A Frosty Hope

Despite the bone deep chill that hung in the air Hector didn’t close the door to the barn that overlooked the frozen pond. The only way to keep the cold at bay was to work harder on the custom wardrobe, nearly ready to fill a commission. His focus was flimsy as his gaze kept lingering on the far shore of the frozen water. It was long past the time they should have appeared. The thaw this year was slow in coming and he knew he would only see them once the ice groaned with its impending cracks. If they came again at all.

His faithful mutt Bosco gave the signs it was knock off time, whining quietly with beseeching eyes. That dog could really tell the time when his stomach was doing the thinking, Hector thought. Besides there was no point working when his mind was not on the job. Hector cleaned up his workspace and slid the barn door shut. The afternoon sun had emerged from the clouds and had a warmth to it that had been absent during the long winter. Bosco was working hard at his chow as Hector settled on the porch with a chill beer. There was nothing to do but relax and fail to avoid his lonely thoughts. How different things had been only a few winters ago.

A sharp crack sounded. Hector’s feet barely touched the deck as he dashed to the pond’s frosty shore. He shaded his eyes against the glare of the lowering sun and looked for the telltale sign. There was the crack to the ice that signalled the beginning of surface thaw. Further than that, beyond the far shore, was a shimmer of distortion that argued with the eyes to move along. It was time to go. He had no time to lose.

A swift swipe of his pocket knife opened Bosco’s dry food bag on the floor. He added a bucket of water next to the drink bowl. Squatting next to the confused dog he wrapped his arm around him. “It’s all right mate I’ll be back soon. This is just a precaution. Don’t give yourself a gut ache now. Grandpa will be here to pick up the eggs for market in a few days if I’m not. It’ll all be fine.” His voice caught in his throat as his mind was flooded with images of the egg stall. Soft hair and kind laughing eyes, she was always quick with a quip to brighten the day of her customers. The tiny boy sitting by her feet played with his toy truck with one hand while the other clutched a fistful of coins he had earned egg collecting, waiting patiently for when his Ma would let him buy an ice cream. Hector gave his head a shake and stood up. There was no time for this. He made his way to the barn.

Hector dragged out the large bundle he had prepared for this day. Moving fast he dragged it to the shore of the large pond that had once added charm to the tiny farm. Now it only filled him with dread and regret. He unclipped the parcel and pulled the tab that inflated the lifeboat which he connected by a long rope to the device he had constructed near the bank of the pond. Inside the boat he placed a rescue blanket next to a supply bag of water and food before he clipped on the harness connecting the boat to his body. Around his hand he strapped the trigger mechanism so that the button sat in the middle of his palm. Hector stopped at the frozen water’s edge to study the far shore and his heart tore in half.

They were back. Beyond the rippling of light was an exact replica of his little house. On the opposite shore stood a woman jumping up and down waving to him. Her dark brown hair bounced it’s curls and he could just make out the cheeky dimples that rode her memorable smile. Holding her hand was a small boy with sandy hair like himself, unable to contain his excitement as he called out to Hector. No sound of his voice found Hector even though the pond was not so large. He could have hit the shadowed house with a stone but the beautiful pair waving to him seemed further than the sun. Checking his straps were secure he stepped onto the thinning ice.

They had first appeared to him last winter, the first anniversary of the end to his joy. Bosco had seen them first, barking happily at the boy who never tired of throwing his favourite ball. Deep in his grief he had circled the pond countless times but every time he stood on the side they had appeared on they had vanished. He was alone there, crushed by the grief that filled his days and wrecked his dreams. His arms craved to sweep up his sweet boy and his lips to feel again the kiss of his perfect wife. What once had been the constant ache of loss roared inside into a fierce beast intent on tearing his soul to pieces. How he hated that damned pond. His heart was there before him unreachable over the treacherous ice. They were there only a few short hours before the sun cracked the ice further and then they were gone.

