Frosted Hearts

Chapter 2: Secrets in the Snow

Ethan stepped into the bakery, brushing the snow off his shoulders as the warm air enveloped him. The contrast between the frosty storm outside and the inviting aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg was almost enough to disarm him. Almost.

Annie, however, stood rigid, her arms crossed and her expression a mix of wariness and anger. Ethan had prepared for this, but seeing her like this—strong and determined—stirred something in him he hadn’t felt in years. Memories of warm summer nights and whispered dreams came rushing back, but he quickly pushed them aside. He was here for a reason.

“Talk,” she said, her voice sharp. “You’ve got five minutes.”

He exhaled, steadying himself. “I know how this looks,” he began. “Sterling Enterprises moving in, disrupting everything. But I swear, Annie, it’s not as cut-and-dry as you think.”

“Oh really?” she shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re about to bulldoze this town and everyone in it for a shiny new resort.”

“That’s not the plan,” he insisted, stepping closer. “The resort could actually help Cedar Grove. We’re talking about new jobs, more tourism, more opportunities.”

“Opportunities for who?” she countered. “Because it sure as hell won’t be for people like me. The second your fancy resort opens, small businesses like mine won’t stand a chance.”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident. “You think I don’t care about this town? About the people here? I grew up in Cedar Grove too, Annie.”

“Then why did you leave?” The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken pain. “Why did you leave without even saying goodbye?”

Ethan froze. This wasn’t the conversation he’d planned to have, but there it was—the question he’d been dreading. He looked down, guilt flashing across his face.

“I didn’t want to leave,” he said quietly. “But my father... he gave me no choice. He said if I stayed, I’d be throwing away my future.”

Annie laughed bitterly. “And you just listened to him? No explanation, no goodbye, no fight? You just... left.”

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” Ethan said, his voice thick with regret. “I thought if I could make something of myself, I’d come back. I’d make it right.”

“Well, congratulations,” she said, her voice cold. “You’ve made something of yourself. But you didn’t come back to make it right. You came back to tear everything down.”

Ethan looked at her, his jaw tight. “It’s not like that, Annie.”

“Then what is it like, Ethan? Because from where I’m standing, it sure looks like you’ve become exactly what your father wanted you to be.”

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, but he didn’t have time to respond before the bell above the door jingled again. Both of them turned to see a middle-aged man with a weathered face and a thick coat step inside, his expression grim.

“Sorry to interrupt,” the man said, nodding to Annie. “But I thought you’d want to know—there’s been an accident on the old highway. A car skidded off the road in the storm.”

Annie’s eyes widened. “Is everyone okay?”

“Don’t know yet,” the man said. “Sheriff’s on his way, but I thought you might want to help. It’s near your aunt’s place.”

Annie didn’t hesitate. Grabbing her coat and scarf, she turned to Ethan, her anger momentarily forgotten. “Come on,” she said. “We’ll need all the help we can get.”

Without waiting for his response, she pushed past him and out into the storm. Ethan stood there for a moment, torn between following her and letting her go. But something in her voice—a mix of determination and vulnerability—compelled him to move. Pulling his coat tighter around him, he stepped into the swirling snow and followed her.

---

A Race Against the Storm

The snow was relentless, stinging their faces as they made their way toward the accident site. Annie moved with a sense of urgency, her boots crunching through the deep snow. Ethan struggled to keep up, his city shoes no match for the rugged terrain.

“Do you always charge into storms like this?” he called out, his voice muffled by the wind.

“Only when it’s important,” she shot back. “And right now, someone out there needs our help.”

They reached the edge of the old highway, where the road curved dangerously close to a steep embankment. Sure enough, a dark sedan lay at the bottom of the slope, its headlights flickering weakly. Annie’s heart clenched as she spotted movement inside the car.

“There’s someone in there,” she said, her voice tight. “We need to get down there.”

“Wait,” Ethan said, grabbing her arm. “It’s too dangerous. The ground’s unstable.”

“And we can’t just stand here,” she retorted, shaking him off. “Either help me or get out of the way.”

Ethan sighed, knowing there was no point arguing with her. Together, they made their way down the slippery slope, the icy wind cutting through their coats. When they reached the car, Annie peered through the cracked window and saw a young woman in the driver’s seat, her face pale and her hands trembling.

“Are you hurt?” Annie asked, her voice gentle.

The woman nodded weakly. “I think my leg’s broken,” she said. “I couldn’t get out... the door’s jammed.”

Ethan stepped forward, assessing the situation. “We’ll get you out,” he said, his tone calm and reassuring. “Just hang tight.”

Working together, they managed to pry the door open and carefully lift the woman out. Annie wrapped her scarf around the woman’s shoulders, trying to keep her warm as they climbed back up the embankment. By the time they reached the top, the sheriff and an ambulance had arrived, their flashing lights cutting through the snow.

“Good work,” the sheriff said, clapping Ethan on the back. “You two probably saved her life.”

Annie nodded, her cheeks flushed from the cold. But as the adrenaline faded, she found herself acutely aware of Ethan’s presence beside her. For all her anger and resentment, she couldn’t deny that he’d stepped up when it mattered. And that, more than anything, unsettled her.

---

A Fragile Truce

Back at the bakery, the storm had begun to ease, leaving a blanket of fresh snow over the town. Annie and Ethan sat at one of the small tables, nursing mugs of hot cocoa. The tension between them had softened, replaced by an uneasy truce.

“Thank you,” Annie said finally, breaking the silence. “For helping.”

Ethan looked at her, his expression unreadable. “I couldn’t just stand by.”

She nodded, staring into her mug. “That woman... she could’ve died if we hadn’t gotten there in time.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “And for what it’s worth, Annie, I’m not here to destroy Cedar Grove. I want to find a way to help—if you’ll let me.”

Annie looked up, her heart conflicted. She wanted to believe him, but the scars of the past ran deep. Still, for the first time in years, she saw a glimmer of the boy she’d once loved. And for reasons she couldn’t explain, that gave her hope.

“Let’s take it one step at a time,” she said, her voice cautious but not unkind.

Ethan nodded. “One step at a time.”