by
IvanaBgood
(IvanaBgood@aol.com)
The peal of the doorbell became just another part of the myriad of noises that resonated through out the household. CC scrunched her nose in annoyance and stretched a hand out to shove the office door closed.
"Yeowch!" Niles rubbed his nose as he gave CC an evil glare.
She gleefully laughed, "I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried."
Niles squinted his eyes at her and dryly replied, "If your parents had planned better, they might have realized sooner that the rhythm method doesn’t work."
"Oh, what do you want anyway? Don’t you have toilet bowls to scrub?"
"Yes, I do." Walking closer, he smirked. "Open wide."
She folded her arms tightly against her chest and sat back away from him.
"As you British like to say, bugger off!"
"It would be a pleasure. But first, here. It looks like your date would rather wire you a ‘no’ and who could blame him?"
Concerned, "A telegram?" As she ripped it open, she glanced up, "For this I need no audience."
"Oh sorry. Am I suppose to wave a fiver over my head?"
Snarled, "Get out Niles!"
His chuckles could still be heard as the door softly closed behind him.
Mimi isn’t well. Need your help. Please come.
Uncle Nathan
CC’s hand cradled the telegram. Her mind already formulating a plan.
"CC, are you okay?"
"Hmmm?" she answered vaguely as her eyes focused on Maxwell.
"You look a bit peaked. Is everything fine?"
"Yes, yes it is. Maxwell, I’m going to need to take an extended leave of absence."
"Umm…well, alright. When?"
"Now. I’ll be making my travel arrangements in a few moments."
"CC, what is going on?" He picked up the phone that her fingers were trying to absently grasp and handed it to her.
"A relative of mine needs my help. I must fly to Denver."
"Since when are your relatives a high priority on your list?" Fran asks as she barged in.
"Since when is my private life any of your business?" CC’s foot tapped as she waited for the airline to answer the phone.
"Since I moved in here of course. Aren’t you use to that yet?" Fran rolled her eyes and then smiled at her husband. "Sweetie, Niles just left to get more hors d’oeuvres for your backers party. Do you think your guests would prefer crunchy or puffy Cheetos?"
Maxwell wrapped his arms around his beautiful wife and kissed her pretty little nose.
"If he just left, how is he suppose to know which ones to get?"
"I told him I would call him in the limo. He loves it when he gets to sit in the back, prop his feet up, and drink your best bottle of…" Noticing her husband’s growing anger, "Pepsi."
"Then tell him no Cheetos. Stick to the usual fare of canapés."
Raising her hands up as she walked away mumbling, "Far be it for me to bring something tasty to this soiree." Sticks her head into the doorway, "How about Pringles?"
"No."
"Okay. I just thought they would have fun with those round canisters."
CC’s voice snapped into the phone, "I need to leave within the hour. And I want an SUV waiting there for me. All the features. Of course snow tires!"
Maxwell cringed a bit as the phone is hung up jarringly down onto his desk. "CC, I get the feeling that something is wrong."
"What makes you say that? I’ll phone you from the hotel that I’ll be staying at Maxwell.
And did I hear Nanny Fine say that Butler Boy was out on some errand?"
"Yes, did you want me to pass a message on to him?"
She went over their last conversation in her mind and her lips parted into a slight smile as she remembered Niles rubbing his nose.
"CC?"
Snapped out of her reverie, "Did you say something to Maxwell?"
"It’s a good thing you are leaving. I think you are due for a long vacation. What I have been asking you is, if you want me to tell Niles something?"
She grabbed her purse from the couch. "Of course not! It will be heaven to get away from that servant of yours."
~~~~
Fat puffs of snow tumbled out of the night sky and floated past the lodge window. CC stared as the flakes melted against the panes. Closing her eyes, CC turned away from the drifting flakes, momentarily surrendering to an onslaught of memories. It would have been wiser to remain in safe, crowded New York. Where the white stuff is moved aside by snowplows. Her mind always resolutely ignored the winter wonderland as she sat in a warm taxi and traveled to and from her home to work.
Shivering against the cold leaking from the windows, she drew a deep breath,
realizing that maybe it was time to face what she ran away from so long ago.
"CC is that you?"
She might have guessed she couldn’t hide in this alcove forever. Smothering a sigh, CC straightened and pasted a smile on her lips. Then relaxed with genuine pleasure at the sight of her friend Dee Dee.
