I was driving like a little old lady from Pasadena. Taking my time at a snail’s pace was the best way to approach this unless I came up against something that I wasn’t going to be able to handle on my own. Even with my winter tires, my car was still sliding considerably, but I had managed not to drive myself into a ditch of snow.
His words cut me like a knife, slicing into my heart and leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth. Lillian was the cause of my misfortune. She was the one that put me into this position and yet I had to thank her for letting me find a man that was worthy of my affections. It was a double-edged sword. I didn’t want to think about Marshall, but there was no way that I could think about anything else.
There was his smiling face. His beautiful soul and the way that he looked at me had me wondering how everything had gone so wrong in such a short period of time. I knew that opening my mouth was going to be a mistake. I also knew that he wasn’t going to take it kindly that I was there to bring him a bit of his own medicine.
It was complicated and I tried to explain, but he really didn’t want to hear anything that I had to say. He was acting like a typical macho man that couldn’t see the good thing that was right in front of him. He was the one that had set me free. My heart was closed off, completely barren of human touch and then he had to come into my life.
I had to open up my window, reaching out and slapping my wiper to make sure that they were clear of ice and snow. I felt the stinging shot of what felt like sleet against my face. It was a cold reminder of what I was feeling deep down inside. The stinging blow of his words was something that I was never going to forget.
Lillian would find a way to get back at me. I wasn’t sure if she was going to be coming after me personally or contracting the job out to somebody that wasn’t opposed to getting his hands dirty. I’d stepped in it pretty damn heavily and I had no idea how to get out. The best thing that I could do was to find some perspective and coming here to this winter wonderland was the perfect way to let some time pass.
There were no tracks on the road. I didn’t even know where the road was and I was lucky that there were clear-cut markers on the side of the road to indicate that I had gone too far to one side. Without them, I probably would have been driving in some kind of field or the worst possible scenario stranded on the side of the road with only the engine to keep me warm until somebody came to the rescue.
I had on my leather gloves, gripping the steering wheel with both hands like I had been taught to do when I first learned how to drive. This was no time to play it cool with the one hand on the steering wheel. This was a time for serious contemplation. I didn’t want to die and driving well below the speed limit was preferable over having an accident that would keep me from reaching the safe haven of the cabin.
If I was going to look at the bright side, then I would know by morning that the fresh powder on the mountain was going to make for some great skiing. I was going to need some lessons. The last time that I had strapped on a pair was when I was a small child with my parents.
I still remember those days fondly. It was such an innocent time where the only thing that I had to worry about was whether or not I was going to wear enough layers in the snow. I had no idea that being an adult was this difficult. I had to admit that I did excel at my job and selling cars was easy when I put my sexuality on display. The sweet syrupy words laced with sexual innuendo were a good way to not only get those guys to buy cars but to make them stand at attention like loyal soldiers inside their pants.
I saw what I thought was a light ahead and breathed a bit of a sigh of relief to know that I had gotten here.
The parking lot was jammed with cars covered in snow and only a few sparse parking spots to choose from. I stopped and stayed silent with the wind howling outside. I was in desperate need of a few moments to compose myself.
I used my hand to clear the window. I saw the resort and the twinkle of lights coming from the cabins where I was going to stay sheltered. Those cabins were built to take the pounding of Mother Nature.
I took a deep breath. I was wearing a green army like parka that I had keeping me warm. I opened the door and I made a mad dash for the main office. I had to be very careful in how I stepped. I almost lost my balance a few times. I must have looked pretty damn funny to anybody that was watching me.
I got to the door, opening it and slamming it behind me before the elements had a chance to bleed into the inside. The atmosphere was cozy and there were those that had been skiing sitting by a roaring fire and drinking hot toddies. The place was made of mostly pine wood. It had the telltale sign of a ski chalet.