The Noel Bridge

Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

B y the time they made it back to Leo’s house, the snow was coming down too hard to drive, so Leo called the sheriff’s office. While he was on the phone in the kitchen explaining what they’d found, Alicia and Evelyn stripped off their outerwear. Thank goodness Alicia’s jeans under her ski pants were dry.

“What are the odds that he lives in your house?” Evelyn whispered.

“I know. It’s such a coincidence.” Alicia wrapped herself in one of the blankets Leo had left on the couch for her and Evelyn, and dropped to the floor close to the fire.

Evelyn sat down next to her. “I don’t think there are any coincidences in life.”

“What? There are plenty.”

Evelyn shook her head. “I think they all mean something. That’s why the bridge is so famous. People can see the messages in the coincidences.”

Alicia laughed, charmed by her friend’s optimism. “What makes you think every serendipitous instance has meaning? ”

“If Leo didn’t live here, we wouldn’t have known where to look for his dad. We wouldn’t have gotten evidence that the search parties hadn’t even unearthed. Don’t you think that was meant to be?”

“I think it was lucky,” Alicia said, although she had to admit that a lot of people certainly had experienced things they couldn’t explain in relation to the bridge. Had one of their requests had something to do with this latest development?

She sifted through all the things that had happened since she’d arrived in Noel. Her yearning to hear Bo, and then Leo saying the one thing her fiancé would’ve said. Bo’s voice came back to her once more. “I knew this would happen.” It gave her a shiver. Then she’d been in the hospital with her old friend at the same time the sheriff was there looking for Dean, and Tabitha could explain what had happened. And now she sat in her childhood home, one step closer to finding the older man. Had it all been some sort of miraculous response to their prayers at the bridge? A part of her wanted to believe it.

“They said the conditions aren’t safe to send people out searching today,” Leo said as he walked into the room, “but they’re going to start calling all the homes on that side of the valley. It’s a different county that we haven’t checked yet. Maybe someone’s seen him.”

“I hope so,” Alicia said, still trying to get rid of the chill.

“Maybe he got a ride somewhere,” Evelyn said. “Is there anywhere you can think of that he’d want to go?”

They’d moved from the floor to the couch and were both wrapped up like burritos on each end.

Leo shook his head and rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. “I’ve tried. For the life of me, I can’t think of anywhere he wanted to go. The diner was his dream and he wanted to be there all the time. He’d have shown up if he could.”

“I want to believe he’s somewhere safe,” Evelyn said. “I feel it in my gut.”

“We can hope.” Leo picked up the lure from the table and peered at it, then set it back down. “Well, we’re not getting out again to look for him any time soon, and I’m afraid you’re both stuck here. Might as well make yourselves at home.” He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, then handed it to Alicia. “I can make us all a cup of coffee, if you’d like. Or some soup. Anyone hungry?”

“Yes, thank you,” Evelyn said with a grateful nod.

Alicia passed the remote to Evelyn and then adjusted her blanket so she could stand. “I’ll help you.”

They went into the kitchen, and Leo filled the coffee pot with water.

“Okay, making coffee in my old house… This is kind of fun.” She pointed to the cabinet. “Mugs still in here?”

He smiled despite the day’s tension. “Yep.”

She opened it and pulled out three, then lined them up on the counter. “I suppose it’s a good cabinet for mugs, since it’s above the plug for the coffee maker.” She pointed to the drawer by the sink. “Silverware?”

His brows pulled together. “Are we really that predictable as a species that we can’t even choose our own silverware drawer?”

“We’re not predictable. We’re resourceful,” Alicia said. “The silverware drawer is the closest drawer to the dishwasher, and we all know how annoying it would be to carry all that clean cutlery across the kitchen when we unload it.”

The corner of his mouth arched up. “I can’t say I was thinking about that when I unpacked. But from my old habits working in kitchens, I do suppose I chose that drawer because it was the widest for my kitchen knives. I don’t like them piled on top of one another.”

“So subconsciously you were more aware than you thought you were.”

Alicia was unused to being the positive one, at least lately, thinking they all had some underlying force driving them. Before this trip, she’d been convinced that everything happened at face value. But was there a bigger picture in the making? Being here in this town, with these people, had done something for her that she couldn’t put her finger on.

Leo loaded the coffee maker and hit start. Alicia tightened the blanket around her shoulders. The kitchen had always been drafty.

“Are you warm enough?” Leo asked.

“I’ll be fine.”

The snow continued falling out the window. She hadn’t seen anything like this storm when she’d lived there. It seemed never-ending.

A cardinal flew into her line of sight and landed on a nearby branch.