"Dee Dee - You look great! We never did get to visit with each other in New York."
"You look spectacular! Living there must agree with you."
"Oh, I love it there. And thank you so much for helping me out on such short notice. Maxwell said you did a splendid job."
"I enjoyed working for Maxwell. Tell me…how is Niles?" Dee Dee winked.
"Niles? Same as always. Obnoxious. Why do you ask?"
"Oh no reason. It’s just that being an old married woman now, that butler has been popping up in my fantasies."
"Same old Dee Dee. You never did have much taste." After a moment of thought,
"You did say that nothing happened between you right?"
"I didn’t say. But I’m just as surprised now as when you asked me then. You’re not interested in him yourself are you?"
"No, of course not! Come on, I need to find Uncle Nathan and Aunt Mimi."
"Liar." Her blue eyes twinkled. She tilted her head as she examined CC and with a great heave and a sigh of mock despair. "You really do look gorgeous. Now I remember why I hated you in high school and envied you in college."
CC grinned. "Now who’s the liar? Remember that Sigma Chi? Chas Somebody? You stole him right under my nose."
"One of the high points of my life. But that was when you were in your study-hard-and-eat-everything-in-sight phase. So it doesn’t count."
"It really is good to see you CC. You could write something more than a scribbled Christmas card, you know. How are you - really?"
"I’m fine - really." Even standing in the alcove away from the noisy phones and constant ringing of a bell, they had to shout to be heard. "I love my job, love New York. Things couldn’t be better."
If that were true, then why did she occasionally experience a vague restlessness, as if something were missing. A fleeting expression of annoyance darkened CC’s blue eyes. This was hardly the moment for self-examination.
Dee Dee nods. "I’m glad you came home to help Nathan and Mimi. It hasn’t been the same without you."
"What? I can’t hear…"
"…talk about you all the time. I know it means the world to them that…"
A flush of discomfort tinged CC’s cheeks. She hasn’t seen her relatives in a very long time. And tried to shove them to the back of the recesses of her memory. Not wanting to remember, she turned away from Dee Dee’s curious gaze. Well, she was here now. And it was every bit as upsetting as she had imagined it would be. Memories assaulted her at every turn. As she searched the large room, she found her aunt and uncle near the registration counter. They beamed with pleasure and pride as they held hands. Her uncle looked younger than the white hair and creased face would indicate. Her aunt sat in a wheel chair and it shocked CC to realize how she had aged all these years.
~~~~
He looked around the living room. Niles could not spot the bottle blonde anywhere. As he edged towards Fran , she laughed loudly at some remark she made to a guest, "And close."
Fran shuts her mouth in mid-laugh. "What’s wrong with you Niles? You have been hovering around this room for the past twenty minutes."
"I’m suppose to hover. I’m passing out the hors d’oeuvres."
"Yeah, but this time it’s a different kind of flight. Like you’re looking for prey."
"I have this strong urge to step on Babcock’s foot. But I can’t find Her Hugeness anywhere."
"That’s because she left." Fran turned back towards her guest.
"Are you telling me she drank herself to oblivion already?" Niles asked in astonishment.
"No. She left. Leave of absence. Gone. Now let me finish telling this sweet woman about my Uncle Irving and his mishap with an ice cream truck."
"But why?"
"Because they gave him a fudgsicle, but without the sno-cone, chocolate malted, and big stick chaser."
"Not that. Why did Miss Babcock have to leave?"
"Something to do with a relative and a telegram. What’s wrong Niles…you seem very concerned?
"Only because I’ll be stuck with cases of alcohol at the end of the night for once," he replied flustered.
"Eh heh," Fran nodded knowingly as she rubbed her pregnant belly.
~~~~
Delaying the inevitable, CC approached a table overflowing with canapés and finger food. She chose a pinwheel of ham and cream cheese, pretending that she wanted it and wandered away from the group near the center of the table.
As she tossed a wave of silky blonde hair over her shoulder, she stared at the staircase leading up to the balcony that opened onto the family quarters. As did everything else, it reminded her of the best vacations she ever had. She had played on those stairs. CC smiled sadly as she remembers how they had sailed paper airplanes from the balcony.
A quiet voice interrupted her thoughts. "Are you alright?"
