean shaven with a stunning jawline. I guessed he was about Tara’s age—mid-twenties. I could feel their chemistry from a distance. They looked like they went together, frankly—like they could be side by side in a clothing catalog.

Tara’s laughter came to an abrupt stop when she noticed Theo, and she slowly skied over to him. She looked much stiffer than she had moments before, before she knew he was watching—like she’d just been caught doing something she shouldn’t have been. But I felt for her because she didn’t even know that Theo was watching her. I wondered if she’d rather been with the hunk she was skiing with, as she looked so happy and carefree.

I watched their awkward embrace as they shared a quick hug. It seemed cold, but then after talking for a moment, Theo and Tara started gliding over to the chair lift. So, he had been waiting for her all along, not watching me. It sure felt like he was, though.

Immersing myself back into the lesson, we were about to take a run when Blake tapped me on the shoulder. He joined me on the chairlift, and I was tickled to have another few minutes with him one on one.

“I didn’t see you around last night. I ended up playing board games with members of your church until almost nine. Dang, watch out for Cammy while playing Monopoly—I think she prints her own money.”

“Oh? That’s awesome you played with them. Yeah, I totally crashed last night. I fell asleep in my clothes, makeup, and everything. Woke up at 4 a.m. wondering what century I was living in.”

“You must have needed it. I know I always sleep better in a cold environment. There’s something so special about a snowy mountain range. I often think that God is a man of the mountains, too. I feel like I’m closer to Him when I’m higher in elevation.”

I loved hearing Blake talk about God. He gave me something to think about as I had never considered the spiritual connection I felt there in Sage Mountain. “I’ve lived here my entire life and despite everything changing so rapidly the last few years, I can’t see myself leaving. Even with no job and no idea how I’ll cover my property taxes that have quadrupled, I must be addicted to the cold because nowhere else feels like home. I may have to leave, but where do you go from here? ”

Blake pursed his lips together with bated breath, and I waited for his reply. “Colorado is pretty nice, if I say so myself.” He grinned at me ear to ear.

“I have friends who moved down there, and they say the same, but there’s no place like home. Besides, I’d be competing in a much larger market for jobs. I don’t know if I have the competitive drive like city people. And I’m sure you can see; I don’t handle rejection that great. But God has a plan for me, and I know He will guide me to the right place.”

“That’s right, Claire. What a relief it is to know that we aren’t the ones in charge around here.”

We both smiled, and the chair lift finally made it to the top, slowing down ever so slightly for us to disembark.

“Tips up!” The lift tech yelled from his booth, but it was already too late. Somehow my distraction got the better of me and my right ski caught on part of the platform, slowly tossing me from the chair onto the cold snow in front of me. A loud bell rang, alerting the fellow chair lift riders that there was an emergency, and the lift would be paused.

“You really know how to make an entrance, Claire.” Blake helped me get up and out of the way of the lift before giving me a once over so he could see my face. “Nothing appears to be hurt externally, no bleeding, no black eyes. You may need a walker down the line, possibly both eyes replaced, but I think we can ski out of here today.” He chuckled, and I groaned.

“Here we are again. Blake to my rescue,” I smiled as he unclipped my skis and set them off to the side. “I’m okay—just internally scarred because this is so embarrassing.” Peering over my shoulder, it didn’t seem like anyone was looking my way, which was a relief.

“Don’t worry about it. People are constantly wrecking as they get off the lift, go down the mountain... Once, a man fell down the stairs inside the lodge in his ski boots. He was totally fine—fell on his backside and just did the rumble down each step. Wow, did he have a good laugh after that one.” He lifted his brows and shrugged.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “You? You mean to tell me that you can be clumsy, too?”

He picked up a handful of snow and blew it in front of my face, each bit of it sparkling in the sunlight. “Occasionally, yes. But the real queen of clumsy is my mom. My father considered an ambulance being stationed outside their home just because it would make things more convenient. Her last injury was from trying to get up from a bar stool while realizing her feet were inside the rungs and somehow from there slid ten yards across the floor. We ran to the noise, only to find her under the Christmas tree.”

“It sounds like I’ll be in great company then.”

