Cold Holiday, Warm Memories

“The mistake I did not make was heading into the mountains, deciding staying here in the valley this weekend a proper move, sweating out the situation which I could have escaped easily, hitting the road,” Major Jim Pensioner declared.

“That is right,” his companion, sipping tea, strongly agreed, “you protected me from any blazing disasters.”

“Correct,”

“Of course, except for the one,”

“That brought us together,” Jim defended himself, not needing any legal counsel.

Changing scenery only a few miles away, the Valor couple and all their recreation skiing equipment fastened above their family car, confidently confronted the getaway relaxing feeling by confirming important details, “you got the baby sitter all set up?”

“Yup,” the loving wife confirmed, “they both wanted to work on the moves we perfected for financial independence.”

“The divide and conquer power play?”

“Too bad, Madeline and Jimmy, could not join us,” Karen Valor sorrowfully acknowledged, watching the mile marker’s big sign replacement announce, “Going Downhill Resort’, turn right.”

“We are almost there,” Captain Kenny Valor announced and the pair who once waltzed to everyone’s applause approval hoped the three-day excursion could rekindle magical moments. Once bonded sculpted ice figures whose innocent feel good appearance are now melting away, turning a placid romantic script into a water pond, displaying troubling reflections, casting the popular protagonists, telling them survive another story time adventure.

“Do you think our marriage has failed?” Karen asked, noticing the five circular promotional pattern, whose once bright color image pridefully painted a moralistic message and today showing its age featuring chipped away wrinkles.

Back at the house, Madeline handed Jim a small piece of paper, “I have this over a hundred to do list you may want to accomplish during your time off.”

Knowing he could not use the weather as an excuse the committed, dedicated individual accepted the assignment, securing the tasks close to his heart.

“Anything else your highness?” Jim requested.

“No, not really,” Madeline’s personal satisfaction achieved.

Smirking, a positive grin the two decade and a half faithful partner, welcomed the sunshine warming relief, realizing losing the high-profile marquee opportunity, was the best thing that happened to the academic All American. Always, headlining most sporting exhibitions, staging charismatic character traits, Major Jim donated good-looking physique qualities, strategically luring judgmental decisions into handing him the winning score.

Recounting the small mistake he made, the size of the green grass blade protecting a receiver’s fair reception review call, Jim remembered Madeline’s reaction when the misstep cost them attention getting advertising product endorsements.

“You idiot,” the offensive pass catcher heard Madeline exclaim, ‘you nearly dropped me.”

After the verbal outburst, entertaining the viewing public Jim and Madeline happily mended their emotional white picket fences, proving a valid peace treaty, observing Karen and Kenny compete on the local bar television, already knowing the results. This loving moment sparked honesty establishing an indestructible positive communication relationship.

Pulling into the automobile friendly Cheap Skate Motel, touting close to room free parking, Kenny calmly turned off the engine, not worried about hourly rates.

“You mean we are not staying at the ‘Going Downhill Resort’?” Karen quipped.

“No, we are not,” Kenny answered spotting natural deterioration.

Taking a deep breath, Karen accepted the situation opening the passenger side door, revealing a recently plowed snow mountain. Triggering a childhood pre-adolescent flirty engagement flashback, the never grew-up mother straightened her winter gloves and collected seasonal friendly fire ammunition.

Quietly approaching Kenny, returning from the registration desk flipping keys, she sternly stared, “does this place even have a continental breakfast?”

Heeding the tone Kenny stopped in his tracks, remaining silent realizing Karen hurled a fast ball, striking the Captain directly. “Oh, are you going to get it!!” Kenny retaliated starting a battle lasting only a few minutes, unleashing competitive laughter.

When the frustrated anxiety subsided Kenny unhinged true sentiments, “did I hear continental breakfast?” A stranger bellowed monitoring the two disappear, “there is a diner you can walk and talk to, work things out, discuss future plans.”

Softly kicking the door closed Karen saw the temperature box, “do you want to turn the heat on?” She asked embracing her husband’s passionate kissing response, “No.”