CC blinked at the ham and cheese pinwheel posed midway to her mouth. Then she raised her head and stared into her uncle’s curious gaze.
"Yes, I…" It embarrassed her to be caught in a moment of vulnerability. "I’m fine. How are you Uncle Nathan?"
He patted her on her arm, "Good. Missed you girl. You looked like you were a million miles away."
She had been. She’d been lost in another time, watching ghosts. A line of knots tensed her jawline.
CC drew a long, slow breath. "Well, I’m here. I saw Aunt Mimi. Want to fill me in?"
"Heart attack." He sighed. "I told her to take it easy, but you know your aunt, stubborn.
I was hoping Noel or DD would come with you so it wouldn’t all be on your shoulders."
She smiled wanly, "You know this place wasn’t special to them like it was to me. Besides Noel is busy at the University."
Uncle Nathan gripped her forearm closely, "I knew that those rumors I heard about you were wrong CC."
"Rumors?"
"That you were a cold, calculating business woman with no regard but for herself."
"Oh, those rumors."
"I wasn’t sure if you would come. So I didn’t tell Mimi. She’ll be surprised. Come on, let’s not make her wait." He enthused.
~~~~
"Maxwell, I am not wrong. Believe me I know what I’m saying." Fran pleaded.
He sighed as he absent-mindedly tousled his hair, "Remember what happened the last time you stuck your finger into the dam?"
"The damn what? And watch your language. I don’t want Schlomo to think his daddy has a potty mouth."
Maxwell took his wife into his arms as they snuggled in bed, "What I mean is, do you remember when you convinced Lester to marry my sister?"
A blissful expression entered Fran’s face, "Of course. They got married."
"And then they got divorced."
"I prefer to look at the lemonade rather than at the lemons, thank you very much."
"Sweetheart, all I’m saying is there may be a slight chance that Niles cares for CC and vice-versa, but how do you know it will work out?"
"I just do. I can feel it. That night when you, Gracie and Miss Babcock got into a car crash, we didn’t know what happened to you. Niles got very forceful on the phone to the authorities. He said that he loved Miss Babcock right there, out loud, on the phone."
"And then…"
"And then he backpedaled." Fran sighed and then elbowed Max.
"Oww! What was that for?"
"You British men and your take-backs and backpedaling. It’s enough to drive us American women bonkers."
"Like you women are an easy slate to read? And how do you know that CC cares for Niles? From what I noticed, she can’t stand him."
"Sweetie, don’t forget Gracie was in that car with you and Miss Babcock. She told me about the whole thing."
"What whole thing. Nothing happened. We got stuck in the snow and we waited for the proper authorities."
"You know I’ve always wondered about that. What the heck are improper authorities?
Do they flirt with you and then save you?"
"Fran!"
"What? I think it’s an intriguing question." At Max’s glare, "Okay, when you were all stuck there, scared, worried that you wouldn’t be saved before the gas ran out. What did Miss Babcock say?"
Maxwell squinted his eyes in thought and tilted his head to one side as if the elevation would help his brain reach new heights. "Ah yes, I remember. She started singing a Christmas carol."
"But is that what she meant to do?"
"Fran, what are you trying to get at?" Max asked in exasperation.
"Gracie said that Miss Babcock became frightened and distressed. She mentioned something like ‘never feeling the sweet touch of her beautiful Ni…,’ I think Miss Babcock was about to say Niles. And so does Gracie."
"Well, I don’t."
"Oh honey, you’re a man. You don’t count."
"Then what am I here for?"
"You’re my sounding board, my confidant. And besides it’s too late to call Ma."
"Great," he grumped as he turned over on his side.
"And after I talk to you," Fran spooned herself behind her husband, "there are certain fringe benefits that I can’t get from anyone else."
Maxwell chuckled, forgiving his wife as he enjoyed her comforting caresses.
~~~~
"CC, come here so I can get a good look at you!" Her Aunt Mimi enthused, as she reached for her niece’s hand.
"Hello Auntie," she replied, awkwardly bending down.
"This wheelchair must have been a shock to you, but you know it won’t slow me down," her eyes snapped brightly.
"You need to learn to relax and take things easy now."
Aunt Mimi swiveled her head around to frown at her husband. "You told her didn’t you," she asked with a frown.
"I had to. I didn’t invest over 40 years into this marriage to end up spending my twilight years in an old folks home alone playing bingo with a bunch of old fogies."