Blake motioned for me to start down the hill in front of him, and I did, putting all of my techniques into motion. “Is there anything you suggest I do to improve?”

“You have some great fundamentals. I’m guessing you’ve taken some lessons over the course of your life? From here, you just need to relax and practice.”

I let out a breath. Blake was so refreshing. He just wasn’t a critical person and so nice to be around.

Right before I got to the halfway point, Theo cut me off on skis, forcing me to come to an abrupt stop.

“What in the world!?” I yelled out to Theo, who didn’t stop.

Tara was close behind. I turned back to Blake, who was clapping.

“That was an incredible stop, Claire! And you didn’t even fall. Your lessons are paying off. ”

Just then, my instructor, Trevor, appeared. “Sorry about that, Claire. I saw the whole thing; they know better than to go this fast in the beginners’ area. I think Theo is miffed because Tara just dumped him.”

My jaw dropped.

“But by the ease of that stop you just made, I think it’s time we move over to the Blue runs. They are the next level in skiing. I can’t take you, since the rest of the students aren’t ready for that but—”,

Blake cut him off. “I can take her.”

Trevor looked at Blake and then at me, eventually nodding his head.

“Okay, that works. Let me know how she does.” Trevor gave Blake a fist bump and skied off to catch up with the rest of the teens who’d been skiing down the mountain while we spoke.

“Alright, then. You’re under my power now.” Blake did an impersonation of an evil laugh while I playfully smacked him in the arm. “Just kidding. I had a babysitter say that to me when I was little, and it traumatized me. I’ve considered therapy just to move past it. Anyway, let’s head to the bottom. Do you feel ready to check out a Blue run? You definitely look ready, but it’s your decision.”

I appreciated Blake’s pressure-free presence when it came to skiing. He was the polar opposite of Theo in every way. Ugh. I thought I needed a cattle prod to stop comparing Blake to Theo. “Maybe, yes. But first I want to master picking up a little more speed on the green runs!” I cheered, feeling a little anxiety in my voice, but also was ready to tackle a challenge. If anything, it would give me a story to tell Blake’s parents that night.

“Great. Want to get a hot chocolate first or have it be our reward after?”

I liked the sound of that. “Reward. I’m very food motivated, like a retriever.”

“The cutest retriever I’ve ever seen.”

I blushed at his comment, not even sure if comparing me to a dog was a good thing, but I did it to myself. “Thank you?”

We both laughed at the conversation. We jumped on a chairlift and made our way back to the top. We ended up skiing the rest of the day, only breaking for a hot chocolate and warm pretzel. Blake brought one out with extra cheese for us to share.

“How did you know these giant pretzels are my favorite?” I demanded.

“It was a test. If you don’t like pretzels, I’m not sure I can continue this fake relationship.” He dunked a buttery piece into cheese and popped it into his mouth. We finished our snack and put our gloves back on.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“I think it’s quarter to four, so only time for one more run if you have it in you. If we continue this pace, you’ll be on Black Diamonds tomorrow. By next week, I won’t be able to keep up. By next year, the Olympics.”

I gave him a smirk and rolled my eyes. I knew the latter of that statement was fluff, but I was curious what he thought. The second we sat down on the chairlift, I turned to him. “Do you think I have what it takes to be a skier?”

He gave me a confused look. “Claire… I don’t know what people have said to you in your life. It’s pretty clear you’ve been treated like you’re unworthy of love from that jerk ex of yours… And I know what it’s like to be living in the shadow of your father. But one thing I know for certain: You are a skier. Your level of ability does not change that fact; whether or not you participate does. And you have made such great progress just in the last two days. What you needed was the chance to show yourself what you can do.”

His words hit me like a brick as we stepped off the chairlift. “Blake, thank you for being here for me. I hope we can remain friends after this because your light and positivity are just what I needed in my life. You are heaven sent. We better get back so I can check in with my group and get ready for tonight.”

I gave him a short hug, and he told me he would be heading to his parents early, and that he’d see me there. I gave a thumbs up and took off down my favorite green run of the day, “Powder Puff.”

