Today will be the eighth day at the ski resort. Aimee was awake before five thirty she wanted to watch the view of the sunrise from the balcony. She slid on some warm lounge pants with a matching sweatshirt and a pair of house slipper. She made her way quietly down the stairs. She spotted the light from the kitchen on. Only one other person was up at this hour.
Aiden was pouring a cup of coffee when she entered. Without saying a word he reach for another cup and handed it to Aimee. “I was wondering when you would join me for our sunrise coffee.”
“I have been watching the sunrise from the window in my room. While I think and pray.”
Aiden started toward the door a cup of coffee in one hand and a thermos in the other. Aimee went and opened the door. “Well Aimee dear just wait until you see the balcony view.”
Aiden lit the outdoor fire pit while Aimee got an oversized throw from the storage compartment. They took a seat on the balcony loveseat and covered with the throw.
Aiden looked over at her. “I have missed our morning coffee.”
“Me too.”
Aiden took a sip of coffee. “Then why is today the first time you have come down.”
“Let’s see, could it be because your girlfriend hates me?”
“Don’t worry about her.”
“Easy for you to say.”
Aiden raised his brows. “Not really. So what is the story with you and LJ?”
“We are just getting to know one another. He has been really nice. We have had fun the past few days.”
“But.”
“But something about him scares me.”
“Well in that case be careful. I know he used to be a lot like Colin but we all were at one time. But eventually we grow out of it.”
Aimee shivered and pulled the throw closer.
“We have another ten minutes before the sun starts to come up.” Aiden pulled her close to him. She laid her head on his shoulder.
“Aimee don’t get mad but I don’t think LJ is the right guy for you. Promise me you will be careful around him.”
“I will. I promise.”
Aimee never felt more comfortable around any guy as she did Aiden. She felt safe when he was around. She laid quietly on the loveseat and watched the morning sun come up over the snow covered terrain. She watched until she fell back to sleep.
The sound of a slamming door startled Aiden. He raised his left arm and looked at his watch eight a.m. He then looked down. Aimee was snuggled close to him sound asleep. He didn’t need to look behind him, he knew all too well who was standing there.
He gave Aimee a gentle nudge. “Aimee wake up. We fell asleep.”
She raised her arm. “What time is it?”
Aiden looked down at her. “Eight a.m. and we are not alone.”
Aimee raised up. She fell asleep cuddle next to Aiden near a cozy fire pit watching what some may call a romantic sunrise. She knew when the turned around Ava was waiting to let loose her reign of fiery.
Aiden stood up. “Good morning Ava.”
Ava stood arms folded her face as red as beets. “Do not Good morning me. What in the world is this Aiden?”
Aiden walked over to Ava he went to touch her but she pulled her hand back. “Calm down and let me explain. It is not as bad as you think. We were talking and watching the sunrise we got cold so we…”
“NOT AS BAD AS I THINK! I walk down her and see you wrapped in a throw with that American slu…”
LJ came into view. “Watch what you are saying Ava.” He crossed his arms.
“Ava please listen to me would you.” Aiden was still trying to calm her down.
Ava stepped around Aiden and headed straight to Aimee. “You may have fooled everyone else with that I am just a sweet and innocent Christian act but you can’t fool me. You have some kind of hidden agenda for coming here and it includes breaking me and Aiden up.”
Aimee stood and turned back toward the door to face Ava. She was trying not to laugh. She opened her mouth to respond but seen LJ standing beside Aiden in his boxer shorts and tank t-shirt with bed head. “Ava you are wrong about me. I would never try to break you and Aiden up.”
Ava was in Aimee’s face by now. She had her finger inches from Aimee’s face. “Shut up! Shut up!” Aimee pulled her head back as Ava started yelling a few curse words that a lady in her stature should never say.
Aiden walked quickly over and took Ava’s arm. “Its cold out here let’s go inside and talk before you wake the other guest.”
Abby looked at Aimee. “You stay away from Aiden.”
Aimee watched them walk away. When the door shut she turned to LJ. “It really was innocent. I am sorry.” She wasn’t sure why but she was crying now.
LJ looked through the glass door. “They went upstairs. Let’s go in I am freezing.”