CC smiled sadly. How I missed this.
She turned to face her niece again, "Are you here for good?"
CC crouched down so that her aunt wouldn’t have to strain her neck, "No. I’m just here to help out and find a competent person to take over your business. You know I have a job I love back in New York."
"Yes, yes. All that Broadway nonsense. You belong here. You will always belong here.
Things happen. You shouldn’t let that stop you from what you want."
"Now, now. Don’t get yourself worked up," Nathan soothed. "CC is here now. Why don’t we enjoy that."
"Your ski lodge is quite a success, Aunt Mimi," CC looked around at all the people milling about.
A group entered, wiping snow from their shoulders as they stamped their feet on the rug. A throng of younger skiers gathered in front of the huge fireplace, chatting and enjoying the warmth that the flames provided.
"Yes, and I want to keep it that way. I’ve been waiting for you to come here so that your uncle and I can enjoy some of the money we’ve made. I suppose I should be thankful that you send us a Christmas card, albeit the short messages in them leave something to be desired. But not one visit CC, not one. Not since…," Aunt Mimi stopped as she watched her niece straighten her shoulders and mouth in a determined way. "I’m sorry," Mimi’s eyes glistened, "Come unpack and we’ll talk about much happier things."
"I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll just go rest. Shall I use the room that I use to have?"
"It was a long flight and an unplanned one. I should have known you would be tired instead of wanting to drag you around this lodge. Yes, the same room. It’s all ready for you." Uncle Nathan carried her luggage up the stairs.
~~~~
As Niles set the tea tray down, his eyes widened at his employer’s anger.
"Unbelievable! He quits, just like that! No explanation! If he didn’t just tell me that, I would send him packing this very moment!" Maxwell slammed the phone down.
"Is something wrong sir?"
"Of course something is wrong! The height of the tourist season and I have no one to oversee my staff at Raffi’s!"
"Your restaurant in Colorado?"
"Yes. Richard Sterling decided to take another job and left me high and dry. Now I need to find someone to fill his shoes. Someone who can oversee my cooking staff until I find a worthwhile replacement."
"Honey, I can hear your bellowing all the way from the kitchen. You almost made me drop the delicious cannolis that Niles made this morning. I already finished the leftovers from the party yesterday," Fran sauntered in, holding a plate filled with sweets.
"I tend to bellow when I’m angry sweetheart."
"Now that is something you need to learn to curb. Same with that throbbing pulse on your forehead. Reminds me of the movie Aliens. Except that the throbbing was on this guy’s stomach. And then this disgusting alien burst out…"
"Is there something you came in here for Fran?" Max interrupted.
"Oh yeah. Try this." She picked up a mouth-watering cannoli and raised it to his lips.
"Darling, not now. I have to…mmphh."
"That’s right, now chew. Doesn’t that taste heavenly?"
"Mmm…" Maxwell smacked his lips, "you’re right. Niles that is one of the best desserts you have ever made. In fact…"
Niles backed away as a strange look overtook Maxwell’s face.
"Fran, you are a genius. You solved my problem."
"Sweetie, I solved your problem last night," at his frown, "Oh you mean this
problem. Uhh…what was it again?"
"I needed someone to oversee my cooking staff and here is the perfect person right under my nose."
"No sweetie, that’s just the creme filling," Fran wiped it off.
"Niles, pack your bags. You, old man, are going to Vail."
"Vail! But sir, what about here? Who is going to take care of all of you?"
"Excuse me, but I can do it," Fran replied, "I am the children’s mother."
"I’m talking about the cooking, the cleaning and my various other duties."
"Oh, you’re right. Max, we can’t spare him."
"Yes, we can. Niles, I’ll have Fran book you a flight today. Now go and pack."
As the couple watched him leave, they whispered conspiratorially at each other.
"Alright, I’m sending him to Colorado. Same town where CC is at. If they were meant to be, that’s all the push they need."
"Believe me sweetie - this is what they both need. They just don’t know it." She kissed her husband soundly. "Now about all this cooking and cleaning jazz…I’m not getting stuck with all that am I? Because that’s a high price to pay for amour."
~~~~
Beneath her boots the snow squeaked, as it always does when the temperature had frozen it brittle. All around her rose the shouts of skiers comparing runs. CC shoved her hands into her pockets and clenched her mittens into tight balls, listening though she didn’t want to.
