Page 70 of Time After Time

I exhale a bitter laugh.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Tanya says as she opens the door. “Don’t try to make it perfect. She doesn’t want perfect. She wantsreal.”

The door clicks behind her, and I sit in the silence she leaves behind, Tanya’s words looping in my brain like a steady, rhythmic pulse.

Don’t make it perfect.

Make it real.Whatever the fuck that means!

Don’t stop trying.Right!

Then it hits me.

Ember’s not waiting for an apology. She’s waiting for me to mean it, to be convinced of my remorse.

She expects me to give up. She expects me to run, get frustrated.

Well, I’m going to disabuse her of those notions.

Tonight, I’ll try again.

Tomorrow, I’ll try again.

And the day after that.

And the day after that.

Until she believes me.

Until she believes inus.

Even if I get nowhere and we leave Chamonix, return to the States, I’ll keep working to win her trust and her love, because I’m a better man than I used to be.

All evidence to the contrary, Ransom!

CHAPTER 21

Ember

We hike single file through the woods behind the chalet, snowshoes crunching over freshly packed powder.

The snow is pristine. A white hush over the world. Pine trees flank both sides, heavy with snow that sparkles in the rare sun.

It’s a cinematic winter that looks like it’s been curated by a location scout for a Hallmark movie. Unreal and quiet and so beautiful it hurts.

I’m at the back of the group, following Latika, who is following Freja, who is following Margot, who is following Anika, who is following Tanya.

It’s our annual Rousseau Women’s Hike that usually ends with a lot of drinking.

Mama has a lot of “traditions.”

“Snow pants are deeply unflattering,” Latika complains.

Tanya turns around and calls, “Who are you trying to impress? The wildlife?”

“Maybe,” Latika replies loftily.

It’s cold. My fingers are already tingling despite the hand warmers tucked into my gloves.