Holiday Magic (Second Chance) by Susanne Matthews Page A

it’s silly to act as if the last seven years of our lives never existed. I suppose you’re still black coffee and a donut from that bakery near your office?”
    He chuckled and nodded. “Guilty as charged, but sometimes I actually have a bowl of cereal first.”
    He relaxed, as if a weight had been taken from him. She was beginning to think she might not be the only one stuck in the past, and if that were the case, what did it mean? The shreds of her pride, the only thing that had sustained her three years ago, and the fear Lucy had been correct, and she had brought all this misery down on both of them by refusing to listen to anyone, kept her silent.
    The snow fell steadily, slowing the traffic. By the time they arrived in Palmerton, visibility was poor.
    “It’s a good thing this van has a GPS. We won’t be able to find the place just by looking for it.”
    They stopped at a grocery store and picked up the makings for a spaghetti dinner, some luncheon meat for sandwiches, and the staples they would need for an overnight stay. Mark had added a couple of bottles of wine and a case of beer, both of them the brands she preferred. The Christmas tree lot was right next door to the grocery store, and they selected a ten foot balsam pine. Mrs. Ingram had told them that the living room had a twenty foot ceiling, so they could get one of the taller trees. The Ingram’s were celebrating Christmas early since their son was being deployed on the fifteenth, and they wanted to enjoy Christmas together before he left.
    The chalet was ten miles on the other side of town. Mark noted how sparsely inhabited the area was. The laneway to the chalet was barely passable, and although it was only noon, there were at least six inches of snow on the ground. If this kept up all day, they would definitely be snowed-in, and possibly for longer than one night.
    Mark stopped the van near the back door of the chalet, a Swiss-styled A-frame facing the woods and the mountains. Even the back of the cedar building was attractive and fit nicely into the stunning mountain scenery surrounding it.
    “Wait here. I’ll unlock the door. After we empty the van, I’ll see if I can put it in the garage.” He indicated the smaller building to the left of the chalet.
    He tied his jacket and pulled on a wool cap and gloves. When he opened the van door, the wind blew inside, causing what little heat there was to vanish. She grabbed her coat and followed him, eager to get inside.
    Mark opened the door, but it was as cold inside as it was outside. When he flipped the switch, the light didn’t come on. He saw a note on the counter in the mudroom they had entered. There was enough light coming in from the door and the window beside it to allow him to read the message.
    Dear Mr. Anderson,
    Mrs. Ingram said you would be up on Friday. The generator is all gassed up and ready for you to start. It’s in the garage. The stove and fridge are gas powered as is the hot water tank. Instructions for turning the tank up are next door in the utility room. The fridge and stove are on, but the well runs off the generator. There’s no phone, but I’m guessing you’ll have a cell. If you need anything, call me at 445-8795. The woodstove heats up quickly. Three good logs should see you through the night if you have to stay. Call me when you leave, and I’ll come down and close up. There’s more wood under the front deck. If that runs out, there’s some in the garage. The fridge is stocked with food, and Mrs. I. said to help yourselves to whatever you like.
    Charlie.
    “Well, let’s get this inside, so you can get that generator started, and we don’t freeze to death.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    The ground level of the chalet consisted of a large entrance area from which a door led to the utility room that housed the water tank, a washer and dryer, a selection of ski equipment and other outdoor gear, a variety of tools and an eight-foot step ladder. Next to the