"Did you ski Simba?"
"Nope. Too advanced for me. Did you try…?"
"I’ve had it, man. I’m freezing. Let’s find someplace for a good hot cup of cocoa…"
"Someone said they’re going to close the mountain. The weather is really getting rough and…"
"Maybe we can get in one more run before…"
CC had skied Simba. She knew it well. And she could have told them where to find the best hot chocolate in town. And once, she too, would have rushed to make one more run, no matter how bad the weather.
Damn! She did not want this. Where was the shuttle stop? She was sweating again and feeling shaky inside.
"Look out, lady!" A pair of skis swerved by her boots. She had time to glimpse a blue cap and parka before they flashed past.
"Hey! Get outta the way." Levi’s and a yellow jacket flew by her on the right.
CC blinked and stared around her. Many of the major runs ended at this point. They funneled through a wide gate and spilled the skiers out onto the nearly level snowpack where she was standing.
Dodging gliding forms, CC dashed to one side and pressed into the crowd of spectators. She drew a deep breath. Her gaze turned up the slope toward the brightly clad skiers emerging from a curtain of snow. They flashed past her like the shimmering colors of a cool rainbow.
Unable to stop herself, she stared at them, mesmerized. Automatically, she judged their form and expertise. Most were amateurs, slowing with a determined snowplow. But here and there, an expert flew through the worsening storm. A symphony of grace and form.
One in particular caught CC’s eyes. This was no amateur, she thought, watching him with traitorous pleasure. Edging slightly forward, she shaded her eyes from the driving snow and watched him gracefully flash into a sharp parallel turn, cutting back up the slope to slow his speed. The maneuver was executed so perfectly that CC felt an urge to applaud. Watching him was almost like watching a dancer, so effortless did he make it appear.
Apparently she wasn’t the only person who admired the skier’s skill and aplomb. Two college-aged girls standing behind her clapped their mittens together as the man slid to a halt a few feet away. He grinned at them, lowered his poles and leaned into a mock bow.
Then he raised his goggles.
CC’s eyes widened in surprise. Niles saw her and his grin altered to a wary smile.
"Miss Babcock?"
She looked at him for a long moment. Then her eyes slowly traveled down his body and
then back up to his curious blue gaze. For a moment she felt like she wasn’t alone anymore. She exhaled slowly, "Damn," she whispered helplessly.
~~~~
"Okay, I convinced your father to send Niles. I hope this all works out, I really had to twist his arm," Fran pointed out as she expertly picked out a milk chocolate amongst the nougat in the box of candy and snuggled herself deeply into the couch.
"Great! Because believe me there is something between those two," Maggie replied as she ironed.
"You guys are crazy! CC and Niles - together! It will never happen!" Brighton exclaimed as he leaned over the piano to dust the photographs.
"But remember how funny they were acting a few weeks ago? Feeding each other cookies and calling each other ‘Baby’ and ‘Dumplin’?" Gracie responded as she folded the laundry.
"Yeah, that was odd," Maggie agreed. "They were eating cookies by the handful and Fran, you and Dad were drinking an awful lot of shakes."
"That was your Dad not me. As for Miss Babcock and Niles…and those cookies, what happened?" She asked worriedly.
"Well, one time Miss Babcock was leaning on the piano and Niles was singing to her," Brighton answered. "And she was giggling. Scariest thing I ever heard," he shivered.
"I think it’s romantic," Maggie replied wistfully. "Imagine them meeting ‘accidentally’ on the slopes."
"Now imagine them pelting each other with snowballs. Or even better, starting an avalanche from all their screams and insults," Brighton grinned.
"You’re wrong. I’ve been closely watching their interaction with one another. I believe that they secretly have a spiritual fire for one another. A strong passion just simmering from within," Gracie interjected.
"No way! You must be sneaking Danielle Steele books from Fran’s nightstand again," Brighton walked over to his sisters. "And I have a twenty in my pocket that says those two will come back from the slopes, hating each other even more."
"Alright stain, you’ve got yourself a bet!" Maggie shook her brother’s hand.
"Leave me outta this one. I just hope you girls are right because I don’t want Niles coming back with broken bones and bruises. He’ll need to cook," Fran said over her shoulder as she walked to the office.
