Page 2 of It’s Me, but Different

I almost drop my coffee cup when I hear her words.

“She lost her husband?”

“Yes. She has eight-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. This vacation could be perfect for those kids. She doesn't know you'll be here, or that the resort belongs to our family.”

“That's why Julie signed the offer,” Anika clarifies. “But look, if you don't feel like seeing her, that's fine, we understand. This place is very big; maybe you won't run into each other at any point. Of course, then I don't want you coming around like a lost soul, complaining that you let her escape eleven years ago. If you're not willing to do anything to get her back now, I don't want to hear it,” she adds with a snort.

I blink rapidly, trying to take in the whole situation. Esme, now widowed with two small children, accepting a special offer to come to Silver Peaks, not knowing I'm part of the package.

“You've lost your minds. And you're also idiots,” I protest, putting my hands to my head.

Before they can defend themselves, I shift my gaze toward the equipment rental area and see a dark-haired woman kneeling in the snow. She's trying to steady two small children who are wobbling on skis. The girl beside herlaughs. She looks a lot like Esme. The same big brown eyes, the same high cheekbones.

The boy looks like someone else. Like a life she built without me.

I struggle to keep my eyes from filling with tears as I remember that sophomore student Anika introduced me to in college.

I was the star of the ski team, with my dorm shelves fuller of trophies than books and an Olympic dream burning strong in my heart. We spent two wonderful years until one night, under the stars, she admitted she wanted to spend the rest of her life with me, and I got too nervous.

Besides, I had an Olympic medal to win.

I regret that decision so much…

Without saying a single word, I get up and walk toward them. The boy leans to one side and falls to the ground with a sharp cry. Before I know it, I'm kneeling beside him.

“Easy there, champ, you'll see how soon you'll be gliding down the slopes effortlessly,” I assure him.

He looks at me with wide eyes, his cheeks red from the cold.

“I… I lost my balance,” he confesses, almost embarrassed.

“That happens to the best of us. By the way, I'll be your ski instructor from now on.”

Then I hear her voice.

“Theo, are you okay?” she asks with concern.

She still has that soft Texas accent that drove me crazy when we were in college. She kneels next to her son without noticing my presence until she makes sure the little one hasn't hurt himself.

“Sloane?” she sighs suddenly.

“Hi, Esme,” I greet, not really knowing what to say, and my heart beats so hard I'm almost sure she can hear it.

She gets up slowly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She's just as beautiful as I remembered. More mature, of course, the faint lines near her eyes speak of laughter and tears, but she's the Esme I remember. The one I'm still in love with.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she growls, putting her arms on her hips.

The boy stands up, brushing snow off his pants, and looks at me curiously.

“Mom?”

Esme looks away from me, focusing on her son.

“This is Miss Merriweather. She… We met in college.”

Her chosen words hurt me.

“Are you going to tell me what the hell you're doing here?” she insists, addressing me again.