The Coffee Shop by Lauren Hunter Page A

what have you planned for us?”
    “Well, I thought we could go for a walk along the lake. And then watch a DVD while warming up by the fire. How does that sound?”
    “The part by the warm fire sounds great.”
    “If you bundle up you’ll be fine, I promise.”
    Reluctantly, Annie got up from her chair and retrieved her boots before she slipped on her scarf and coat. “Oh, wait.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out mitts and put them on. “Okay, you can open the door now.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Am I sure I want to go out into the freezing cold?”
    Derrick opened the door and stepped outside, Annie following closely behind. “There’s a kind of trail along the edge of the lake.”
    “Kind of?”
    “Where the snowmobiles ride.”
    “Where the snowmobiles ride? Isn’t that like a really bad idea or something? I mean aren’t you worried about being run over?”
    “They’re pretty noisy, and we can just move out of the way.”
    “Oh, so this isn’t as secluded as you were hoping after all.”
    “There aren’t that many, and you never come across them unless you go where they run.”
    “So, you’re going where they run?”
    “Well, we could walk on the ice, or into the trees, but I thought you’d prefer this. At least this way there’s a path.”
    “I see.”
    “So, what do you say?”
    “All right, let’s do this.”
    “You sound like you’re psyching yourself up for a game.”
    “Do I?”
    “Come on, you’ll love it. I promise.”
    They walked down to the edge of the ice, and finding a path that looked like it had been recently used, they walked along the lakeside.
    “I can see the attraction,” Annie finally said, as she stared out across the snow-covered lake. The trees that edged it trimmed in white, the odd cabin lining its edge. “It’s so quiet, I can actually hear myself think.” The snow made everything look perfect and clean, everything lit up as if still daytime, long after the sun had set. All around her was a hushed quiet, as they walked in silence. “I’m glad you brought me here.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.” She was so bundled up, her scarf covered everything but her eyes. “You want to head back?”
    “Yes, I don’t want to push my luck. I can only stay out so long, and then my fingers and toes start to hurt.”
    “Okay.”
    He tried to take her hand, his glove grasping her mitt in his as they walked back to the house and inside.
    “Where’s the fire? Where’s the fire?” She peeled off her mitts and boots, and sitting on the carpet she held her hands and feet before the fire. She glanced over at Derrick as he unzipped his coat. “What’s that look?”
    “What look?”
    “Oh, the one that says, ‘Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad.’”
    “I don’t have any look.”
    Shrugging, she sighed. “Sorry I am such a complete wimp.”
    “Don’t feel you have to do anything for me. Honestly, Annie, just having the opportunity to spend time with you is enough for me.”
    She smiled at his words, and then removed her coat, letting it fall to the floor. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll pick all this stuff up. I just need to get warmed up first.”
    Derrick came up behind her, and slipping his arms around her, leaned his chin on her shoulder. “Annie, you can leave them there for all I care. You are what matters.”
    “Oh, you’re getting into dangerous territory there. Once it starts, then the next thing you know there’ll be stuff all over the place.”
    “You always say the most…” He stopped and sighed. “What would you like to watch?”
    “What do you have?”
    “Well, the selection is pretty wide open. There are classics, action, thriller, horror, comedy, sci-fi.”
    “Is there anything you don’t have?”
    “Well.”
    “Let me ask you this, have you seen everything in your collection?”
    “No.”
    “So, there are some you haven’t had a chance to watch yet?”
    “A few, yes.”
    “Okay, then how about you choose one of those. I’m