~~~~
CC overslept, something she hated doing. Morning was the prime of her day, the time when she felt at her best. And even worse, she awoke with a vague feeling of unease, as if she’d left something unfinished.
She yawned, swung long legs over the side of the bed, then smiled, as delighted as she’d been as a child by the lacy ice crystals patterned across the lower windowpanes.
Jumping from the bed, she faced the wall and swung her arms above her head, beginning her stretching exercises. Forcibly clearing her mind, she concentrated solely on limbering hamstrings, quadriceps and the gluteus group. Smoothly she moved into lifts, then ran in place, performing the simple yet effective series her aunt had designed for her so many years ago.
As much as she rejected the past, CC thought irritably, she was still controlled by it.
Still doing specialized exercises she no longer required. Whoever claimed habit ruled one’s life knew what he was talking about.
After dressing quickly, she braided her hair into a loose coil that swung down the back of her sweater, then went downstairs. She spotted her aunt immediately. As she moved behind the counter, CC took over and processed a Visa card for a couple who were checking out while Mimi registered a family of four. She filed the paperwork and studiously avoiding her aunt’s gaze, "Today I think I’ll make a round of calls and by tomorrow I should be able to find someone to take over for you and Uncle Nathan."
"Then it’s jetting around the world for us," Mimi grinned. "But for now, I’m going to enjoy you being here with us."
"I’ll probably be leaving tomorrow."
"But you only just got here!" She exclaimed as she tried to make eye contact with her niece.
"I’m here now and well, you know I have a job waiting for me in New York. Besides, this town has suddenly gotten too crowded." Her thoughts go back to yesterday and her surprised sighting of Niles.
~~~~
"Miss Babcock, what are you doing here?"
"Working, which is more than I can say for you!"
He looked at her quizzically. "I thought you went to visit your relatives?"
"I am," her boots slipped a little as she quickly walked away. And she heaved a sigh of relief as the distance between them enlarged. Looking up she read the swinging sign, Raffi’s. The enticing odors wafted their way to her senses and she decided to step in for lunch.
A waiter approached, "Table for one ma’am?"
At CC’s nod, a silky voice from behind replied. "Make it for two, Finch."
CC spun around and turned right into a navy blue ski sweater filled solidly by Niles.
Finch nodded, "Follow me please."
Surprise rooted her to the spot. A moment later she tried to push her way past him and out the door.
"Miss Babcock, I’m trying to be chivalrous here, but I’m famished. If you don’t start following the waiter to our table, I may have to embarrass you."
With a scowl she strode over to the table and snatched a menu from the waiter.
"I don’t know what you are doing in Vail, Niles. Another social gathering for that group of yodelers of yours, you so laughingly refer to as a Glee Club?"
He opened his menu and a lopsided grin lit his features. "I work here." At her astonished look, he asked Finch to bring them two hot spiced rums. "Now that that riddle is solved," he turned his attention back to CC, "why are you here?"
"No big deal. I’m helping out some relatives."
"Since when do you help out anyone, let alone family?" he asked in surprise.
The waiter’s interruption staved off an immediate reply. CC ordered the first thing she saw on the menu. Pita bread stuffed with something. It really didn’t matter. There was no way she could enjoy this lunch. When the waiter drifted away, she clasped her hands and leaned against the booth. Her eyes jerked towards the figure standing suddenly before her.
"CC, what a coincidence!" Dee Dee greeted. Then her head snapped back in surprise as her eyes landed on the dark blonde sitting across from her friend. "Piles, is that you?!"
Grinning, "Hello Dee Dee. What a wonderful surprise!" He took her hands in his as he stood up to greet her.
"I’ll say! In fact I was just talking about you to CC yesterday."
"Were you?" He turned and gave CC a wondering look. Getting no reply from CC, he shrugged. "Please sit down and join us," he asked, as he pulled out a chair and pushed it gently under her.
"What’s this Piles stuff?" CC inquired as she took a sip of her rum.
"Oh, that was just my little nickname for him," Dee Dee winked at Niles as she squeezed his hand.
"Was it?" Her tone was clipped, her eyes cool as they swept over their clasped hands on the table. "How very appropriate. I’ve always thought he was full of it."
"CC - you and your wicked humor! Mmm…Niles your rum smells divine, may I?"
