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“She’s a good friend, but I still feel bad.”
“Well, you can tell her that yourself, and you can apologize to Sean for causing him worry.”
“I will, but I’ll have to charge my phone first.”
Liam took her phone from her. “Even charged, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get a signal. I’ll have to add a booster to your phone. Until then, you may ask to use mine as I have a hot-spot included. It’s necessary up here and even then, it can be sketchy depending on the weather.”
“May I call now?”
“As soon as I fix your tea and my coffee, you can talk while I cook breakfast.”
Chapter Nine
Elena silently thought about what she’d say to Sean when she called. He was her daddy’s best friend, and she knew that he was just as dominant. Regardless of what Liam had said about Katie not holding any punishment she received against her, Elena felt guilty. Katie had played a major part in convincing Elena that she’d regret it for the rest of her life if she didn’t at least try to reconcile with Liam. Looking at him preparing her tea exactly the way she liked it, remembering the night they’d shared, and the way he’d instantly welcomed her home—even if that welcome had included her making atonement for her running—she knew she owed her best friend a lot.
“Thank you,” she said, taking a sip from the mug he placed before her.
“You’re welcome.” Liam drank some coffee before setting his mug down. She watched as he pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door near the refrigerator and disappeared inside. Craning her neck, she tried to see what was inside, but the angle didn’t afford her a very good view. When he stepped out, he was carrying his laptop and a waffle iron.
“I thought that was a pantry.”
“It’s mostly storage,” he said, setting both items down.
“So why do you keep it locked?”
“Because there are some items that are valuable.”
“Like your computer?”
Liam smiled and grinned. “Yes, as well as some things that have no monetary value necessarily, but that I consider very important.”
“Like waffle irons?” she asked, smiling herself.
“Not exactly,” he said cryptically. “Let’s just say that while my little one does love her waffles, she might not like everything her daddy keeps locked up until needed.”
Elena wanted to ask more, but from the way he’d said the last few words, she decided that maybe ignorance was bliss. “Do you have your phone?”
“Yes,” he said, pulling it from his pocket and tapping some buttons before handing it to her. “When you’re ready, hit send. I’m going to take my laptop and your phone upstairs to the office and plug them in.”
“Okay.” Still a bit undecided about what she’d say to Sean, she decided to start with something far more fun. Slipping off the stool, she turned the latch on the front door and stepped outside. It was freezing but that didn’t stop her from carefully going down the steps and moving across the yard.
“Good morning, Mr. Snowy, how are you today?”
Changing the tone of her voice, she provided the answer. “Good morning to you too. I’m afraid I’m a bit rough around the edges, but I’m just fine, Miss Elena.”
“I’ll fix you right up,” she said, tucking the phone into the waistband of her leggings and brushing or patting the fresh snow that had fallen to distort the snowman’s shape. The tracks from where they’d rolled the spheres had disappeared under a coating of fresh snow. Flakes had been falling since yesterday and the snow was much deeper. Soon, her hands were red and growing numb. “I’m sorry I can’t do more, but you do look handsome. Look, I’ll show you.”
Pulling out the phone, she took a few photos of the snowman and the yard. After showing them to Mr. Snowy, she turned and gasped. Several icicles were hanging from the porch eaves. They glistened in the sunlight, sparkling like diamonds. Taking a photo, she was about to climb the steps when she saw a trail of paw prints. Squatting down, she decided they looked very different from the raccoon tracks Liam had shown her the day before. After taking a picture, she followed them around the corner of the cabin, wondering what animal made them and where it was. They were small so she didn’t think any large animal had walked around the house. When a clump of snow fell from a tree branch and landed on her shoulder, she realized she’d followed the trail too far. She slogged her way back toward the porch and had just turned the corner when she jumped at the bellow that broke the quiet.
“Elena!”
“Oh, you scared me!” she said, pressing her hand to her chest and bending to pick up the phone she’d dropped.
“I scared you?” Liam said. “Little girl, what in the hell were you thinking? Get inside right now!”
“I told you I was going to—”
“Now!”