Once inside Aimee went to the kitchen and fixed a cup of coffee for them while LJ went upstairs to get dressed.
When he came back down Aimee was sitting on the sofa her head down. Two cups of hot coffee sat in front of her. He sat beside her and took a finger and placed it under her chin and gently raised her head to look at him. Her eyes were red and tears were flowing down her cheeks.
“Hey it’s ok.” He wrapped her in his arms. He held her there until her tears stopped.
Aimee raised her head and looked him in the eyes. “It was innocent. I am sorry I know it looked bad but I promise we just feel asleep.”
LJ grinned at her. “We are only friends you don’t owe me an explanation. In fact if Ava hadn’t barged in my room screaming like a mad woman I still be asleep.”
Aimee took her cup and sipped her coffee. They sat quietly for nearly five minutes. LJ could hear her still crying.
“Why are you still crying?”
“Because Ava is really mad at Aiden and it is all my fault.”
LJ took Aimee back into her arms. “Aimee honey, Aiden and Ava’s relationship has a lot of things wrong with it. But you are not one of them. She is searching for something or someone to blame. Unfortunately right now it is you.”
Aimee laid her head on his chest. “How do I change that?”
“You don’t. You just wait for her to move on to something or someone else.”
“I hate that she has such bad thoughts of me. What does that say about me as a Christian? If someone can think I am that bad then they can’t see Christ through me.”
“Aimee you are the most pure and innocent person I have ever met. That is how I know what you say about all of this is true. That is also why what Ava thinks about you bothers you. Just try to keep in mind we all have someone who does not like us.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Aimee and LJ moved over near the fireplace and sat in the oversize chair. He wrapped her in his arms and for the first time Aimee felt close to him. She even felt a small flicker of safety.
“Aimee if it helps I saw Christ through you this morning. When Ava was in your face you pulled your head back instead of clawing her eyeballs out.”
“Thanks that helped a lot.” Yeah she was beginning to feel safe in his arms
♥ ♥
Ava was furious at Aiden first he drug her on this horrible ski trip. She wanted to go to a nice warm sunny beach. But oh no he wanted to go skiing with his friends. He gave her a never ending speech on how they never do things he likes.
“Aiden I can’t believe you made me come on this terrible trip. So you could what constantly shove that American girl in my face.”
“Ava you are delusional. Aimee has barely been around us.”
“Do not do that. Do not patronize me. I am not stupid or delusional Aiden. I saw the way you looked at her when I woke you up. I see how you look at her when she walks in a room.”
Aiden pulled Ava near him. “Ava I wanted you to join us on this trip so we could spend time together and we have.”
Ava crossed her arms. “What is wrong with us?”
“I don’t know Ava. I know that you have guy friends and I don’t react like this. You need to learn to trust me.”
“It’s her I don’t trust.”
“Really Ava. You said this trip has been horrible. The only reason you are having bad time is because you are way too focused on making Aimee your enemy.”
“Are you really taking up for her?”
“Ok. Let’s look at this logically. We were both fully dressed.”
“Yeah so.”
“So nothing happened. Next when you were down there screaming like a mad woman shoving your finger in her face. Aimee did nothing.”
“Because she knew I was right.”
“No, because that is who she is Ava.” He brought her near him and gave her a kiss.
“Do me a favor and try to get to know her then you will see how crazy this is.”
Ava kissed him. “Keep my enemies close.”
“She is not your enemy. Now can we stop fighting?”
“Yeah.”
It was the last day at the resort. Aimee went out of her way the past few days to make sure she stayed away from Ava and Aiden. She watched the sunrise from her room. During the day she hung out with LJ, Lexi and Piper and James. Actually she and LJ spent most of the days together and she was feeling more comfortable around him.
Aimee totally smoked Drew and his friends at snowboarding not once but several times. She even gave Lexi some tips on snowboarding.
Today was different. Ava and Lexi had planned a spa day. So while the girls spent the day at the spa the guys planned to load the vehicles and ski until it was time to turn in all the ski gear. They would meet back at the main lodge at five.