"Be my guest," he replied as he handed her his cup.
"Why don’t you just have mine Dee Dee. I have to be going." CC stood up.
"Thank you, but this one has a special flavor all it’s own," she purred to Niles.
As her eyes rolled heavenward, CC threw some money on the table and left.
She flung a curt goodbye over her shoulder.
~~~~
"It looks like you and your son were right. Miss Babcock came straight over here from the airport, worked herself like a dog and then crashed into a deep sleep in the guest room."
"I don’t want to tell you I told you so, but…" Maxwell smirked as he tightened the knot on his tie.
"Yeah, yeah. Once in a blue moon the Sheffield men are correct. Enjoy it while you can," she replied, as she reached over to answer the ringing phone."
~~~~
CC knew that she was dreaming. It was the sort of half-dream that came just before the icy burst of awakening. The time when your mind tells you that you’re being caught in a web of fantasy and all you had to do to leave it was wake up.
Come on, CC, a tiny voice whispered. None of this is real. Open your eyes and wake up.
The dream was never exactly the same whenever it occurred. Once, she was deep within a wondrous forest, the smell of pine sharp to her nose. Another time, she was walking on the sun-warmed rocks of a pebbled beach beside an aqua sea. But there was always a sense of anticipation, of trembling expectancy - and then suddenly, her heart would pulsate with fire, her blood would thicken.
This time she found herself in a vast meadow filled with a realm of wild flowers. CC hesitated as she beheld her surroundings. Her skin tingled. Yes, he was here. She could sense his presence. He was somewhere just ahead, waiting for her.
Wake up, CC, the voice within her implored. You need to wake up!
She tried, but her eyelids felt too heavy. The sweep of lashes that lay against her cheeks quivered with effort, then soothed. With a soft sigh of surrender, CC fell willingly into the spiraling darkness.
The dream welcomed her like an old friend.
‘Hello, CC.’
Beneath her thin silk negligee, CC’s breasts rose and fell with wariness and excitement. There he was, rising to his feet in the tall grass of the meadow. Mist swirled around him, obscuring his face. Still, she knew him: his silky voice, his broad shoulders, even the elusive scent of his cologne.
CC smiled. ‘You’re here,’ she said in a whisper.
‘Did you think I wouldn’t be?’
I…I wasn’t sure.’ She fell silent. ‘Were you waiting for me?’
She thought he smiled. ‘I’ve always waited for you.’
‘Won’t you tell me who you are?’ she asked.
He laughed softly. ‘You know who I am.’
‘I don’t,’ she insisted. ‘I’ve never seen your face. You won’t let me.’
His voice roughened, ‘You’ve never looked.’
‘I have. But you always stand in the shadows.’
‘And you never come close enough to see me.’
CC shook her head. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
Her voice faded to silence. He was walking towards her, slowly, his pace more even than her erratic heartbeat. She could see him emerging from the haze.
‘Wait,’ she said, taking a hurried step back. ‘Don’t - don’t come to me. I…I don’t want -
I’m not…’
Her feet were rooted to the ground. She closed her eyes tightly before he reached her. His arms closed around her, and she began to tremble.
‘CC.’
Her name was a whisper in the still air, carrying within it everything she had ever hoped for. He drew her closer. Her head fell against his chest. Beneath her ear, his heart was
racing as swiftly as hers.
‘You smell of violets,’ he said softly.
‘No,’ she said. ‘This is wrong. I can’t…’
His mouth was at her temple. She could feel the heat of his lips, the coolness of his breath. God, she was melting, turning into liquid fire.
‘How can something we both want so badly be wrong?’ he whispered.
CC felt her heart lift with joy. She had waited so long for this, for the warmth of his embrace, the touch of his mouth…
‘No,’ she said again, but even as she said it her face was lifting to his, her hands were sliding up his chest to his shoulders, her lips were parting…
‘CC.’
‘CC…’
"CC! For heaven’s sake, didn’t you hear the alarm?"
CC’s eyes flew open. Disoriented, she stared blindly at the figure beside the bed.
"Where is he?" she said. "He was just…"
"He?" Maxwell asked.
"He who?" Fran questioned from the doorway. "That must have been some dream. You were thrashing around in here like a fish on a line, muttering to yourself."
