Chapter 63

They’d had a rough go of it. They’d had to stop a few times, to adjust the harness. Clean off both their goggles. He’d given Buddy some high energy treats he’d brought from the chalet that they used with the avvy dogs, had a few bites himself of his own.

And always, he listened for it. The rumble.

A couple of times, he thought he’d heard it. But it was just the wind. Barreling down the slope, another gust at cross purposes with it. Tossing more powder in their faces, tearing at their clothes, threatening to slam their bodies into the icy cold snow they were traveling on.

But each time, they continued, hope rising in their hearts. They were getting closer. Sven knew it, and he knew Buddy felt it, too.

Then, finally. It was in view. Still a ways away, but he could see it. The warm, inviting, beacon-like lights of Snowy Peaks. The tiny chalet, as it appeared in the distance. Still muffled in snow, but golden light diffusing from it.

Oscar, Martha. Tasha, Chilam.

Then his heart almost stopped.

Jake. How was his little buddy? Jake!

I’m coming, boy.

Dante. Kelley. Tina and Willow and Christian and Summer. Old man Jones. Mrs. Bloom. The Hooplestones, damn them. Edna with her handy screwdriver and basic knowledge of a bus’s mechanical design—Keara had confided the misdeed to him. Who’d’ve figured?

All people—while he would never admit it—he was totally in love with.

And most of all, her. Keara Faye Linn.

I’m coming, love. I’m coming.

Then a crazy thought hit him.

“Holy shit. It’s Valentine’s Day.” A deep, soul-filling satisfaction flowed through him. Maybe she would be his Valentine now. After all that had happened. He’d shown her his love, she knew it now.

Happily ever after. It was finally, in his reach, after all these years. His heart warmed. Someone, just for him. Right?

And that’s when it happened. The mountain reined him in.

You think you can go the distance? Think you’ve learned your lesson? Learned it thoroughly, never to forget?

That love is simple? Easy? You just say it, pronounce it, and it happens?

Oh no, my friend. Love will demand everything you have to give. Every. Damn. Thing. Until you’re sure, absolutely certain, you can give no more.

And then, ask for one last fragment of your soul, the one you thought you’d never, ever give for anyone…

Or perhaps it really was just mean.

Because…the rumble. He heard it. It wasn’t the wind playing, or a noise from far off, from a distant, snowy peak.

It was right behind him, and in a scant second, it was already upon him. Them.

The avalanche had started.