Tears stung her eyes, freezing against her wind-burned cheeks as she continued to ski in areas that she knew were off-limits for the girls, but at this point she’d have skied down Mount Everest blindfolded if she thought it would bring her girls back. The late-afternoon sky was overcast, the light flat and indistinct, the snowfall heavy and thick, making visibility almost nil. These were blizzard conditions, Stephanie thought. Why hadn’t she paid closer attention to the weather forecast? Why had she even allowed the girls on the slopes, knowing how packed they would be? She was stupid, her skill as a parent equivalent to that of a teenage babysitter. Her throat was dry, and her heart pounded in her chest as she used every ounce of energy she had left to pole her way back to the lift. She’d seen the chairs as they hung suspended from the heavy-duty cables, empty of passengers. Knowing the lifts were closed wasn’t going to stop her. She’d borrow a snowmobile from the ski patrol. She was not leaving this mountain until she found Amanda and Ashley.
Alive. The word skittered through her brain. Alive. Alive. Alive. From out of nowhere, Stephanie was filled with a complete and utter sense of peace and well-being. Without knowing why, she suddenly knew her girls were alive. And not only were they alive, but they were fine.
Somewhat shocked by the epiphany she’d just experienced, she debated her next move. With the temperature dropping into negative numbers, Stephanie stopped in the middle of the storm, took a deep breath, and prayed for a higher power to guide her in the right direction. As though controlled by an outside force, she pointed her ski tips in the direction of Snow Zone, where she saw a crowd gathered outside its doors. Briefly, she wondered how anyone could possibly shop when her girls were missing, but then common sense took over. These people had no idea where her children were. For that matter, Stephanie was sure they didn’t have a clue about her or her life. And why should they? She was nothing more than a shop manager who couldn’t seem to keep tabs on two small children.
Beyond cold and knowing she needed to check in with the ski patrol, Stephanie skied as far as the snow allowed before she stopped to remove her skis, leaving them in the middle of the parking lot. Not wanting to disturb the crowd gathered at the front door, she used the employee entrance. Inside, she hurried to her office, where she dialed the emergency number for the ski patrol. The line rang a dozen times before a recorded message told her to dial 911 if this was a true emergency. What the heck? Wasn’t someone supposed to be there manning the phones in case of an emergency? Wasn’t that the entire point of having a ski patrol? Were they out searching for the girls? She hit the END button on the phone, then saw her black leather, fur lined boots, which she’d tossed under her desk. She quickly pulled off her ski boots, changed out of her damp socks into a dry pair, and crammed her feet into her warm boots before heading to the front of the store, where dozens of people stood in a semicircle. She would ask Candy Lee if she’d heard anything, then she would go to the ski patrol office to see if there was anyone there with any news of the girls. This was beyond a nightmare. The girls should be enjoying their Christmas vacation. They’d been so excited about tonight’s tree-lighting ceremony. How could a day that started out so perfect turn into one so horrid? It actually caused her physical pain to think beyond the what ifs and the if onlys. She couldn’t even imagine life without her children.
She wouldn’t go there! She couldn’t.
Stephanie hurried to the front of the store, where she found Candy Lee and Melanie…smiling.
How could they even think about smiling at a time like this? She was about to ask that very question when she saw what or rather whom they were smiling at.
Her girls.
Sipping cups of hot chocolate.
Chapter 6
Stephanie was momentarily stunned when she saw Amanda and Ashley seated behind the counter. “Thank goodness you’re both okay! What happened? Where, who?” Stephanie cried out. She glanced around her, only to discover Patrick, along with several Maximum Glide employees, grinning from ear to ear. Apparently the two mischief makers had a story to tell.
Overwhelmed by the sheer relief of seeing her daughters safe and sound, Stephanie forced her way behind the counter. Not caring that she was being watched by several dozen strangers, she wrapped an arm around each of her daughters. Tears of relief streamed down her face, and her heart sang with delight as she breathed in the scent she knew and loved so well. The sweet smell of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo clung to their long, dark hair. Stephanie gloried in the moment as she recalled her vision of her daughters being alive and well. It had happened exactly as she knew it would. She would leave it at that. After all, it was Christmas, and she still believed in miracles.
Candy Lee handed her a wad of tissues along with a piping-hot mug of cocoa. “You’re gonna need this,” she said.
Stephanie wiped the tears from her eyes, then took a sip of her drink. “Okay, now I think it’s time I heard exactly what happened out on that mountain today.”
“Patrick saved us, Mommy! He really did, then he cried,” Amanda said. “Right, Ashley?”
Those were the last words Stephanie expected to hear. She caught Patrick’s gaze across the group that had gathered around the girls. He smiled. Sort of. Joy bubbled up inside her like an overflowing fountain. She smiled back.
“I don’t think he was crying. I think it was just the cold air,” Ashley stated matter-of-factly in the way that only a ten-year-old can.
Patrick edged through the crowd, stopping when he reached the girls. “Why don’t you tell your mother what happened out on that mountain today. I think she’ll be very proud of you two,” he added. “And it might help to keep you both out of trouble,” he went on, grinning from ear to ear.
Amanda spoke up, “Are we in trouble? I sure hope not ’cause I still want to go to that tree-lighting thing. We can still go, right, Mommy?”
Using a firm-yet-gentle tone, Stephanie explained, “A lot of people were worried about you two today. Right now, I want to know what happened, then we will think about the Christmas tree lighting.”
Ashley started to speak, then hesitated as the crowd gathered closer. Suddenly, she seemed bashful, almost as though she were afraid.
Patrick observed her hesitancy. In a boisterous voice, he spoke directly to the group. “I think Ashley feels a bit overwhelmed. If you’re not here to shop, why don’t we give the little lady a few minutes with her mother. As most of you know, these children have been through quite an ordeal.” Patrick paused as he waited for the crowd to disperse. At least two dozen people left the shop, but not before wishing the girls good luck and congratulating them on a job well-done. The remaining few were Maximum Glide employees. Patrick turned to Stephanie. “If you don’t mind, a few of my employees would like to stay and hear the rest of the story since they were part of the search party.”
Stephanie looked at Ashley. “Only if you’re okay with this?” If she didn’t find out soon what her daughters had been involved in, she would take them to her office, where they could have a few moments of privacy.
“I’m okay with it, Mom,” Ashley replied.
“Then spill the beans because I don’t think I can wait another minute. I’ve been beside myself with worry the past hour,” Stephanie said, in hopes that this would hurry along what was becoming quite a lengthy process.
“We were waiting for Melanie at the sign, but then me and Amanda heard this really loud crying sound. It was by that building where they keep those