“Look,” she whispered to Leo as she pointed to the bird. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Leo set a container of creamer on the counter and joined her, leaning forward to peer out the window. “When I was a little boy, my mother used to tell me that our loved ones who’d passed on would visit us on the wings of a cardinal.”

“Oh,” she said, looking out at the bird. Could the story be true? Perhaps the cardinal was Leo’s mother. She certainly hoped it wasn’t Dean. Or maybe it was Bo. Could he be watching over her?

The coffee maker beeped just after the bird flew off, breaking the spell. She snapped herself back to reality .

Leo pulled out a wooden tray from under a lower cabinet, filled it with three bowls, and heated up a couple of cans of soup while Alicia went into the living room to ask Evelyn what she wanted in her coffee. When she got back, Leo was on the phone, pacing the kitchen.

“When?” he asked.

Alicia began to pour the coffee, her hands moving slower than usual as she attempted to figure out why the caller had Leo’s face so concerned.

“Is there anything we can do today?” His gaze fell upon Alicia, but he didn’t seem to register her presence, his thoughts entirely on the call.

She added cream to the coffees and stirred.

“All right. Call me any time if you find out more.” Leo ended the call, leaned against the counter, and exhaled loudly.

Evelyn was now standing in the doorway. “Is everything okay?”

Leo turned his focus to Alicia and his lips parted as if the words were stuck in his throat. Then his astonished look began to lift. “Somebody across the valley thinks they saw Dad yesterday.”

Alicia gasped and Evelyn rushed in.

“How do they know it was him?” Alicia asked.

“A farmer was out plowing snow and saw an older man cut through a field at the edge of his property and head into the trees. He was wearing the coat and boots that match Dad’s description, and he was carrying fishing gear and a blanket.”

“That’s incredible,” Alicia said.

“The farmer tried to find him, but couldn’t.” Leo erupted with a loud whoop and pumped his fist in the air, then slammed it onto the counter loudly and broke into a wild laugh. “Ha-ha! I can’t believe it! He made it through!”

Evelyn let out an excited squeal.

A new feeling ran through Alicia’s veins. She wasn’t sure how to describe it. Ever since Bo died, nothing had seemed right in her world. She wasn’t sure she’d believed Dean could be alive because to her mind, the world wasn’t kind enough for that. But now there was evidence he might have made it through the storm, and while he wasn’t safe by any means, something was helping him. She thought back to the cardinal she’d seen. It had come just before this news. Before this week, she never would have believed that a random bird sighting would have a thing to do with her reality, but now she wasn’t so sure. Had her life begun to change as a result of her visiting the bridge in Noel? Or was she just falling for the myth like everyone else?

“Do you think he’s still finding shelter in the shack?” Evelyn asked.

“They’re trying to see if they can send an officer out on a snowmobile. Getting equipment for all this snow has been tough. They aren’t prepared for it. I told them I wanted to go back out and wait for Dad at the shack, but they advised me to stay here in case he returns to the house. The sheriff said it’s too dangerous to go back into the woods without proper precautions.”

Alicia sent up a silent prayer. If all of this is real, we need the snow to stop so we can get to Dean. Bo, if you’re up there, please put in a good word for us .

For the rest of the day, Leo, Alicia, and Evelyn operated under a buzz of excitement. The TV was on and the fire blazed as they spent the afternoon chatting. Their conversation moved from topic to topic, yet Alicia was sure they were all silently wondering where Dean was at that moment. As they talked, a strange sort of calm settled in the air, despite the fact that Dean was yet to be located. They were all just so relieved he’d made it through the worst of the storm.

While the sun set, Alicia prayed they’d find him before the plunging temperatures returned. The fact that he’d made it this far gave her faith that he could manage until he was brought home.

“You said your dad’s favorite time of year is Christmas,” Alicia said after a few minutes of quiet, a new sense of faith coming over her. Their luck so far had given her hope that if any holiday could be a great one, it would be this Christmas. “What if he comes home as a Christmas miracle?”

“I’d thank God every day for the rest of my life,” Leo said.

Evelyn scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Christmas is about believing, right?”

Leo nodded.

“What if we believe ? What if we prepare for his arrival as if we know he’s coming? What if we push away all doubts from our minds?”

“It can’t hurt,” Alicia agreed. “Get those stockings you wanted to put up, Leo. Let’s wrap the presents and finish decorating. What’s the worst that could happen if we do—you have a festive, cozy house? Best-case scenario, the Christmas cheer will be waiting for Dean when he shows up.”

“You’ve got a point,” Leo said. “He’d be overjoyed by a gesture like that. And I’ve said I’ll do anything to bring him home. I even wished inside a bridge. What could a few stockings hurt?”

Alicia smiled. “Exactly.”

