didn’t see her anywhere. The snow was really pouring out of the sky by then. And I remembered what I learned in my survival class. They taught us to stay where there was shelter, and, well, that’s what we did.” Ashley told the story as if it were something a ten and seven-year-old did every day.
The employees applauded loudly, some calling out to Ashley “Way to go!” “You’re a hero!” “You can ski with me anytime!”
Ashley appeared surprised by all the attention, so she just smiled as some of the employees stopped to give her a hug before they left. Stephanie watched in amazement as her daughter accepted their thanks in stride as though this were a normal, everyday event. Stephanie wasn’t sure exactly what to think right then. How was it possible that her ten-year-old daughter had delivered a puppy? And not only that, she remembered what to do in an emergency situation while in a snowstorm. Tears pooled once again. She was extremely proud of both girls for using their heads in this situation when most children their age wouldn’t have had a clue as to what to do. And where and how did Patrick fit into the picture?
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of you both. I’m sure the dog was grateful you two showed up when you did, but that still doesn’t get either of you off the hook for not waiting for Melanie. She was worried about you, and so was I. You both know how I feel about knowing where you are at all times, right?”
The girls nodded in unison.
“But what about helping others? Didn’t you tell us that’s what good, decent people do?” Ashley asked, a puzzled look on her face.
Oh boy. Stephanie didn’t think now was the time to get into the moral of this lesson. She would wait until they were home, where they could discuss this in private. For the moment, she was simply relieved that they were alive and didn’t seem to be fazed in the least by their experience.
Stephanie needed to know Patrick’s role in finding her daughters. Since it didn’t appear as though he wanted to tell his side of the story, she turned to face him. For a second, she was flustered. He was so sexy, with his windblown raven black hair just a shade too long. And those blue eyes. Well she knew she could drown in them if given the opportunity, but it wasn’t the time. “How did you find the girls? And before you say anything, let me say thank you.”
Patrick chuckled. “It was by sheer luck, trust me. When Candy Lee called me and told me they were missing, and with the storm worsening by the minute, I didn’t want to take a chance on using the snow-mobiles. I took the lift up to the garage, where we store the Snow Cats. I found them there caring for the dogs. I loaded the pups and the girls into the cab, and brought them here before dropping the dogs off with a friend of mine who’s a veterinarian. I stopped back by to make sure you’d found them. End of story.”
“I can’t thank you enough. I was beside myself with worry,” Stephanie said, then stopped. “I know you don’t have children, so you probably haven’t a clue what it feels like knowing you might not see them again, so thanks, Patrick. You can’t imagine how much this means to me.”
“As long as you don’t get any funny ideas about the future,” he said.
Shock at his remark yielded quickly to anger. Not caring that he was her boss, and not caring that he was the man who’d just saved her daughters from being stuck out in a blizzard, Stephanie found she was practically breathless with rage. How dare he? And in front of her daughters, Candy Lee, and Melanie! She swallowed the vile words she wanted to sling at him before she made a fool of herself. Taking a breath, as much as she was able to, Stephanie spoke, letting her eyes convey the outrage and fury she felt. “Mr. O’Brien, trust me, any ‘funny ideas’ I may have had about you have been completely erased from my memory. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take my girls home so they can change their clothes, then we’re going to the Christmas tree lighting.” She walked to the front of the store, where she flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED.
“You can’t do that! We’ve got two more hours before it’s time to close up shop. In spite of what you may think, there are people still out there who might want to visit the shop before they call it a day. You can’t just leave. There is money to be made, and I expect you to stay here and do your job. Or else,” he added.
Knowing Patrick had about as much tact as a rattlesnake didn’t excuse his smart-ass comments, and for once in her life, Stephanie refused to allow a man to browbeat her into submitting to his demands. Without giving it another thought, she shot back, “Or else what?”
She knew her remark caught him off guard just by looking at him. His nostrils flared like those of an angry stallion. She was familiar with Patrick’s reputation as a tough and demanding boss, but that didn’t prepare her for the words that spewed from his mouth.
He rubbed the dark stubble on his chin and lowered his voice. Standing as close to her as possible, he said, “Or else this. How about you take the next four weeks off work. Spend some quality time with your children.”
Stephanie felt the blood rush to her head, settling in her temples only to pound like a jackhammer.
Before she even had a chance to respond, Patrick leaned next to her, and whispered in her ear, “Without pay.”
Chapter 7
As though she were on autopilot, Stephanie hastily took her daughters’ hands and practically pulled them off the stools they were sitting on as she raced to her office. Rage consumed her, then the feeling left as quickly as it came, humiliation coming in its stead. She’d lost all her wind, all of her spark, in less than a few seconds. Like a deflating hot air balloon, every emotion, every word, every thought drifted out with each exhalation.
She removed her purse from a bottom drawer and grabbed her car keys from a hook on the wall. She quickly scanned the small space, searching for anything of value she might be leaving behind. Fortunately, her pride was visible only to her.
“What just happened out there?” Melanie whispered.
Stephanie shook her head. “Not now. I have to get out of here.”
“You want me to take the girls?” Melanie asked. Realizing the enormity behind the innocent comment, Melanie swallowed. “I mean I can take them to the Christmas tree lighting with you, help out.”
“Thanks, but I’d like to spend the evening with just the girls. I’m sorry, it’s not you, it’s…” She looked down the hall at the front of the store, where Patrick could be seen bossing Candy Lee around.
Melanie followed her gaze. “I see. Then I’ll just go on. You call if you need me for anything, no matter what, okay?”
Melanie’s words jolted her back to reality, the reality that she really did need a friend right now. “No, don’t, I mean don’t go off by yourself. Come with us to the Christmas tree lighting. I think I might need a friend tonight.” There, she’d said it. She’d actually taken Grace’s advice. When you need help, a friend, a hug, ask for it.
Melanie instantly brightened. “I was hoping you’d say that. I don’t want you and the girls to be all alone tonight.”
Stephanie nodded, then walked to the employee exit, Amanda and Ashley trailing behind. “You want to ride with us?” Stephanie asked as she stepped out into the frigid evening air. Snowflakes swirled in the bluish glow beneath the lights in the parking lot. Icy wind whipped the ends of her hair as she walked across the almost empty lot to her car, a car in such pitiful condition, it almost made her smile. She’d scrimped and saved for three long