My group was nowhere to be found in the lodge. I remembered Tamara had booked a pedicure for the afternoon, and I could see Mickey riding the magic carpet lift with Trevor. I was sure there was a story there, but I’d have to hear what it was later. Back in my hotel room, I took a quick shower, styled my hair in a beach wave, and put on my new outfit. Everything fit perfect, and Tamara’s boots were just tall enough that they made my calves look chiseled. I snapped a picture in the full-length closet mirror and sent it to Tamara.

Thank you again for the boots. Will let you know when I’m back. Will be on Blueberry Basin, at the James Walker residence. And if I go missing, for my crime documentary, there is no need to embellish the facts. I did NOT light up a room xx

Tamara sent me some laughing emojis and a heart. She was exhausted and had been battling some pretty severe nausea, but we promised to get together when that passed. I was set to go then, grabbed my small purse with my phone, lip gloss and some breath mints just in case we ate anything really fragrant, and went to the downstairs lobby for the car.

A sleek, black suburban with tinted windows silently came to a stop outside the front doors. While I had no idea who it was for, Blake did say he was sending a car, not a behemoth of the road. When the valet came inside, calling for “Claire Riley,” I followed him to the car where he opened the back seat door for me. The interior lit up, and a smooth-faced driver who wore a suit looked back at me .

“Good evening, Miss. I am Tom, your driver tonight. We will be at Mr. Walker’s residence shortly.”

“Thank you, Tom.” I’d never been to one of the homes, er—mansions, on the mountain. They started popping up right after our town was bought by James Walker, and my gut told me his house was the first to go up. Tom wasn’t the chatty type, judging by his lack of words to me, and that was fine. It had been a long day of skiing, and my body was tired. The smoothness of the car driving through the crunchy snow was lulling me to sleep, but the moment I closed my eyes, we came to a stop. Tom turned off the car, got out, and immediately opened my door in one fluid movement.

“Ms. Riley, right this way.”

He held out his hand for me to take as I got out of the car. The heated driveway and sidewalks were immaculately free from snow and illuminated by gleaming solar lights. The house had dark siding and a black roof with brown trim that matched the pavers on the sidewalks. The front side had a few windows, revealing a glow from within. Aesthetically, it was a stylishly designed house and made me remember just how much I enjoyed being a designer. For that night, I would put the nagging realization of needing to find another job away but come next week when the fun fantasy was over, I would hit the job search.

The front door swung open. “Claire! You made it.” Blake stood at the entryway, wearing a gray button up shirt tucked into dark jeans, a blue sweater, and loafers. He looked boyish dressed up, and I liked it. “You look lovely. Come on in. My parents are dying to meet you.” Holding out his hand, I took it and walked inside.

“Thank you, Tom.” I looked back, and he gave me a nod, returning to his vehicle.

Blake walked me inside and my jaw dropped. The backside of the house was completely glass. It was a stunning view of Blueberry Basin, which included Pryors Peak, the resort’s biggest mountain. The location was impeccable; his father had excellent taste.

“You must be Claire!” A woman walked into the living room and shook my hand.

“Claire, this is my mother, Patsy. And my dad, James!”

Mr. Walker himself came barreling into the room, profusely apologizing for his tardiness. “I’m sorry, I had to take a call. So nice to meet you, Claire. Blake has been talking about his new girlfriend for the last two hours. It’s lovely to put a face to the name.”

He told them I was his girlfriend? I knew we were fake dating for the sake of my own needs, but I was shocked that he would continue the ruse with his parents. That had much longer implications than anything else. I hadn’t even told anyone that we were dating but just let the rumors fly. This seemed to change the tables. After I was able to swallow that pill, I turned to James and took in the man who had inadvertently gotten me fired from my job.

“Wonderful to meet you both. What a gorgeous home you have here. You have excellent taste in location.”

“Thank you, dear. Blake tells us that you were born and raised here? I bet you’ve seen quite a lot of changes in your lifetime.”

I held back my laughter. He didn’t know the first of it. “Oh yes. This place used to be a small community of miners and the railroad. The mountains were skiable of course but on just a much smaller scale. As you know, we only had a rope tow. Now there’s heated bubble chairs and the little lifts even have bars to keep people from falling. That was quite the change. ”

“But that didn’t stop Claire from falling out today, did it?” Blake busted up laughing, taking a sip of his hot tea.

