Into the Cold

It took over a month for Dale to see any improvement in Amelia's mood. She was almost back to her old self.

She'd began making plans to go back to the office and even set up a coffee date with her best friend. Though he was concerned about how sick she’d been getting, she assured him all was well.

“It’s just the change in food and water,” she’d told him.

It seemed she was throwing up a lot, but every time he asked her about it, she told him it was nothing.

“Dale,” Amelia said, coming into the library, “I’m going to meet Carol for coffee tomorrow morning. Do you mind?”

“Not at all darling,” he replied, standing and walking to meet her, “I think that is a wonderful idea. She’s been calling here almost non-stop since I told her you’d been found. I asked her to give you time to acclimate, and wait for you to call her, but are you sure you’re feeling up to it? You’ve been getting sick quite a lot recently.”

“She told me she'd talked to you,” Amelia replied, taking his hand. “Thank you. And yes, I’m feeling much better. What are you going to do while I’m out?”

“Honestly,” he said, his face turning slightly pink, “I should probably head into the office for a few hours. My secretary’s been fielding calls about a labor dispute one of my other clients has been dealing with, and I should really go in and deal with it.”

“Maybe after coffee I can come to the office and we can have lunch,” Amelia ventured.

“I would love that,” Dale said, kissing her hand in turn. “Everyone’s missed seeing you.”

“Sounds good,” she said, smiling.

“I’ve missed that,” Dale sighed.

“What?” she asked confused.

“Your smile,” he explained, reaching up to touch her cheek. “I’ve missed your smile.”

“I’m sorry,” Amelia apologized, “it’s just been so hard.”

“I know,” he encouraged, “and I don’t want to push you too hard. If you’re up to it, come by. If not, I’ll see you for dinner.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she replied, standing on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.

Amelia sat at her favorite table in Starbucks, sipping a decaf iced mocha while she waited for Carol to join her. Watching the hustle and bustle of downtown Houston, she mentally compared it to the quiet tranquility of sitting on the steps of Caleb’s cabin hearing nothing but the sounds of nature. How different the two worlds were, she thought, one was where she grew up, the other was where she wanted more and more to return to.

“Hey you,” Carol said, jogging Amelia out of her inner thoughts.

“Hey,” Amelia breathed, standing to hug her dearest friend.

They embraced for several moments before releasing each other.

“How are you?” Carol asked, signaling for the barista. “Dale told me you were having a hard time getting back on your feet.”

“Yeah,” Amelia sighed, waiting for Carol to order. “It’s been a little rough.”

“I bet,” Carol exclaimed, taking her coffee from the waitress. “I mean, six months with a stranger in the middle of nowhere. No cell phone, no internet, hell, no electricity.”

“It was tough at first,” Amelia admitted, “the absolute darkness once winter set in were hard, plus the constant dangers, but Caleb was patient and took the time to teach me.”

“Was that his name? Caleb?” Carol asked sipping from her steaming cup.

“Yes,” Amelia affirmed. “Caleb Dulac. He used to be an Alaskan state trooper, but he’s spent the last several years living in the mountains.”

“Wow,” Carol exhaled, in awe. “You were saved by a real life mountain man.”

“If you want to put it that way,” Amelia chuckled, “yes, Caleb is a ‘real life mountain man’.”

“So,” Carol said, leaning in conspiratorially, “what was it like living in the middle of the woods with him?”

“It was fine,” Amelia shrugged, absentmindedly swirling her drink with its straw. “There were lots of things to learn, survival and trapping, even going to the bathroom required lessons.”

“Lessons to go to the bathroom?” Carol said, disgust and intrigue warring on her face.

“It was an outhouse,” Amelia clarified, “and there was always the possibility of hungry animals hiding anywhere.”

“Shit,” Carol breathed, “that sucks.”

“It did at first,” Amelia admitted, “but after a while it became a habit. I didn’t even think about it, I just did it.”

“Okay,” Carol said, sipping her coffee and waving her hand in a sign of surrender, “no more potty talk.”

Amelia gave a deep hearty laugh.

“Alright, no more outhouse talk,” she giggled. “What else do you want to know?”

“Tell me about Caleb,” Carol said, “what kind of guy gives up everything to go live in the woods?”

