After they arrived at the airport, Trevor called a cab and told the driver their destination. As they neared a luxurious hotel, Janet spoke up, clearly confused. "This isn't where Axel and I made reservations. You have the wrong place, Trevor."
"Nothin' doin'," said Trevor. "That Axel is a cheap skate so I took the liberty of changin' the reservations! Besides, for some strange reason, he reserved two rooms. Does that not seem odd?" Janet did not respond.
The hotel bellboy took their luggage, and Trevor took Janet by the hand. At the door to their room, he paid the bellboy and sent him away with a wink. Janet noticed the gesture. "What was that all about?"
"Just come inside, kick off your shoes, put the dogs up and relax."
"I'm going to sic the dogs on you if you don't tell me what is going on!"
Trevor answered with, "Just come inside and see." Reluctantly, Janet followed him in. Her jaw almost hit the floor as she took everything in.
The room was covered with flowers, champagne was chilling, and a single red rose lay across an enormous king-sized bed. "This looks like a honeymoon suite," said Janet in awe.
"It is," said Trevor with a smile.
"You told them we were married!!!"
"Well, it's only a matter of time and perspective. It's gonna happen and in my mind, we might as well already be married, so it ain't exactly a lie."
"That sounds a lot like the round-about logic I used to tell myself to justify the horrible things I did," replied Janet.
"Well, this is different; It's a good thing, good for both of us."
Janet surveyed the room. "There is only one bed. Where are you going to sleep?" she asked, although she already knew what his answer would be.
"Snuggled up next to you of course!"
"Think again, buster. I'm engaged to Axel, remember?"
"Axel, Schmaxel, when are you gonna give up on this tall tale? Besides, it's a humongous bed; a family of five could sleep comfortably. If I promise to be a good boy and stay on one side of the bed will you let me share, or are you gonna dump my keister on the hard, cold floor?" Trevor looked up at her with such a hang-dog look that she had to struggle hard to keep a serious expression.
"Well, okay. If you promise to keep your hands to yourself."
Trevor crossed his heart, "I swear. Unless invited of course!" Behind his back, Trevor crossed his fingers.
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Donned in his pajamas, Trevor jumped onto the bed and patted the spot next to him. "We have a long day ahead of us so I guess we better hit the proverbial hay."
Janet ignored the not-so-subtle hint to join him. "I never knew your fashion sense extended to your sleep wear," she said, indicating the bright, clashing colors of his pajamas.
"I knew you'd like 'em. They are the height of fashion, ya know."
She cracked a smile and replied, "Well, I should be able to see you in the dark!"
After changing into her nightgown in the bathroom, Janet walked around to the far side of the bed and lay down practically on the edge of the bed. "Don't trust yourself, huh gorgeous?" asked Trevor.
"I don't trust you!"
"Me?" Trevor feigned a stab to the heart. "Hey, I'm a Boy scout: honest, true, and all that."
"Uh huh," muttered Janet.
Trevor laid down on the bed and pretended to instantly fall asleep. Suspicious, Janet kept an eye on Trevor. A few minutes later, exhaustion and jet lag caught up with her and she fell asleep. Still awake and alert, Trevor waited until he knew Janet was asleep. He listened to the steady rhythm of her breathing and slowly and carefully he began to move closer to her. He stopped every few inches to make sure she was still asleep before moving toward her again. Trevor wanted so desperately just to hold her in his arms and tell her everything was going to work out. Since she didn't stir, Trevor slowly lifted his arm and draped it lightly over her shoulder. God, it felt great to be close to her and smell her perfume. He wanted to do more, kiss her and make love to her, but for now he would content himself with just being close. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and began dreaming of that perfect life that COULD be so near yet was still so far away.
The next morning, Janet felt warm and cozy, still within that void between dreams and wakefulness. Her dreams had been pleasant and comforting for the first time in what seemed like forever. She felt a warm pressure across her shoulders and back and instinctively she nestled closer to the reassuring presence behind her. She smiled as she slowly opened her eyes.
The smile quickly vanished when she noticed an arm, which clearly did not belong to her, draped over her shoulder. Janet flung off the arm and jumped out of bed. "Trevor!!!"
"Wha...Wha's a matter," slurred Trevor, still not fully awake. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her.
"You promised to stay on your side of the bed and keep your hands to yourself. But when I wake up, here you are, practically on top of me!"
"Oh," grinned Trevor, "I wish I'd been awake for that!"
Janet was not amused, "What about your promise to stay on your side of the bed?"
"I only promised to stay on one side of the bed, I never mentioned WHICH side!"
"Oh Trevor, you are impossible!" sighed Janet.
"As I believe I've mentioned before...I am VERY possible."
Grabbing a pillow, Janet began pummeling Trevor with it. Trevor picked up a pillow of his own and before long, the pillow fight was in full swing. One of the pillows tore open and down feathers began floating all over the room. The majority landed on top of Trevor and Janet started laughing at the sight of him.
Spitting feathers out of his mouth, Trevor smiled and said, "That's a sound I haven't heard in quite a while, since the ball I believe. I love it when you laugh, please don't stop."