“We need to get in the mood.” Evelyn clapped her hands excitedly. “Let’s put on some Christmas music. And we should bake cookies! It’s not Christmas without cookies.”

Leo went over to the radio and tuned it to a holiday station. “Evelyn, do you mind rooting through the pantry to see if I have what we need to make cookies? I’m not sure if I have everything… I know I have flour, sugar, and butter.”

“You were an executive chef, and you aren’t sure if you have basic ingredients for cookies?” Alicia teased him.

“What can I say? I don’t bring my work home.” A mixture of amusement and fondness sparkled in his eyes.

Alicia laughed.

“Not to worry—I’m on it!” Evelyn hopped up from the sofa and ran into the kitchen.

“I’ll get the rest of the Christmas decorations. Alicia, want to help me?” Leo asked.

“Of course.”

“Grab your coat. It’s cold in the attic.”

She put on her coat and followed him up the flight of stairs. Leo flipped on the light when they entered the attic. The cold air gave her a chill and she sent up another prayer for Dean.

“I can’t imagine how your dad is staying warm in this storm with only a coat and blanket.”

“When we got there, it looked like the fire had been lit,” Leo said. “And someone cooked that fish. Knowing him, I’ll bet he had matches in his fishing gear. He probably has a first aid kit and snacks too. He was always prepared.”

Alicia smiled .

Leo sat on the top step of the attic and dug through one of the boxes. “When I was a kid, he used to take me fishing for the day, but his fishing trips weren’t like most.”

Alicia sat next to him.

“He filled the back of his truck with supplies. When we found the perfect spot—out of the way and in the shade—he put up this big tent he had, and then snapped open a folding table where he sat three boxes: one was his fishing box, the other two were snacks.”

“That sounds like fun,” Alicia said, forgetting about the cold.

“He and I would scavenge the woods for big rocks so we could make a circle for a fire pit. Then we’d cook hot dogs, s’mores, whatever he brought.”

Leo’s gaze fell on the wall of the attic, but it was clear by the glisten in his eyes that he was lost in thought. “For my sixth birthday, he took me fishing, and in the back of his truck was a massive tire. He sat me down on the edge of the river bank, in one of his foldable camping chairs, and gave me a baited fishing pole and a soda. Then he spent the next hour hanging a tire swing from a nearby oak tree. Once it was up, the two of us took turns swinging over the river and dropping into the ice-cold water. If I close my eyes, I can still remember the sound of his laugh right before the splash.”

“What a sweet story,” Alicia said. “Thank you for telling me.”

“I haven’t thought about his younger days in ages. I don’t know what made me think of that particular moment.” He twisted toward her. “Maybe it was you being here. I’m so glad you came to the diner the other night.”

Her heart pattered. Leo reminded her that she was still alive. She didn’t feel left behind when she was with him. “I’m glad too.”

“I’ve been working so hard on getting the diner up and running that I hadn’t gotten to know anyone, so when Dad went missing, I felt alone. Until you showed up.”

“I understand,” she said. “I felt the same way.”

“Where did you say you’re from?” he asked.

“Georgia.”

“When do you fly back?”

“Friday.” Sitting in the cold attic with Leo, she didn’t want to be anywhere else. Going back to her empty condo and the shell of the life she’d been building with Bo seemed unimaginable.

Leo didn’t say anything else, both of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts.

What should I do? A gust of wind blew through the vent at the roofline, making Alicia shiver. She put her hands in the pockets of her coat, and her fingers brushed a folded piece of paper in one of them. She took it out and opened it.

“What’s that?” Leo asked.

“It’s the volunteer form from the hospital. The front desk clerk asked me to sign up when I stopped by. She didn’t know I was leaving.” She peered down at the form, the blank lines calling to her. “I wonder if they need any help with all the snow.”

“We can dig out the car tomorrow, and if we can get on the road, I could take you over. You’ve still got a week. They might appreciate an extra set of hands if nurses are having trouble getting there in the snow.”

“I’d love that.” She folded the paper and put it back in her pocket. “Thank you.”

“I’d be happy to.”

They locked eyes .

“Well, let’s get you down before you freeze.” Leo hoisted a box in his arms. “Ready?”

She nodded.

When they got downstairs, Alicia took off her coat and went into the kitchen. Evelyn had her hands in a large bowl. “We didn’t have chocolates for chocolate chip cookies, but I found butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking soda.” She flashed a wide smile. “That will make a basic sugar cookie.”

Leo came in and leaned around Alicia’s shoulder. “Wow. I actually had what you needed. That’s a Christmas miracle in itself.”

“You don’t, by chance, have any cookie cutters, do you?” Evelyn asked.

Leo laughed. “A house with two bachelors? Definitely not.”

“That’s perfectly fine. I can shape them without one.”