She had that dream again, CC thought, as she sat up and threaded her fingers into the blonde hair that tumbled slightly below her shoulders. It had taken her by surprise. Days had passed since the last time, long enough so she’d begun to think - to hope - it was gone forever. And now, it had returned. Starting and ending just as it always did, leaving her no nearer understanding what it meant than when it had first begun three years ago.
No, that wasn’t true. The dream hadn’t ended as it always did. This time, the man had taken her in his arms, she’d felt the hard press of his body, the heat of his lips…
"…loud enough to wake the dead. How could you have slept through it, when it was enough to wake Grace in the next room?"
CC blinked and stared up at Max. His face flushed with irritation.
"I’m sorry Maxwell."
"Well, you should be."
"Leave her alone. Can’t you see she had a long night. And she caught you up in your books too. Something you’ve been trying to do all week while she was gone," Fran chastised her husband.
"You’re right. It is I who should be apologizing to you CC. I’m just upset because of Niles’ phone call," Max replied sheepishly.
CC pushed aside the blankets and swung her feet to the floor, "What’s wrong with Butler Boy? Screaming for help because he can’t handle the restaurant business for a measly month?" She chortled.
"No, quite the opposite. Since he has taken over, the place is packed. Raffi’s has just been written up by the premier food critic Lorenzo and already making a very tidy profit. In fact, he wants to stay."
"He what?" CC asked with a shocked expression on her face.
"He called to say he would like to stay in Vail. That he’ll miss us, but he really likes his new responsibilities," Fran answered sadly.
"It was a rather strange conversation I must say," Max added, as he rubbed his chin.
"It sure was. I’m going to call him back and find out what he means," Fran left the room.
"What is your silly wife babbling about Maxwell?"
As he followed Fran out, he turned and replied. "Niles said that a certain woman helped him to arrive at this decision. But he wouldn’t explain how…or who."
CC sat down on the soft bench at the foot of her bed. "I knew it…damn that Dee Dee."
She closed her eyes and remembered what happened that night, before she decided to fly back to New York.
"Auntie, I found the perfect person to take care of this place for you. Now you and Uncle Nathan can enjoy your retirement in peace."
"Oh CC, thank you so much. That news makes me feel so much better!" She patted her niece’s hand.
"It’s the least I could do. I never did thank you and Uncle Nathan for all the wonderful times you let me stay here when I would normally have been stuck in boarding school."
"It was our pleasure and you know it. I just wish we could have convinced your parents to have let you stay here full time. You would have had a great future CC."
"I do Auntie," CC sighed as she pulled away.
"Now, now CC you know what I mean. I know you’re a successful business woman. I’ve read about all your Broadway accomplishments. And I’m very proud of you." She patted her hand again. "It’s just…oh, you know. I just wish I could convince you that none of it was your fault."
CC straightened up and nervously smoothed her hair, "I don’t like to think about that."
Hearing the heavy wooden front doors creak open, she turned. Her eyes widen in surprise. "Niles?"
Aunt Mimi glanced from one to the other. "You two know each other?" Then sighed,
"That was obviously a stupid question. Niles is one of our new lodgers and a treat to this never ending appetite of mine."
"Hello Mimi. Miss Babcock, I didn’t realize that you were staying here also. It’s a wonder our paths didn’t cross here rather than out in the slopes."
Her eyes flash to her niece’s face, "You went to the slopes?"
"Just to sight-see. Nothing else. And speaking of appetites. I’ve been on the phone for hours trying to tie up everything that I missed dinner. I think I’ll go grab something before I go to bed."
"All the restaurants are closed. It’s quite late," Niles spotted CC’s coat hanging on the wall near the registration desk.
"Not even Domino’s?" she sighed, "I forgot this is not like New York. I suppose I’ll just have to wait until morning then."
"Nonsense. Put this on. I know of one place that might make an exception in your case."
Niles held her coat open for her.
Mimi tried to hide a smile from her niece.
"No. Forget it. I think I still have some peanuts in my purse from the airplane."
"Will you stop being so obstinate? We both know how you get when you miss a meal.
And there’s already an Abominable Snowman lurking somewhere out there, we don’t need two." He pushed her ski cap down her face and threw her mittens at her.
"You mean Snowwoman don’t you Niles," Mimi questioned as she enjoyed watching
CC doing something against her will.
"Nope." He held the door open and followed CC outside.
Go on to Part Two
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