“Claire, may I get you something to drink?” Patsy asked. “We’re warming up with Moroccan mint tea this evening.”

“That sounds lovely, thank you.”

Patsy clasped her hands together and smiled, departing for the kitchen.

“Dad, Claire actually worked on the Sage Mountain Airport design.”

Though I was considering sharing that fact myself, since the words were out, they felt in bad taste.

“Is that so? What do you do, Claire?”

“I’m a designer, mostly creating unique indoor spaces these days. I created the airport lounge.”

He lit up like a Christmas tree. “We loved that design and are very excited to bring it into fruition. May I ask, why did you turn down the job for the outdoor area?”

I felt a scowl move across my face as my jaw went slack. “I didn’t turn it down. I submitted a design, and then I was fired for it.” The air in the room became thick and uncomfortable. I may have overshared, but the confusion was real.

James gathered his thoughts; his brow furrowed. “We never received your design, Claire. Who oversaw the project?”

He was asking for names? Yikes… Not that it would have been hard for him to find out for himself, so I might as well have said. “Patricia.”

James was mid-sip of his steaming hot tea when I answered. He nearly choked in response. “Patricia has been on the outs for almost a year after getting tangled up in a scheme to embezzle money from the firm. She’s only still an employee because HR couldn’t prove she was directly involved. Claire, Patricia is a very unhappy person that we need to pray for, but so you’re aware, she never submitted a design on your behalf. In fact, she told us last Friday that the designer we were looking forward to hearing from declined the job and quit .”

Blake put his hand on my shoulder as I took it all in. The betrayal was real, but something James said stuck out to me the most: We need to pray for Patricia. That thought could not have been further from my mind every time I dealt with her, and it was a humbling thought. Lord, I pray for those who have hurt me.

“Who’s hungry?” Patsy walked over from the kitchen holding a charming teacup and saucer with an intoxicating mint aroma.

James was the first to answer. “I’m so hungry that I may waste away.” He put a hand on his portly stomach and followed his wife into the dining area. Blake and I just a stepped behind.

While the home was an open concept, the dining area had a short wall that divided it from the kitchen. Once I turned the corner, I saw the long, gorgeous dark wood table perfectly set with a dramatic silver table runner. Each porcelain plate had a modest silver rim and sat on a black charger plate. Three candles ran down the center of the table, each bright white, held by classic sterling silver candlesticks. The Walkers had impeccable taste for tableware, décor, and homes.

Patsy lifted up the lids to the dishes in the center of the table, revealing a roast, colorful vegetables, and a delectable salad with creamy dressing. “I hope you’re hungry,” Patsy spoke to the room but directed her attention to me. “Dig in, Claire. You’re a guest, so you go first. ”

I reached for the serving ware, my hand feeling foreign on the heavy material, and I felt self-conscious serving myself in front of people watching. Taking the salad plate, I doled out a healthy portion of what looked like a Caesar onto it. I was ready to sit back down and just eat that, but Patsy piped up before I did. “James has already carved the roast.”

“Thank you.” I took the metal tongs and retrieved the smallest piece from the side, placing it on my dinner plate along with a hearty scoop of vegetables. “It smells amazing, Patsy. Thank you for this meal,” I said as I set my plate down and waited for the others to get their portions.

After everyone had food, I didn’t want to be the one who took the first bite, so I waited. Blake was the first, so I dug in. While the food was divine, the company was even more so. I was pleasantly surprised by Blake’s parents’ sense of humor and the lighthearted conversations and funny anecdotes that James shared. When Patsy stepped away at the end, returning with a tray holding four perfectly plated desserts, I was glad the evening wasn’t over yet. “Cheesecake, anyone?” My favorite.

After dessert, James pulled out a cigar from his shirt pocket, under his unbuttoned jacket. “I know, bad habit. Blake, my boy, why don’t you join me and tell me your plans for New Year’s Eve tomorrow.”

