A Saint for Life (10 page)

{20}

Christian

I watched the way Zoe’s eyes lit up as soon as we stepped inside of the lodge. Looking around this place, it was everything it was made out to be. Trees were in each corner of the room, and candles were burning on each of the tables in the center of a bowl decorated with scented pinecones. A Christmas-like aroma aroused my senses. Stockings hung from the tall fireplace that was burning adjacent to the table I presumed was set for us.

Sitting down at the table, I couldn’t help but admire Zoe’s beauty. The lodge was breathtaking and even more so because of the girl who was sitting right in front of me. When I heard about this place, I wasn't sure what to expect. Frankly, my nerves were getting the best of me. I heard an ad on the radio the other day about a “magical and romantic destination for the perfect date.” It stemmed my curiosity because I had been thinking about planning another date for Zoe that entire day, so I had to check it out. From my observations thus far, this was more beautiful than I thought it would be.

The lodge was named “Lorraine's,” a family owned restaurant. When I called to make reservations a week ago, I expected for them to ask me questions like “What's your name? Phone number? What time do you want your reservation for?”—all the same questions you normally got for every restaurant. Well, I got those, but they also continued to a series of strange questions.

“This is amazing. How did you find this place?” Zoe grinned.

“I have my ways. I’m glad you like it, Zoe.” I smirked. I wasn’t about to tell her I took a chance on something I didn’t know about.

When we sat down, a man dressed as an elf approached us.

“Welcome to Lorraine’s, where the magic of Christmas is celebrated all year long. Can I get you started with something to drink?”

The smile on Zoe’s face said it all, and she let out a slight laugh. The place was different. It was unlike any other restaurant, and she seemed to love it. Now I understood why they described it as magical. It was February, but in here, it was still Christmas.

“I’ll take a water.”

“I’ll have the same,” I said after Zoe.

“This place is now my new favorite place ever,” she said while looking around. “Seriously, where did you ever find it? I have lived here my entire life and I’ve never heard of it.” Her eyes lit up while admiring all of the Christmas decor throughout the lodge. “And Christmas is my favorite time of year! How did you know?”

“I guess I just know you better than you think.” Luck seemed to be on my side tonight, thankfully.

*

The night was going perfectly. The dinner was amazing, except we were talking so much that by the time I finished it, it had become cold. Our conversation never seemed to end. A young woman, also dressed as an elf, approached our table with bags in her hands.

“How are you enjoying your evening?” she asked cheerfully. I recognized her voice. She must have been the woman I spoke to on the phone.

“Great! This place is amazing!” Zoe spoke up right away and continued to rave about it to the woman.

“I have something for each of you. We want thank you for spending your night with us here at Lorraine's. We hope that you had a magical time!” She winked at me as she handed a bag to the both of us. I stared at the bag placed before me on the table, unsure of what it contained.

“What is this?” Zoe asked, laughing.

“I’m not sure. Should we open them?”

“You first.” She said.

“Okay, okay.” She was hard to argue with so I opened the bag first. Before I took out what was inside, I now know what those questions meant on the phone. It was a mini Bop It. I could feel the huge grin that was appearing on my face. I got nervous when I began to think—what was in Zoe’s bag? I couldn’t give the woman a clear answer when she spoke with me on the phone.

“Well?” Zoe asked curiously.

Pulling it out of the bag, I laughed. “It’s what I’ve always wanted for Christmas! A Bop It!”

“Stop it. You’ve never had a Bop It?” Zoe glared at me. “I cannot wait for this! I am undefeated. I’m the master. Gabe’s not so bad either!”

“Oh, are you? No one beats me at anything.”

“Guess you will know what it feels like to lose then shortly.”

“Well, what is in your bag? Open it.” I was curious to see what was in her bag. This could potentially make or break the evening since she seemed so excited.

Gently taking the tissue paper out of the bag, she smiled, pulling out a light green scarf that brought out the beautiful color of her eyes. As she continued to dig deeper in the bag, her smile faded, and tears appeared in her eyes as she pulled out the second item.

“What’s wrong?” She sat still, staring into the bag.

What else was in there?
I got worried.

“This is beautiful. I don’t understand. Did you do this? How did you do this? I’ve never seen this picture before.”

“No, honestly I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I was confused.

She pulled out a small snow globe and turned it to face me. Inside the snow globe was a picture. Tears trickled down her face, and I couldn’t tell if they were happy tears or sad ones.

“Look.” She smiled and handed me the snow globe from across the table. “This is a picture of my parents when they were younger.”

How did they know? I looked around for the staff, but they were clearly letting us have a moment as they all seemed to have disappeared. Staring at the couple in the picture, I now realized how they probably knew. Zoe could have been her mother's twin. She was beautiful, just like her daughter. But it still didn’t explain how they got their hands on this picture.

“They look so happy, don’t they? My dad was so good to her. Can I see it again?”

“It looks like it was taken here,” I said, handing it back to her, after I noticed that the fireplace they were standing in front of happened to be identical to the one adjacent to us.

“Wait, what?” She grabbed it from my hands abruptly. Staring at the fireplace and back at the picture, she was speechless. Silence remained between the both of us for a few moments until an older gentleman approached our table.

“Good evening! My name is Luciano. I am the owner here. How did you enjoy your evening?”

“It was amazing! Thank you so much for a wonderful time. You have a great place. I’ve never been anywhere like it,” I said, shaking his hand.

“I loved it!” Zoe paused and looked down at the snow globe. “Did you know them?”

