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PARTI
August
Eternity Springs, Colorado
Molly Stapleton stood in the middle of the footbridge spanning Angel Creek and watched a green leaf from a cottonwood tree drift on the swirling breeze. It floated up, then down and around before a downdraft deposited the heart-shaped leaf on the surface of the icy mountain stream. The current swept it toward the bank and into a miniature whirlpool, where it circled three times before shooting out to cling to a mist-bathed stone. Moments later, a crash of froth knocked it loose, tossing the leaf into a bubbling, churning stretch of white water.
At this point in her life, Molly could identify with the leaf.
One week before classes began for her final semester of college, she was in the rock-clinging rest period. Barring a stumble in the upper-level statistics class that worried her, she would graduate in December with a business degree from Texas A&M University. Behind her swirled the eddy of her collegiate years. She’d loved her time as an undergrad, and she hated to think this time of her life would soon be over. Part of Leaf-Molly wanted to slip off the stone and work her way back to that pool, where she’d found peace and sanctuary away from the turbulence of her imploding family.
Even as she yearned for the familiar comfort of the past, she looked forward to leaping today into the churning white water of life after college. The rapids ahead promised thrills and excitement. A new career. A new home. New people in her life.
Which brought her thoughts to Mason. Mason Malone, whom she’d dated since her sophomore year. Would he be her white-water guide, or were they destined to travel two different creek branches after college?
Molly didn’t know where Mason stood on the matter of marriage. They’d only talked about a possible future in vague, general terms. True, she’d sent him mixed messages about her opinion of marriage depending on whether she’d recently spoken with one of her parents. Still, he hadn’t seemed all that anxious to bring up the subject himself, either.
Stop it,she scolded herself. She shouldn’t let concerns about the future cloud her enjoyment of today. This was resting-on-the-rock time, after all. She and Mason had spent a fabulous morning with their group of college friends biking the Alpine Loop above Eternity Springs. When Mason had asked to spend some time alone with her this afternoon, she’d quickly agreed. They had a picnic date, and she intended to enjoy it.
“Hello, beautiful.”
Molly turned at the welcome sound of Mason Malone’s voice. “Hey, handsome. You’re early.”
“So are you,” he replied, his grin just a little bashful as he approached the bridge from the direction of Cavanaugh House, the main structure on the grounds of Angel’s Rest Healing Center and Spa, the resort where their group was staying.
Molly’s heart turned over at his smile. Mason was tall, with a lean, lanky build, sun-bleached hair, and eyes that reminded her of a mountain forest—deep green with flecks of gold and brown. He was an engineering student at A&M, a small-town boy whose polite manners and gentle nature sometimes reminded her of her father. She was head-over-heels in love with Mason.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, calling her attention to the picnic basket he carried in his right hand.
“Starved,” she replied. “Vacationing is hard work.”
“Tell me about it,” Mason replied. “This altitude has me huffing and puffing like a flatlands boy.”
“You are a flatlands boy,” Molly pointed out.
“True. A flatlands boy and”—he reached for her hand, then leaned down to give her a slow, thorough kiss—“a hungry man.”
The look in his eyes told her he wasn’t thinking about sandwiches. Molly played with the top button of his green checkered sport shirt. “Just how private is this picnic spot you’ve picked out?”
“Not private enough, I’m afraid,” he said, giving a rueful sigh. “I should have planned better.” But after a ten-minute, hand-in-hand walk through the rose garden at Angel’s Rest, he led her to a grassy spot beside the creek where it was apparent that he’d planned perfectly.
A beautiful double wedding ring quilt stitched in shades of autumn lay spread across the ground. One of her favorite songs played softly from a small wireless speaker sitting off to one side. At one corner of the quilt sat a glass ice bucket, two crystal champagne flutes, and a tall, clear vase filled with a dozen red roses. “Oh, wow.” Then her brow creased in worry. “Did I forget a special occasion?”
“Every day with you is a special occasion.”
“Oh, Mason.” She rolled her eyes, but her heart went warm and gooey inside. “Everything is so lovely. You’ve gone to so much trouble.”
“I wanted our picnic to be perfect.”
Molly glanced around. The forest, the perfume of roses on the air, their song blended with the music of the bubbling creek, majestic mountain peaks rising beyond the valley. “It is perfect, Mason.”
“Wait until you see what we have to eat. I got your favorite.”
“Chicken salad sandwiches from the Mocha Moose?” Molly had enjoyed everything she’d ordered at the small coffee-and-sandwich shop in town, but their chicken salad topped her list.
“No.” He set the picnic basket beside the flowers, took her into his arms, and kissed her so sweetly that Molly’s knees went weak. “PB and J. With toasted bread, crunchy peanut butter, and elderberry jam.”
“Elderberry! I can’t believe they had that in the little grocery store here.”