Blake wiped his mouth with the silky napkin and slid out of his chair but didn’t leave the room without kissing me on the forehead. Though it wasn’t on the lips, it was the first time he kissed me. I was shocked. We never said we would do any overt displays of affection. But then again, even if we had, the rules were changing every moment.

I watched him walk out of the room as I regained my composure. No need to let Patsy think that was unusual or unexpected. “Shall we go sit by the fire, Claire?”

I nodded, and we found a place to sit on the overstuffed leather sectional. It wasn’t as stiff as it looked and actually quite comfortable. As I looked around the room, I loved everything in it, especially the stone fireplace that went all the way to the ceiling—eighteen feet, if I had to guess.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Claire. You’re the first girl whom Blake has brought home, you know.” Patsy winked at me. “I take it that things are very special between you two.”

Her words were a double whammy. I looked over to the glass doors to see Blake and his father stargazing, the smoke from James’ cigar billowing above him .

“He is a really special guy.” It was true, Blake was a gem. He just wasn’t mine, though I was starting to wish he was.

“It comes at a great time. James is ready to retire, but he doesn’t want to hand the reins over to Blake until he’s married. Call him old-fashioned? James is worried that our handsome boy will be thought of as a playboy unless he’s settled down with a family. But no pressure from us; go at your own pace.”

Patsy was beaming as my stomach felt like it fell three stories. It all made sense now. This is why Blake introduced me as his girlfriend; the optics of the public forehead kiss; the humble bragging about my work. Blake needed me to be his fake girlfriend just as much as I needed him.

And I had thought he was falling for me. No. He was priming me for the big one.

As James and Blake shuffled back in from the patio, everything was different. It was like someone had removed the rose-colored lenses from my eyes. I put my best face forward, helping Blake out by being the best fake girlfriend there ever was. When he made a joke, I laughed. When he spoke about his favorite pets at the animal shelter, I put my hand on his. And when the night came to a natural close, I stood up, expressing it was past my bedtime. Everyone gave me a hug goodnight, and Blake walked me out. I didn’t realize it before, but Tom had been waiting outside this entire time.

“Thank you for coming, Claire. It was the perfect evening.” Blake had his arm around me as we walked outside. He grabbed a heavy coat from the rack and slid it over my shoulders.

“I had a lovely evening.”

Once the door shut behind us, I got real. “I hope that helped you out. Your mom told me about your dad not wanting to leave the company to you until you had a wife.” The color from Blake’s face drained. “It’s totally cool. I just wish you had told me before, that’s all. I’m glad we could help each other out like this.”

“Claire, believe me when I say things are not what they seem with—”

I cut him off, feeling my knees shake in the cold. “Blake, it’s all good. I promise. At first, yes, I was caught by surprise, but we each had something to gain from this, and I’m happy to help. Now, I really should go before I get frostbite.”

My teeth were chattering as I walked towards the Suburban with Tom springing into action to open the door for me. After Tom returned to the driver’s seat, I told him to wait just a moment, and I rolled down the window, handing Blake his jacket. “Here’s your coat. And before I forget… Tomorrow is the last day of the ski retreat, and I have a huge week ahead of me for my job search, so I’ll probably hit the road after my ski lesson. It was great meeting you, Blake. I wish you all the best in the world. You really do deserve it.”

I rolled the window back up and fought back my emotions. I thought Blake and I were toeing the line, forming a true connection, but instead, it was just what we said it was: a fake relationship. I clasped my hands and said a silent prayer.

Lord, you know my heart. You know my needs before I do. I trust that You will lead me down the right path. Amen .

Feeling sad wasn’t on my bingo card for that night, but it was my own fault. I looked into something deeper and felt things that weren’t real. I was paying the price. Again. Maybe it was time I swore off love forever.

Returning back to the lodge, I texted Tamara that I was ready for bed. I filled it with many more platitudes about the beautiful home, the magical views, and the delicious food. I left out the parts about his father telling me the truth about my old boss, and his mother revealing family secrets, and the fact that Blake had never brought a girl home before me. What did it all mean? And my mind went back to Patricia never submitting my design. Did she really dislike me that much? What in the world was going on there? I’d get to the bottom of that later. I just had to get some much-needed rest before my last ski day.