“You’re incredible,” Alicia said, giving her friend a squeeze.

Evelyn wrinkled her nose playfully. “Thank you.” She pulled her doughy hands from the bowl. “How’s the decorating?”

“We’re just about to start,” Leo said as he opened the fridge. He pulled out a bottle of white wine. “My staff got me this for Christmas and I’ve been wondering when I would ever drink it. I think tonight is a good night. What do you two think?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Alicia said.

“Yes, I’d love some,” Evelyn chimed in while she washed batter off her hands at the sink.

Leo retrieved three glasses from the cabinet and poured them each one. “How are you doing over there, Evelyn. You got enough hands? ”

“Yep! As long as you’re comfortable with a near-stranger making a mess of your kitchen, I’m doing great.”

He chuckled. “I’m totally fine with that.”

“Do you have a cookie sheet for the oven?” Evelyn asked.

“Hm.” Leo rooted around in a couple of cabinets and then in the drawer under the oven, finally taking out a pizza pan. “Will this work?”

“Sure will,” Evelyn said, pulling a piece of tinfoil out of the box and lining the small pan.

While Evelyn shaped the cookies, Leo and Alicia took their glasses of wine into the living room.

“So what do we have in there?” Alicia waggled a finger at the box from the attic.

Leo set his wine on the coffee table and opened the box. “I can’t say I’m a huge decorator. I have stockings and some greenery.”

“That’ll work.” Alicia pulled out a long strand of woven spruce and arranged it over the mantel.

Leo followed up with two stocking hangers and flanked the mantel with them. Then they each pulled a stocking from the box and hung them at the same time.

Alicia picked up her glass of wine, stood back, and admired their work. “It’s starting to feel cozy in here.”

He smiled. “It just needed a woman’s touch.” His interested gaze lingered on her.

She took a sip of her wine to hide her fondness for him. She liked that she could be herself with Leo, and she couldn’t deny she felt alive for the first time in months.

“Do you have presents to wrap?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’ll bring them in.” He left her in the living room.

Alicia waited by the fire, the warmth seeping into her bones while she sipped from her glass. The smell of sugar and warm butter floated in from the kitchen, giving her a sense of her old home despite the new furnishings. The only thing that would make this night more perfect would be if Dean walked through the door.

Leo returned, carrying a roll of wrapping paper, a spool of ribbon, and a large bag of gifts. He set them on the floor. “I’ll get us a pair of scissors and some tape.”

Alicia cleared the coffee table, picked up the wrapping paper, and tore the cellophane from it. As she unrolled the paper, Leo returned with the scissors and tape and handed them to her. She dug around in the bag and pulled out the first present, admiring the wooden box with Dean’s initials carved into the top.

Evelyn came in and sat on the sofa with her glass of wine. “Oh, what’s that?”

“It’s for Dad to keep all his photographs in,” Leo said. “He has a stack he’s kept over the years. I figured he and I could write down who’s in them and the dates before he loses his memory.”

“It’s beautiful,” Alicia said, caressing the brass latch and hoping Dean would be able to use the box soon. She set it in the center of the wrapping paper and cut around it before folding the sides of the paper up and securing them with a piece of tape. Then she folded and taped the ends. Once the present was wrapped, she cut off a long piece of ribbon and tied a bow around it.

Evelyn offered to put the present under the tree. “One down!”

The next gift was a brass pocket watch with carvings around the edges.

“Time is such an issue when someone’s losing their memory, so I wanted to give him the gift of time. I figured he’d like to carry it around with him. He doesn’t have a watch.” Leo sat down next to Alicia.

“That’s thoughtful,” Alicia said. She wrapped it and Evelyn placed it under the tree.

Alicia lifted a sizable suitcase-style container from the bottom of the bag. She set it on the table, unclipped the two latches, and lifted the lid. “Oh, wow.”

“It’s a vintage record player. It’s fully restored so he can listen to his old records. He says the songs take him back in time.” Leo choked up as he said the words. “If only I could go back in time…”

“Don’t,” Alicia warned. “Don’t put yourself through the what-ifs.” She’d had those thoughts herself. What if I’d asked Bo to stay home that day? What if he’d slept in like he always had instead of getting up when I told him he needed to?

“Let’s stay positive,” Evelyn said. “Look at all we’ve done. We’ve got music playing, wine, cookies in the oven, presents, decorations… We’re ready.”

“I wished for a Christmas miracle at the bridge,” Leo said. “I really need it to deliver.”

Alicia wasn’t sure what came over her just then, but she suddenly knew why she’d felt stronger since she’d come back to Noel. Over the week that she’d been there, she’d developed faith . She believed things would somehow work out. What she didn’t know was if the bridge had anything to do with it.