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Yet, as swiftly as the moment had materialized, a silent and somber agreement passed between them as their gazes locked once more.
Their lips never met, the near-kiss dissolving into the quiet night.
“Good night, Maren,” he said, his voice a husky whisper.
She nodded tightly, more disappointed than she would have imagined.
“Good night, Alec.”
***
Sunday
––––––––
Maren stood in the doorway, the inside door pulled wide open while the storm door remained closed. The snow-covered landscape had been transformed, possibly by road crews working overnight, into a more recognizable scene. Gray skieshung overhead but the blizzard had finally relinquished its hold on Western New York. The streets though still laden with remnants of the storm were now navigable, and the driving ban had been lifted.
All the inn’s guests were scheduled to depart this morning.
Breakfast, an hour ago, had been a lively affair, with most of the conversation dedicated to recounting yesterday’s wedding.
She and Alec had reverted to their polite host-slash-guest familiarity, friendly but not personally or overtly so. He’d been the first to depart the breakfast table, but she hadn’t thought it intentional, except that he said he wanted to give Hal a hand outside, as the whirring engine of a snowblower had been heard moving up and down the driveway. Alec had said he would shovel the porch and steps.
Rachel and Dan had been the first to leave, waving a breezy goodbye to Maren as she’d been clearing dishes from the dining room. Mark and Emily had just left, which was what had Maren at the door. Emily had embraced Maren, saying that she was thrilled she only lived an hour away. “I hope you won’t mind if I call you this summer and invite myself down for a visit. I would love to see you again.”
“And the house, of course,” Maren teased.
“Well, naturally,” Emily had said, not bothering to hide the truth, “but more you. I think you’re great, Maren. Thanks so much for a truly memorable experience.”
Upon hearing more footsteps on the stairs, Maren turned to find Alec coming down, his canvas duffle bag thrown over his shoulder while he carried his hardside spinner suitcase.
She stepped back and grabbed his receipt from the front desk, where she had it ready and waiting and greeted him with a forced smile, even as she sensed in him the same palpable reluctance in the air, as if he was also hesitant to let go of the fleeting connection forged in the midst of the blizzard.
“Looks like the weather is finally cooperating,” he remarked. Though his tone was casual, the strength of his gaze betrayed a deeper sentiment.
“Funny,” Maren replied, “how things can change so quickly.” A wistful smile tugged at her lips. “It’s been wonderful having you here. I am very happy to have met you and I hope you have an uneventful flight back to Texas.”
“Actually, I’m staying up in Buffalo for a week, visiting with my parents.”
“Oh, well, then. Enjoy your visit with your family and have a safe flight after that.”
He nodded. “Everything was excellent this weekend, Maren. You’re a natural and made it all look easy.”
“I had tons of help, not least of which was yours. I can’t thank you enough for all that you did. Honestly, you made the whole weekend so much easier.”
A silence lingered between them, pregnant with unspoken words. Maren had a flash of a thought: this thing between her and Alec might be more assumed and hopeful imagination—on her part—than anything else. She felt a pang of regret that she would likely never know.
She stuck out her hand at the same time he smiled awkwardly and opened his arms.
“Oh, yeah,” she said witlessly, laughing, and walked into his hug. “Take care, Alec,” she said at his neck, closing her eyes, reveling in the feel of him, in his scent, and in his arms holding her more tightly than politely.
“You too, Maren,” Alec replied, surprising her by pressing a kiss into her hair.
Neither Alec nor Maren let go immediately. She fought back tears and acknowledged the presence of conflicting emotions, a blend of melancholy and gratitude for a connection that, though brief, felt oddly profound.
And then he was gone.
He dropped his arms and stepped back, wearing a tight smile while he adjusted his duffel bag.
