Awakening (6 page)

Every once in a while as we went over a large rut I grabbed on more tightly to Athen’s waist. I swear that I could feel him smile. I hoped I was right.

We rounded another bend, and the dogs began to pick up their pace. I wondered what could be up at the next hill. In between dog barks and laughing from Cyril, I thought I could hear something else, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

At that moment Athen’s voice swirled back to me.

“
There is a river over the hill. That is probably the noise you are hearing.”

A pulse of exhilaration ran through me. How is it that he knows what I’m thinking or is this all in my head, maybe I spoke and didn’t realize it? If he can hear my thoughts than he hears me now. Why do I do this? I’m sure I’m reading too much into this. Athen’s body shook a little, and I couldn’t tell if he was readjusting or trying to hide a laugh. I decided to bring up my suspicion.

“
Do you know that you often answer my questions before I ask them?”

“
How would I know what you are going to ask before you ask it? Don’t you think we could just be in tune?”

I liked that thought and dropped it as we went gliding through the rest of the trail, resting my head on his back. Plus I didn’t want to feel as silly for thinking such bizarre thoughts. I began to see what looked like a wooden structure up ahead and wondered if that was our resting spot for lunch.

“
Is that where we are meeting for lunch? How long have we been on the sleds? It only seemed like a few minutes!” I yelled hoping Athen would hear me.

I heard David’s voice begin to answer my questions. Figuring out how loud I must have been. I hoped I didn’t cause any hearing loss for Athen.

“
We’ve been riding for about an hour, and that is our resting spot up ahead. We have sandwiches, salads, chips, hot chocolate, and coffee. But the best part is the triple fudge brownies that Marcy makes fresh daily. She is the gal you met at the front counter.”

“
Ooooh. I can’t wait!” I heard Arie shout from behind us. She always added such excitement and happiness to wherever she landed.

We circled around the back of what looked like a pergola as he brought our dogs to a stop. We pulled in right next to Taylor’s sled. The mushers unharnessed the dogs as we got out of the sled. We began walking up the steps to the picnic benches as our mushers went back to the sleds to grab the food, our boots crunching in the snow.

Arie came running over to me breathless and almost more excited than I think I was.

“
What do you think, Ana? Athen thought this all up himself.”

I blushed at the thought of someone going to so much trouble for me, and of all people, it was hard to imagine this particular set of beings giving me the time of day, let alone this much effort.

“
Are you sure he thought this up all by himself?” Athen’s arm wrapped itself around my waist as he jokingly acted as if he was going to take me down to the deck.

“
Alright, alright. I believe you. I have to say that I have never had anyone go to this much trouble for me or put even half as much thought into something. It means a lot to me. Truly. I will never forget this.”

Arie bounded up to me and gave me a great big hug. “We are so happy to have you as part of our unit, Ana. You belong with us.”

I thought this moment was getting kind of heavy especially for as little time as I had known them, but deep inside I felt the stirrings too. I worried that I was over-exaggerating. Maybe Arie was simply referring to all of our friendships and not specifically Athen’s affections- although, I had secretly hoped not. I looked over at him as he was leaning up against the wooden post. He was truly gorgeous-without trying. His eyes had the familiar glow to them again. In fact, it was as if his entire being was throwing a cast off. I quickly attributed it to the cold air. It was hard to imagine that someone could be so breathtaking, especially since I should be used to looking at him by now. He started grinning pretty wide. His dark eyebrows went up as he looked over at me. Once again I was certain that he knew what I was thinking. I scolded myself for thinking such ridiculous thoughts.

Thankfully, the mushers interrupted my internal swooning by laying out all of the lunch preparations. They switched on the propane heater, which made me happy and excited to thaw out quickly. I walked over to the picnic table that held all of the food and scanned the many bowls and platters that were laid out. It was an incredible spread, especially for only us four.

“
Wow, this is so gourmet.” Arie squealed. I knew she was enjoying this as much as I was.

“
I know. I could take a little bit of everything.” I said as eyed the wonderful looking pesto salad and beefsteak tomato salad.

“
That’s what it’s here for. If we go back to the lodge with anything left over, Marcy will take it personally so I suggest we all eat up.” The musher, David, told us all.

“
Doesn’t sound like a problem to me.” Cyril said happily as he piled his plate high.

We all found a seat at the picnic table and began eating as the mushers went over to feed the dogs. I was sitting across from Athen, and it was pretty hard to concentrate when sitting directly across from him again. I decided from now on I would always try to take a seat next to him so I wouldn’t be faced with having to look directly at him and not be able to concentrate or even be able to find my fork for that matter. He started laughing. I looked down at my plate sheepishly, realizing, yet again, that it was like he was in my mind stealing my thoughts.

“
Arie, do you ever get the feeling that Athen can read your mind?” I looked over to her. She gave a nervous glance towards Athen.

“
No, not really. He tries but usually gets it wrong.”

“
Huh,” I responded, “It seems like I can’t have a private thought to save my life.”

“
You crack me up, Ana.” Cyril piped in.

“
Really?” I asked ribbing him in the side as he forked in the next mouthful.

“
Well, not to burst your bubble or change the subject, but you have to tell us if you have any vacation time that you can take from your job or what exactly might be going on with that because we would love for you to come home with us over the holidays to Seattle. I mean if you don’t mind. Athen kind of mentioned that you weren’t that fond of the holidays. I totally understand why and don’t want to take anything away from you on that, but would love to change your mind about them.”

