Finding Me in the Storm (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

Chapter Ten

Nate

“Please don’t go to the bathroom in the ski suit to stay warm,” I tell the little boy staring at me with big eyes.

I was that little guy once upon a time. I would have been put out if I had to leave something fun to go to the bathroom, and yet the bladder would not wait for the fun to end. Also, with it being so cold, kids could be devious and creative creatures as their brains don’t compute data or adhere to any of the societal norms that we believe they should.

I’m trying to teach a skiing class for those under six that have at least a year on the slopes. Normally, this level of a class should be a focused group of kiddos. Many who move up in skills to be on my roster have been skiing or snowboarding since birth, and several are even planning on going professional. This group today, though, is lacking attentiveness, and everything grabs their fancy away from the slopes.

“I really have to go,” the little boy says as he shifts from foot to foot.

The earnest look on his face would be comical if I didn’t feel completely out of my element. I love working with children, but normally their parents are hanging on nearby to handle bathroom or food requests. This little guy is about to be in real need if his mother doesn’t reappear quickly.

I nearly sigh aloud when I see the lady heading in our direction. “Hold on just a bit,” I murmur to the little guy as I wave her down.

“Spencer, I told you to go before we came out here.” His mother flies to the boy’s side and grabs at his arm.

The catastrophe is averted as the boy is taken away. I turn to see Elaina making her way slowly to the class. I guess she decided to join us after all. Though, I might not have fully told her about the age group she would be joining. I can see her consternation the second her eyes run up and down the line of students.

“Wow, class, we have a newcomer to our group today,” I call out as I see Elaina glaring in my direction. “Elaina is getting onto skis for the first time today, and I thought you might all be kind enough to show her how we do things around here.”

“She is old,” one of the little girls says in a whisper like it is a secret.

“She is not old, just a bit more mature than all of you,” I defend. “Remember, not all adults learned to ski, as you all are fortunate to. So, they also must start somewhere,” I finish, giving them a warning look.

“This is the class you feel I should attend?” Elaina asks as all eyes turn in her direction. “You realize I’m a bit—-taller than all of them.”

“You wanted to get the basics. I figure putting you with the toddlers was a bit much,” I reply with a teasing lilt to my speech. The adorable blush that suddenly stains her cheeks has nothing to do with the cold. “I promise this group will go easy on you.”

“Amazing,” Elaina grumbles, as her eyes squint a bit more in my direction. “Are there really kids younger than this that ski? I’m struggling to keep my legs beneath me and not flying in all directions.”

“Yes. Some kids are even better on skis than walking, as the parents start them so early.”

“That might be abuse,” she mumbles as she focuses hard on stopping near the kids, who are all staring at her as if expecting a certain disaster at any second.

I notice her wobble a bit on the skis as several of the children move a few feet from her.

“Can we all say hi to Elaina,” I call out to the six children standing and staring at her like she is some monster threatening their existence.

“Hi.”

“Elaina is too big. I’m not standing by her.”

“She is going to fall.”

“I don’t want to be squished,” another little girl moans.

“Don’t you know that your skis are supposed to be like this?” Scarlett asks as she moves to Elaina and crosses the tips manually.

“Scarlett, remember kind words,” I tell her.

The little girl has a big personality and likes to boss everyone around. I have to bite my lip from laughing at the antics of her switching up the skis with such a disgusted look on her face. Elaina, luckily, is a good sport, and I find that endearing her further to me.

“Thank you, Scarlett,” Elaina says. “Until this week, I’ve never been on skis, snowshoes, or anything like this. I promise I’m a quick learner and will try not to injure anyone.”

“Maybe you should go to the baby class.” Scarlett comes back to her. “I did that one a long time ago.”

“How old are you exactly?” Elaina questions.

“I’m six, but I can already take on a black diamond slope on skis or on a snowboard,” she announces with a dramatic bobble of her head.

“That is impressive. Maybe you can teach me a few things,” Elaina says. “How are you not scared going down such a steep curve.”

“Practice,” Scarlett tells her with a shrug.

“I see,” Elaina finishes as our eyes meet. “Practice sounds like a good idea.”

“Now, guys, I know Elaina is a new person, and we all want to help her out. We need to stay super focused, though; as you all know, there is a new snowfall on the little practice spot,” I inform them.

“I don’t like fresh snow,” Preston, another of the more vocal students, calls out. “Can’t you do something about that?”

“I’m pretty sure he thinks he is God, so maybe he should get on that,” Elaina quips under her breath, but definitely loud enough to goad me just a bit.

Scarlett explains, “My mother says it is Mother Nature. A strong woman with a big attitude that likes to make pretty new snow for all the world to enjoy.”

“Hmm, I didn’t know that” Elaina replies, with bigger eyes of disbelief.

I can tell she would refute that claim if it were an adult, but right now she is humoring the kiddos around us.

“Okay, anyway.” I clap my hands to draw all attention back in my direction. “New snow means you don’t have as good a sense of ice patches and other hazards that might lay in your path. Keep your eyes peeled and remember to go down slow and steady. This is great exercise, as you don’t always have control of your surroundings when you are outdoors. We need to learn to stay alert and in control of our bodies at all times. You are the best defense in avoiding certain disaster.”

“I had no idea how much patience ski lessons might take,” Elaina says under her breath as I move to stand next to her. “They are a handful and so much fun.”

“Fun is one word for it,” I tell her. “Kids keep you honest and on your toes. You never know what they will do next, so you have to be thinking through all the scenarios at one time. If you show fear or are not quick, they will attack.”

“I made it to the bathroom,” Spencer shouts as he skis back up to the group with a beaming smile. “I didn’t go in the suit.”

“Great job,” I tell him. “You better go on up with the group,” I finish as he moves forward quickly.

Elaina is chuckling lightly at my right side. I turn to see her tongue out of her mouth due to the effort she is exerting to stay upright.

“You need to keep your eyes trained forward,” I tell her. “Trust yourself more, and it comes easier. If you keep staring down, it will almost counterintuitively cause more accidents.”

She squares her shoulders and looks straight ahead of us.

“I’m not feeling confident,” she says but does manage to keep pace with the group.

As we stand staring down what is a small training slope, I notice the color of Elaina’s face goes as pale as the freshly fallen snow. I reach out to squeeze her hand, but all I receive is a little nostril flare in return.

“Okay, everyone, remember slow and steady. Point the skis in the direction you want to go and use the poles to navigate tricky terrain you might find under the powder,” I announce.

“Is she going to throw up?” Scarlett calls out as her face turns to Elaina.

“Nope. I’m a doctor; I never get sick, even when I’m scared,” Elaina replies.

“If she is a doctor, then she can fix her own leg if she breaks it,” Spencer adds.

“Maybe just let Elaina go first, and I have faith she will make it down without a problem,” I add.

“Here goes nothing,” she says and pushes off.

I notice all the kids just staring at her. A few of them move to the side and back and forth as if they can direct Elaina on what to do from a distance. After what seems an hour, she finally reaches the little flag at the end of the run. The kids erupt in cheers, and as she turns, her face beaming, I fist pump the air as well.

One run down, and I hope many more to come. Everything is just so much brighter and happier with her around. Even the persnickety kids are rushing down the slope now to her side, as somehow, she found her little tribe to rally around her. It’s truly one of the most adorable things to see them all celebrating with her, and her face lit up like a Christmas tree. I didn’t know, until this very moment, just how close I am to falling hard for this woman. Shockingly, I kick off down the hill toward her, no longer willing to run away from this burgeoning tension between us. I need to keep exploring just how deep this connection might actually go.

As I approach, Elaina smiles at me, and all the kids are still cheering.