When they arrived at the spa after registering they had full body massages, facials and Mani/Pedi’s. They had hair and make-up last. It really rejuvenated their body after spending so much time outdoors the past few days.
They had some time left so they walked to the village square. They had lunch before shopping one last time. Everything was going great then they stopped for coffee and Piper and Lexi began talking about James and Drew.
Lexi mentioned Drew attends church in East Newport. She said that he agreed to come up and go to a few services at Wise with all of them. Aimee told Lexi how great that was and that she hoped Lexi would see what wonderful things God has done for her. She told her it was great she wanted to go to church with them but cautioned her to remember church was about God and not getting a guy to like her.
Ava grinned at Aimee. “You and LJ seemed to be getting along great.”
“Yeah I guess.”
Piper nudged Aimee. “You sure have come a long ways on this trip.”
“Yeah but I am still so nervous.”
Lexi laughed. “I can’t believe you are nervous over a guy. You are so sure of yourself in everything but love.”
“One thing I have learned is that I need to be me. This whole dating stuff is so new to me.”
Ava laughed. “What do you mean?”
They filled Ava partially in to the fact Aimee had never been in a relationship because of attending all girl schools. Aimee added that once a guy learns she is a Christian they usually back off. Piper agreed it was hard to find a boyfriend as a Christian but reminded Aimee that she had found James and Aimee would find someone too.
Piper talked about how dating James has been so different from all the other relationships she had been in. How great it was to have someone who shared the same values and believes as you. “I can tell God made James and me for each other.”
Ava looked down at her feet. “That means a lot to have that connection with each other. At first Aiden and I seemed to like the same things but now I think we just pretended we did so we did not hurt the other persons feelings. Now we just don’t care if we hurt them or not.”
Aimee looked at her. “I know I have the least experience but I got some great advice from a friend to not try to be someone you are not to impress a guy.”
Ava looked at Aimee shocked. “That’s good advice. Aiden doesn’t understand my passion for fashion. I love designing clothes and attending fashion shows. But he acts like it kills him to go.”
Lexi stopped walking. “Ava I don’t know very many guys who like to go to fashion shows.”
Piper joined them. “You and Aiden need to talk about things find out what you have in common and start from there.”
All of a sudden Ava clammed up. “I have been in a relationship with Aiden for two years I think I know more about how it works. And when you love someone you suffer for what they like.”
Aimee wanted to point out that Ava wanted Aiden to do all the things she liked but she did not want to return the favor. Or that sometimes people confuse love and lust. Instead she keep her thoughts to herself and walked toward the main lodge. Aiden had to figure out him and Ava on his own.
“Aimee did we lose you?” Piper caught up with her.
“No I was just thinking.”
“What about?”
“Life and love. I know this is silly but I wonder how much my parents really loved each other.”
“I am sure they did.”
Aimee stopped. “Ok listen life is too short to waste our time on loveless relationships. What if my parents had put off getting married having kids. She died at the age of thirty three. We never know when our time on Earth is through.”
“I agree Aimee.” Piper was thinking of her and James.
Lexi sighed. “It would help if love was easy.”
“Yeah, but love is not easy.” Aimee started walking again.
Piper walked beside Aimee. “I think we have to find ourselves first.”
Aimee held the door to the lodge for the others. “Finding me is just as hard as finding love.”
♥ ♥
Finding someone to spy on Aimee during this ski trip proved to be a difficult task. But searching for the right person paid off. The couple was able to keep a safe distance blending in with the crowd.
The information they have brought back was priceless. Aimee and been out on a lot of dates with LJ Edwards. They even managed to take photos of them holding hands and wrapped in one another arms on the slopes. But they never seen her kiss him.
They also found out that Aiden’s girlfriend Ava did not trust Aimee. In fact they may have been some sort of altercation that went down because nearly everyone in the lodge was awakened by Ava yelling at Aimee.
There last day proved to be interesting as well. The girls spent the day together. But the part that Interest Lady Y was that Aimee feared her parents did not love one another. She also seemed to struggle in relationships. That was heartbreaking she was left alone during a time in her life that she needed a woman’s advice Deandre was not there for her.
The past could not be changed so now the focus needs to be on what the future holds for Aimee.