Free On Thin Icing by Ellie Alexander Page A

asleep?”
    “I’m not sure,” I said. “We finished cleaning up.”
    She rubbed her eyes. “I can’t believe I slept through that. I don’t know what came over me. Well, actually I do—Tony.” She grabbed a fire poker and hit the coals. “You must be exhausted,” she continued without noticing our full wine glasses. “I’m so sorry about this. About everything. I’ve never seen Tony that bad.”
    “That was quite the scene,” I said.
    “He better be sleeping it off tonight, because tomorrow he and I are going to have words. He’s not going to ruin everything that we’ve worked for up here. Our staff are the first impression guests have of the resort.” She looked at Carlos and winced. “How’s your face?”
    “It will be fine,” he said, patting the growing bruise on his cheek.
    “I’m so sorry.” She placed the poker in its holder. “And you need your cabin keys, don’t you? Oh my goodness. I’ll grab them from the desk.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” I made eye contact with Carlos. “Let me make sure everything’s off in the kitchen, and we’ll meet you up front.” I thought about Mercury’s words. Staff were a reflection of the lodge. I was so thankful to have the staff we did at Torte, but I couldn’t help but wonder why Mercury had kept Tony on.
    Carlos looked defeated as we returned to the kitchen. He took a long sip of wine and placed his glass in the sink. I dumped mine. I needed a clear head to survive this weekend anyway.
    “All set,” I said, returning to Mercury.
    Mercury handed a large gold key to me. “You’re in cabin number five.” She pointed behind her. “Follow the path up the hill and it’s the first cabin on your left.”
    “Got it.” I tucked the key in my pocket.
    “You’ll need a flashlight to see.” Mercury reached under the desk and handed me a small flashlight. “It’s really coming down out there, so be sure to stay on the path.” She paused and stared at Carlos. “What about you? What cabin are you in?”
    Carlos placed his arm around my shoulder. “I’ll be staying with my wife.”
    “Wife?” Mercury raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t know you two were married.”
    “We’re not, exactly,” I said at the same moment that Carlos said, “Yes, we are.”
    Mercury looked confused, but said, “Stay on the path,” as we left.
    She wasn’t kidding about the snow. It fell in giant clumps as if the sky were launching handfuls of snowballs at us. What path was Mercury talking about? At least six inches of snow covered the ground. I couldn’t believe how much had fallen since Sterling and I arrived.
    Carlos shined the flashlight in front of us. “I think we go that way.”
    We tromped to the parking lot to grab our bags. Carlos hoisted both of them over his shoulder and handed the flashlight to me. Darkness had descended over the resort. The flashlight cast eerie shadows on the trees, as I beamed it toward the cabins. Heavy, wet snow fell at a furious pace.
    I moved as fast I could through the gusting wind. It shrieked through the top of the evergreen trees, rattling their branches and echoing into the dark night. Cold air burned my lungs as we struggled up the small hill toward the cabins.
    “It is up ahead!” Carlos shouted, and pointed toward one of the cabins tucked into the hillside.
    We were just a few feet away when the sound of a loud bang stopped us in our tracks.
    “What was that?” I glanced from my left to my right.
    Carlos stopped and waited. “The wind?”
    “It’s crazy out here.”
    “Keep moving.” Carlos nudged me forward.
    We made it to the cabin. I climbed up a small set of steps that led to an enclosed porch. The screen door was unlocked. I opened it and stepped inside. Carlos followed. We kicked off our boots.
    “Can you shine the light right here?” I pointed to the sliding glass door.
    Carlos held the light for me to see as I unlocked the door.
    I flipped on the lights and stepped inside. My breath