“Your parents, you mean? Yes, I did. They used to come here every year.” Luciano replied.

“Really? I wonder why my mom never told me about this place,” Zoe said.

“This picture is from their first time here. They were a bit younger than you, I presume. I had this made up for them way back when, but your father told me to keep it here. He said the first time he took your mother here was when he realized he was in love with her.”

“How did you know who I was?” Zoe’s voice was shaken up a bit. I, too, was in shock that this was all happening. The words that escaped from his mouth were powerful and left me with unfamiliar emotions.

“When you walked in through the door, I knew right then. You are the spitting image of your mother. I knew she had a daughter named Zoe, so when I heard this fine young man say your name, I didn’t have a doubt.”

“This means a lot. It really does. I don’t even know how to thank you.” Zoe stood up and gave him a hug, which took Luciano by surprise, but he welcomed it. By now even I had tears in my eyes. This was hard to wrap my head around.

“No need to thank me. I just hope you two will visit again soon.”

“Oh, we will be! Where do we get our bill?” Christian asked. It was starting to get late, and we needed to head home even though neither of us wanted to leave.

“Don’t worry about it,” Luciano said quietly before smiling.

“Oh, wow. You didn’t have to do that. You are so kind.” I was floored.. Tonight couldn’t have been any more unpredictable.

Standing up, I shook his hand, thanked him again, and I grabbed my coat as Zoe stood up to help put it on her. Taking her hand I led her toward the doorway. Walking down the steps into the snow, she stopped and pulled me closer to her, kissing me unexpectedly.

“Thank you so much. Tonight was amazing,” she said while releasing her lips and staring into my eyes. We were out in the cold, but warmth filled my body as I took Zoe’s hand. It seems that just as her father fell in love with her mother, I think I have fallen in love with Zoe at the very same place.

Zoe sat on the back of the snowmobile holding her helmet in her lap. The wind was starting to pick up as the night got colder. Her hair blew back behind her, and her smile glowed, bringing light to the dark skies.

“Well, are we going to leave?” she said as she smiled back at me. I hesitated to move. I just want to stand here for a minute longer. If I could freeze time and stay in one moment for the rest of my life, this would be it.

{21}

Zoe

I sat on the back of the snowmobile and waited for Christian to join me. Looking ahead, I saw an empty ice covered path lit up from the moon and the stars. Looking behind, the beautifully decorated lodge sat on a small hill, surrounded by snow covered pine trees, and lights illuminated the sidewalk. It was picturesque.

Christian peered out of the doorway and stopped at the top of the stairs right underneath the porch light. I looked at him, and there was nothing left to fear. The unspoken echoed loudly through the silence, awakening an invisible energy that connected our hearts, our souls. He made me feel alive again.

He finally hopped on the snowmobile and powered it up.

“Ok, I’m ready.” I wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Wait, look up there!” He pointed up toward the sky.

“I don’t see anything.”

“Over there.” My eyes followed in the direction of his left arm up over the trees toward the darkness and caught sight of the flame burning through the sky.

“Make a wish,” Christian turned around and whispered in my ear. His warm breath hit my neck as he spoke, sending goose bumps down my arms. I rested my head on his back and closed my eyes gently and made a wish.

“What did you wish for?” he asked.

“If I tell you, it may never come true.” I smiled.

“Alright, hold on tight.”

I held him just as tight as I did on the way here. The only difference was that this time I wanted more.

We drove back along the path we took to get here. I envisioned what it would be like to know every part of him.

As he drove the snowmobile into the back of the trailer, I tapped Christian on the shoulder as he slowed down until coming to a complete stop.

“Everything okay?” he asked me.

“Yeah, but I have an idea.” I grabbed my keys and headed toward my car.

“What’s that?” He questioned.

“Follow me.” I started up my car and waited until he got in his to start driving.

We drove for about ten miles until I pulled into the parking lot of a motel I had noticed on the way here. Christian parked next to me, and without asking any more questions, looked me in the eye and opened his door. He headed toward the office.

I leaned up against the hood of my car while I waited. I took a deep breath in and smiled as I watched the door open. As he slowly approached me, our eyes never lost contact. Reaching out for my hand, he led me to room 103.

He turned around quickly after opening the door and picked me up. My legs wrapped around his waist. Our foreheads touched, and we both smiled. He gently placed me down on the bed and walked over toward the door.

I watched as he turned the lock and rested against the back of the door. I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and slowly lifted it over my head. Christian turned around and I motioned with my pointer finger for him to come closer until he was standing right in front of me.

I placed my hands underneath his shirt and stood up as I slowly moved it up his body. I admired his abdominal muscles as his shirt rose above his chest, sliding up and over his head. Wrapping my arms around his neck, his hands moved up my back until reaching my bra straps, which he slid off of my shoulders and unclipped.

We slowly laid backward until his body was completely on top of mine. He gently brushed the hair out of my face and tucked the loose strands behind my ear.

“My God, you are beautiful,” he whispered as he leaned forward until our lips met each other’s once again. This time, it was different. There was a fire between us that continued to get hotter. He grabbed my hands and held them while lifting them up and over my head.

Time was lost in the dark of the night. Eight o’clock had become nine o’clock. I laid my head on his bare chest and listened to the beat of his heart. Neither of us spoke until my phone rang.

“I’ll just let it go to voicemail.” The phone stopped and the room was silent again.

It rang a second time. I reached over the side of the bed and into my jacket pocket.

“It’s Emily.” I looked at Christian in a panic.