Bosco had latched his teeth onto his trousers and was trying to pull him off the ice. Hector shook him off and at his command the dog sat on the safe shore whining his protest. A few more steps in, the ice seemed deceptively sturdy though Hector knew better. The boat dragged along behind him. All year long he had puzzled and planned this out. If he couldn’t get to them around the pond he would have to try going over it. Ahead of him his wife was calling something he couldn’t hear with worry written over her face while his cheeky boy was clearly cheering him on. Step by searching step he inched closer to his little family over the thin ice.

Halfway across the ice his careful steps failed him. Small cracks appeared around his heavy boots, spreading with splintered snaps. Hector met his wife’s sorrowful eyes before his body could begin its inevitable descent into the deadly cold waters. She was motioning frantically for him to turn back but that was no option for the determined man. The fateful day replayed in his mind, of the early thaw and the unexpected crack of the ice that swallowed his family away from him forever. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and managed one more tiny step before the thin ice gave way.

There was no wet chill to meet him. Hector opened his eyes in surprise as warm arms wrapped around him and soft lips caressed his face. His eyes looked into the deep brown gaze of the love of his life, sweet Lauren here at last. Oscar nearly knocked them over in his youthful excitement as he tried to climb up in between their bodies. Hector swept him up and squeezed him tight while he pressed his lips to his tiny brow. Everything could be ok again, he had made it to them in time. Just for a moment more he held his family tight and safe in his arms. This was all he had ever wanted. Now he just had to get them back to the right side of the pond.

Hector pulled back from his wife and rearranged his hold of the small boy. “Hop in the boat Lauren, I’m here to take you both home. I’ve missed you both so much.” Lauren stepped closer and held her warm palm to Hectors cold cheek. “Oh Hector we’ve missed you too but you must know we can’t go with you. We don’t belong on that side anymore. We have passed on my love.” ”No, you are right here I can undo this I have it all worked out. I can’t go on in misery waiting for the few hours a year I get to see you both. And when I do see you here it’s a curse taunting me. I am reminded of the day I lost you both. Over and over again I relive that day when I couldn’t save you. Come with me and I’ll never let anything bad happen to you. If you can’t, well then I’ll just stay here with you.”

Lauren squeezed him tight then stepped back from him. “Hector, my dear sweet man, you must know deep down it can’t be done. Only you would see this as a curse. It’s a blessing you mug, if you don’t let your miserable head override your heart. We come to remind you that we lived and how we loved you. Once a year we will get to see you again and the changes you’ve made to our farm. It hurts to see you standing on the shore crying over us but I know it can’t be helped. I wish we could be with you, but our story is over. Yours isn’t. I know it’s hard to believe, but one day you will just smile when you see us and remember the joy we had while we were together. One day you might have someone by your side other than Bosco when you wave to us. Go and live a great life for us to watch.” She lifted Oscar from his arms and took Hectors hand, opening his fingers to press her heart shaped locket firmly into his palm. The last thing Hector saw was Lauren and Oscar blowing him a kiss as he was abruptly pulled backwards by his retracting harness cord. The lifeboat held tight to the ice and his numb face emerged from the pond coughing up water and gulping air.

Climbing out of the ice hole had not been easy as the frigid water had stolen his strength and feeling. Once he clawed his way out he climbed into the boat and spared a glance back at his wife and son. They were waving happily until they slowly faded from view like they had never been there. Hector knew they had been and the locket held tightly over the button in his hand confirmed it. While his intention had been to bring them back he somehow didn’t feel like he had failed. Lauren was right, as she always had been in life. How lucky he was to have held them again.

Hector was pulled from his numb daze by the sharp barks of Bosco running up and down the home shore in a frenzy. He wrapped himself in the rescue blanket and called out the command word he had trained Bosco to obey all year. The dog ran to the device on the shore and pressed the button with his nose. The line began to retract and the boat was slowly pulled towards the safety of his warm waiting house. “Good boy Bosco,” Hector called out wearily, “I’m coming home.”