I looked over at Athen wondering if he had told her everything from the first night we met. I didn’t know if it was the couple of drinks I had downed or Athen’s presence but talking to him that first night was so effortless on the way back to my condo. I literally poured out my soul to him. I told him about losing my parents and having no family to bring me up or even a recollection of one. I also mentioned how I had received an inheritance but still worked to create sort of a social circle for myself by working. I told him how much I missed my parents or at least the idea of having parents since I didn’t remember anything about them. I even told him how I felt so alone some nights when I had no one to go home to, except of course for Matilda, who more than made up for it. All I had of my existence was newspaper clippings. In hindsight, it was all probably things that should’ve scared him off, but instead he listened intently as if I was telling him something about his own past. It was a special night. I had hoped that level of trust and openness wouldn’t go away, and in a sense it still hasn’t.

“
I told my sister how the holidays weren’t your favorite because you didn’t have family around. I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds.” Athen whispered truly concerned, looking up at me.

“
Oh, of course not.” I looked at both Arie and Athen recognizing nothing but kindness and concern radiating from them. I was so relieved.

“
Well, I can certainly talk to my boss. I have never missed a day since I have been there, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. He brought on a couple new girls for the winter so there should be plenty of coverage. It would be great to get another perspective on the holidays. I love the idea of them anyway.”

Cyril went over the food table to replenish, and Athen was next when I looked down and noticed I had hardly touched my food. I looked over at Arie who was almost finished as well. I started to play catch up on my plate, and, on my last bite, Arie hopped up and asked if there was anything else I wanted. I actually was super full, but because it all tasted so good I decided to get a second round of my favorites and then, of course, dessert.

“
Yeah, I think I will join you in filling my plate for round two.” I got up and grabbed my empty plate. I turned to go with Arie, and Athen’s hand brushed my back as he was walking back to his seat, which sent an incredible sensation through me. I could do this forever. Once we got to the food table, Arie began to whisper something to me so quietly that I had to lean in to hear what she was saying.

“
Ana, Athen likes you, and this is very unusual for him to be this struck. I’m getting the impression it is the same for you. I’m not trying to interfere, but I want you to know that I think this could be the real thing if you let it. I have never seen my brother this way with anyone else, ever.”

My heart started pounding as she whispered the magical words to me. The thought that I wasn’t imagining the feelings I was experiencing with Athen was miraculous. I didn’t understand the circumstances or the pairing in the least bit, but prayed with every part of my being that this would turn into the real thing.

“
I haven’t ever gotten this close to anyone before Arie, in two days or two years so please don’t think I’m taking it lightly. I almost feel like I’m in a dream and don’t want to wake up. I have never had this kind of ease before with people, and that includes with you too. The last couple of days have been quite odd.”

“
I knew it.” Arie sang on her way back to the table.

I grabbed the rest of my seconds and floated back to the table with such happiness zipping through my veins. I looked up at Athen as I got seated, realizing I had better get used to looking at him, but at that moment he looked up and caught my eyes. The blush resurfaced. I gave him a faint smile and dropped my eyes back down to my plate determined to make the last of everything fit in my stomach. Being around him was going to be harder than I thought.

The mushers were getting the dogs all situated to take us back on our journey to the cabin, and my heart sank a little at thought of leaving Athen. My condo definitely needed some tender loving care, and that is what I planned to focus on once I returned this evening. At least that is what I was telling myself to get rid of the gnawing disappointment that was washing over me.

“
Ok, guys. Anyone want any thirds? We did well on the salads and chicken, but it looks like we still have two brownies left.”

“
I got it.” Both Athen and Cyril yelled in unison.

Arie and I walked over to the sleds to pet the beautiful huskies as the guys gobbled up the last tidbits of food. The mushers put the platters, bowls, and utensils back to where they came from and turned off the heater. I promised myself that I would treasure the ride back even more then the ride to the picnic. I glanced at Athen, noticing his hands running through his hair nervously. Then he turned towards me, staring intently at me, leaning effortlessly against the log post again. He was talking to Cyril, but it was painfully obvious that he wasn’t paying much attention to anyone but me.

“
One last check,” Taylor announced, “Everyone got everything, gloves, hats? It is no fun to leave something out here, especially if you hope to get it back.”

“
Nope, we are all good. We’ve got everything.” Arie assured him.

Athen walked over to me and grabbed my hand as we walked to enter our sled. When we got to the sled I could feel the dogs’ newfound energy after their lunch and knew this was going to be an exciting ride back, and I’m sure far too fast. Athen got me fastened in before sliding into the sled himself, and, before I knew it, we were off. This time, however, the mushers were going back around to enter a different trail than the one we came in on. Good, I thought. Anything to keep myself from getting sad at the thought of the day being over.

“
Hey, Athen. Did you catch that?” I heard Cyril yell.

Athen held up his fist as if to acknowledge the sighting that Cyril was referring to. I had no idea what they saw, but, whatever it was, it made Athen uncomfortable. His entire body tensed up.

“
What did you see?” I asked Athen, “What did I miss?”

“
It was only an animal we have been keeping our eye on for awhile up here. No big deal.”

“
Huh.” I replied thinking that was an incredibly unbelievable explanation. The gnawing feeling began to make its appearance again. I did my best to make it go away, but the feeling only went down to a low simmer. I decided I was going to press Arie and Cyril on it next time we had a chat. As we turned the last corner, I saw a glimpse of the lodge again and realized that route was much shorter than on the way to the picnic, which gave me a feeling of overall gloominess. Our dogs gave an extra charge in the home stretch as they saw the lodge. I took it as a personal insult as we slid in onto the patio. Once again, the mushers exuberantly jumped out of our sleds and turned to face us.

“
So what did you think? Did you have fun with that?” Dave asked us.