“Caleb,” Amelia sighed wistfully, picturing his face. “Caleb is, well he’s complicated. He was working as a state trooper about seven years ago when his partner was killed. He went through some really hard times, and he kinda gave up on life. His wife divorced him, took their daughter and moved back to her folks and he moved to his valley. Alone.”

“Wow,” Carol breathed, “that really sucks. Was he violent or mean? Living out in the woods, alone, no socialization, it’s got to change a person.”

“No, not mean,” Amelia assured her friend. “He was strict, but most of that was him trying to teach me to survive.”

“Strict?” Carol asked, a hint of mischief in her voice. “Did he spank you?”

“Carol,” Amelia scolded, trying to hide the blush across her face.

“Oh my God,” Carol exclaimed, sitting up straighter and looking intently into Amelia’s face. “You fell for him, didn’t you?”

“What?” Amelia gasped, blushing a deeper red.

“You did, didn’t you?,” Carol reiterated, “You fell for him.”

“Carol please,” Amelia begged, tears forming in her eyes, “don’t say anything to Dale. He doesn’t know, and I don’t want him to. It will kill him.”

“Amelia,” her friend said reaching across the table to take her hand, “what happened to you out there?”

With a feeling of falling, Amelia told her friend everything, from the crash to her last wonderful night spent in Caleb’s arms, to the child she was now carrying.

“Oh Carol,” she sobbed, “I don’t know what to do. In the beginning all I wanted was to get home to Dale, and now, all I want to do is go back and be with Caleb. I still love Dale, but not the way I used to.

"He’s so kind and gentle, but I can’t explain it," she hiccuped. "I don't want to be with him anymore.”

“Amelia,” Carol consoled, “I don’t know what to say. Have you tried talking to Dale about this?”

“No,” Amelia said, through her tears, “I can’t.”

“Listen to me,” Carol said firmly, “one way or another something like this will always find a way to come out, like in say eight months. It would be better if you told Dale sooner rather than later.”

“I know you’re right,” Amelia said, dabbing her eyes with her napkin. “I would just hate to break Dale’s heart. And what if Caleb doesn’t want me?”

“Millie,” Carol scolded, using a nickname she knew would irritate her friend, “the man begged you to stay with him, pleaded with you, and you don’t know how he feels about you?”

“No, you’re right,” Amelia sighed, reaching for Carol’s hand. “I guess I’m just trying to figure out what to do. Dale and I have been engaged for two years, that’s a long time to just throw away.”

“Amelia, you know Dale loves,” Carol said, “but you two seem to just be together out of habit at this point.”

“Carol,” Amelia said, stunned.

“Don’t ‘Carol’ me,” her friend retorted. “We’ve known each other since high school, and I’ve always been honest with you.

"When you first started dating Dale I doubted it would last more than three months. I mean, he’s ten years older than you, and it happened right after your dad died. I figured you were substituting one father figure for the other, but then I saw how happy you were together and realized I was wrong.”

“Right,” Amelia affirmed, “I loved him and he loved me.”

“Yeah, ‘loved’,” Carol mimicked. “In the beginning you were the perfect couple, there was really a deep love between the two of you, but in the last two years you guys have become more like coworkers, than a couple.

"You both go to your offices every day, maybe have lunch together once a week, right? Then he stays at the office and you go home or to a charity event alone, making excuses for his absence and pretending everything’s okay.”

Amelia tried to say something, but Carol cut her off.

“No, let me finish,” she said, holding up her free hand. “I’ve wanted to talk to you about it for a while, but you seemed fine with the way things were, and I was willing to let things be. Not anymore. I don’t want to see you slip back into that pattern again. There’s no future for you or Dale.”

Amelia looked down at her clasped hands as Carol finished.

“I know you’re right,” Amelia sobbed, “I… just don’t want to hurt Dale.”

“Which do you think is going to hurt him more, you staying with him out of guilt and obligation, while having another man’s baby or you being honest with him and giving him a chance to be happy too?” Carol asked.

“Will you be there with me when I tell him?” Amelia asked, looking beseechingly at her friend.

“Not a chance,” Carol said, patting her hand, “but I will pick you up for ice cream afterwards.”