Her roommates would miss her rent payments, at least until they found a replacement. But would they actually miss her, as a person? She doubted it. She had a lot of coworkers she spent time with on the rare moments she got away from the office, but no close friends. More than once, in the city, she’d felt completely alone, even when surrounded by people.
Back home in Snowy Hollow, more people had talked to her at the gas station and grocery store in half an hour yesterday than she’d talked to outside of work for months. She’d recognized the grocery clerk and pump jockey, but the rest had been strangers. Still, they’d chatted and made her feel welcome. She’d forgotten that aspect of small-town life.
Probably everyone knew about Owen’s loss. She remembered the duality when it came to small towns and loss of family. Everything you did and saw brought back memories of the departed. But friends and family were always close to comfort you.
“What made you become a maintenance man? It seems a long way from the military,” she asked, knowing it was wise to steer the subject of loss toward something less serious than family tragedies.
“Ophelia.” He said the name with a smile. “I bumped into her in town after my last physio appointment. She was struggling to change a flat tire. I offered to help. It was no big deal, but she was grateful and offered me dinner as thanks. Best meal I’d had in weeks. I still wasn’t working. I guess she thought I was hungry.” He smiled. “I wasn’t, Mom was living with me and we ate very well.” He paused. “A drawer in the kitchen was sticking.” He gestured with his spoon. “I offered to unstick it. One thing led to another. She suggested I work for her, part-time, doing repairs.”
“That was nice of her. I’m glad you were around to help.” His kindness was heartwarming. More than once she’d worried about her aunt struggling to get chores done. Her aunt was only forty-eight, but to Rill, at twenty-eight, she seemed old.
“I was, and am, grateful for the work. It’s turned into a full-time job. Especially since the previous handyman was nearly seventy and slowing down. Jim taught me a lot. I’ve always been good with tools, but still had a lot to learn. Ophelia offered me Jim’s job when he retired. I’m grateful to them both.”
“I’m happy for you. Thank you for being there for my aunt.”
Recovering from an injury like that must have been difficult, especially when grieving for your family. She wanted to ask him how his life was now that he’d lost his family, but couldn’t find a non-offensive way to bring it back up.
He was a complicated man who had manned-up to an accidental pregnancy. It sounded like the army had helped him mature and settle down. He seemed upset to have lost his wife, and more so to have lost his child. Rill didn’t know how she’d cope under the same circumstances.
“Are you planning to keep working here at the inn?” she asked.
She was curious about his plans, even though she’d only be here until her aunt returned. After that Rill had to find a new job. She had yet to get her dismissal letter, but was absolutely certain it was coming. It could take months to get another job. At least she had savings to get her through. She refused to mooch off her aunt. She’d work at the inn in exchange for a place to sleep and meals. She wasn’t taking a wage for helping run the inn that she was half owner of. If she ever returned to Snowy Hollow, it would be a different story. But what about Owen? Was this his future?
“Yes. This is my job. Full time. Ophelia needs the help; she can’t handle the inn alone. Routine maintenance takes time and skills she doesn’t have. I’m happy to pitch in. As long as there is a job for me here, I’m content.”
Rill sighed. The inn was as much hers as her aunt’s. She probably should have encouraged Auntie O to sell the place and get on with her own life, but Rill couldn’t stand the thought of not having Sleigh Bells Inn to come home to. The thought of losing her inheritance stole her breath even if she wasn’t ready to come home yet.
She’d tried many careers on for size. She’d started at university taking engineering. It was the dullest thing she’d ever done. Bored, she dropped out after a year, intent on finding something that piqued her interest. She’d run the gamut of jobs: restaurant server, chambermaid, line chef, library assistant, store manager, newspaper reporter, and a dozen others.
None had made her happy until she faced the daily details of her current position. She was loving the challenges of dealing with suppliers, customers and even modelling agencies. In some respects, it was a lot like running the inn. With models thrown into the mix, of course. Not that she had ever run the inn alone, but she had tackled most of the jobs growing up. Those she hadn’t handled alone, she’d assisted her aunt and parents with. Those skills were invaluable in her current position.
Living at the inn had taught her a lot. Fond memories rushed in, filling her with warmth. Decorating for Christmas was always the best time of year. She’d lost track of how many nights she’d sat up late in this very kitchen talking with her parents or aunt. Baking cookies. Studying.
“How come the inn isn’t all decked out for the holidays yet?” She nibbled a chocolate finger cookie. She really didn’t need it, but it was delicious. Chocolate with a hint of orange and coffee.
“I’ve been busy winterizing, and I was putting the finishing touches on the new apartment above the garage. I’m going to rent the space so I’m closer to the inn in bad weather. It was Ophelia’s idea. We were going to start decorating this week until your aunt decided to go with Fern to Katmandu.” He shook his head.
“I can’t believe she’s crazy enough to try something so off beat.”
“I guess if I were stricken with incurable cancer and had as much money as Fern is rumored to have, I might try something crazy. Her plan is about as far from modern medicine as you can get. Spiritual healing, herbs, meditation. Polar bear swims and who knows what else. Really, what has she got to lose, besides money? Although I can’t figure out how you can polar bear swim in a place as warm as Nepal.” Owen shrugged.
“It seems like the trip might be a rip off. Something that seems too good to be true probably is,” Rill said. “It isn’t Auntie O’s money, she has no stake in it, but she’s still worried some huckster was taking advantage of a seriously ill woman. I’m glad Auntie O is going with her.”
“Me too. Travelling alone can be difficult, being sick would make it worse. I’m praying it all works out okay. Fern’s a lovely woman and your aunt’s best friend.”
He rummaged deep in the back of a top shelf and pulled down a couple of Santa shaped mugs. “Why don’t we start decorating tomorrow? I’ve got outside almost decorated and my maintenance schedule is up to date. All I had on my list was to pop over to Fern’s and check on the place, but I’m not going anywhere in this snow.”
It was only then that Rill noticed the thick white flakes still blanketing down from the sky. Even the bright yard light barely penetrated their depths. Despite the fact that it had been snowing all day, the snow was beautiful floating in the yard lights. “Oh, look at that, it’s amazing.”
“Don’t they get snow in Saskatoon?” he teased and poured cocoa into two mugs. He topped them with a handful of miniature marshmallows.
“Of course, they do. You know that.” She mock swatted his hand after he set the mug in front of her. “It’s just different in the city. It’s only pretty for such a short time before traffic messes it up. Even yards seem to get dingier faster than in the country.”
“You miss this place, and the weather, don’t you?”
“A little.” She avoided his gaze. She didn’t want him to see exactly how much she missed the inn and her aunt. Nor did she want him to see how much his presence drew her in and made her want things she shouldn’t. She’d only spent a few hours with him earlier, and ended up awake in bed, thinking of him. It was like her girlhood attraction had never waned and had deepened the moment she saw him chopping wood.
He was still a fantasy, a temptation she had no intention of indulging in. Even if all she wanted to do was lean into him and offer comfort for the loss of his wife and child, and steal a little of his warmth and maybe a kiss.