"Trevor," said Janet, "can't we just go home. I don't know what you are trying to accomplish with this trip but it isn't going to work."
"We are here to have some fun, relax, and let me prove to you that we were meant to grow old together," said Trevor earnestly. Jumping up and grabbing her hand, Trevor led her over to his luggage. "I've got a perfect day planned out, we're gonna go cross-country skiing!"
"But I'm not a very good skier," protested Janet.
"That's what's so great about cross-country skiing... no steep slopes or crowds of people, just winding trails and you and me!" Taking out two backpacks and an assortment of gloves, goggles, and camping gear, Trevor handed one of the backpacks to Janet. "Amanda loaned you her backpack and goggles, but I had to get you a pair of gloves," said Trevor.
"Amanda knows you kidnapped me!"
"Kidnap is such a harsh word," he said with a grin. "I prefer 'Isolated persuasion,' and Amanda was all for it."
"I'm going to have to have a serious talk with that little matchmaker," said Janet sternly.
"She just knows a sure thing when she sees it," replied Trevor. "And," he continued, "whenever you are ready to tell me the truth about why you won't marry me, I'm listenin'."
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They rented a car to take them to the ski lodge and Trevor got skis for them both. Once outside they put on the skis and goggles. Trevor had stopped and filled the packs with a bit of food and drinking water before they got to the lodge since they would probably be gone most of the day.
Pulling on her gloves, Janet said, "I may be a bit rusty at this, it's been a long time."
Trevor helped her put on the backpack and replied, "Don't worry babe, we'll go slow until you get the hang of it. I'll be right next to you and if you need any help, just yell."
"If I get into trouble, I'll yell loud enough that Amanda can hear me in Pine Valley!"
Trevor squeezed her arm reassuringly. "Just take it slow and easy and you'll do fine."
Trevor and Janet headed down a trail that was relatively flat and clear of other skiers. However, laying flat on the ground, half buried by snow was a sign that went unnoticed, warning that the trail was closed and that danger lay ahead. After several falls and a lot of assistance from Trevor, Janet was finally starting to get the hang of skiing.
They decided to take a short break after skiing for about three hours. Trevor broke out a couple of granola bars and some water. As she munched her bar, Janet wondered how long Trevor planned to make this trip. The longer she stayed so close to Trevor, the harder it was to resist telling him the whole truth. He didn't seem to be pressing her about it. In fact, except for a couple of instances, he seemed to be avoiding the subject completely.
'Well, that is fine with me,' thought Janet, 'and to make sure he stays off the subject, I'll just keep him distracted.' Taking off her skis, Janet leaned over and picked up some snow and made a snowball. She threw it at Trevor and hit him squarely on the back of the head. Small flakes of snow fell down the back of his neck and under his jacket sending a shiver up his spine.
"Oh, you wanna play dirty, huh?" Trevor took off his own skis and began advancing on Janet. He quickly scooped up some snow himself.
"You wouldn't dare!" said Janet backing up quickly.
"You're the one that started it, Toots," said Trevor with a wicked grin. Janet started to dodge out of his way but Trevor succeeded in grabbing her arm and twirling her to him. Janet braced herself for the cold, wet snow to hit her. But instead, Trevor threw the snow up into the air, put his arm around Janet's waist and kissed her deeply. Janet responded without thinking, as the snowflakes drifted down around their heads and shoulders.
'This is not
exactly the kind of distraction I intended,' thought Janet to
herself, 'and if he keeps this up I am going to become a babbling
idiot and confess everything.' However, before she had a chance
to back away from him, Trevor released her and went back to his skis
as though nothing had
happened. 'I wonder what he is up to?' she
thought. 'He definitely has something up his sleeve.'
After putting skis back on, Trevor motioned further toward the North and said, "Why don't we head toward that ridge over there. I see a bunch of trees and we might spot some wildlife."
"Sure," said Janet, rather unenthusiastically. They set off at a brisk pace only stopping now and then to point out birds, squirrels, and other small creatures they saw on the way. The ridge they skied beside was several hundred feet tall and echoed sound back at them whenever they spoke. The wind had begun to pick up and dark clouds were beginning to gather.
"Look," said Trevor as he pointed further up the trail. Squinting against some blowing snow, Janet saw what appeared to be a small cabin. "Wanna go check it out?" asked Trevor, clearly bursting with curiosity.
Janet declined. "I think we should head back. It looks like it might storm."
Trevor continued skiing toward the cabin. "Aw come on, don't be a party pooper! It'll be fun!"
Janet watched him go then, shaking her head, she turned around and began skiing back the way they had come. "This is ridiculous," muttered Janet under her breath. "I'm going home."
She hadn't gotten very far, when suddenly there was a clap of thunder from the impending storm. A loud rumbling continued long after it should have subsided. Glancing up, Janet gasped in horror as she saw a flood of snow and ice falling down the ridge directly toward her!
Trevor turned at the noise behind him. "What the blazes is that?" he asked, expecting to see Janet right behind him. Then he saw a sight that sent his heart into his throat. The lightening had caused an avalanche and Janet was standing frozen in her tracks directly in it's path!
"Dear Lord. No! JANET!!!!" he screamed as he raced toward the certain disaster.