The Resolution - Prelude
Chapter 19
Everyone turns to look as Caro and Gregg step through the main door of the chalet. Caro, glowing with happiness, announces, “It’s a fabulous morning outside! The skiing should be awesome today!”
“We thought you had slept in,” Sally teases, raising an eyebrow playfully.
“I was eagerly waiting to give you grief about it,” Tom adds, grinning mischievously. “You’re always on our case for being late!”
“I woke up early, decided to take a walk, and then bumped into Gregg. We had breakfast together at the best café ever!” Caro exclaims, her face alight with excitement.
As she describes the café and their morning, Gregg hides a smile, noticing the sceptical glances her friends exchange. Oblivious, Caro finishes her story.
When she finally draws breath, Gregg steps in. “The plan for this morning is for everyone to tackle the blue run. I’ll pair you up — make sure you stay together.”
Everyone nods in agreement. Caro rushes upstairs to change into her ski gear. Once they’re ready, they all head to the ski lift. At the station, Gregg explains how to dismount safely from the T-bar, then announces the pairs: Tom with Sally, Nick with Susie, Jim with Caro, and Lucy with himself.
They board the lift accordingly.
As the chair carries them up the mountain, Jim turns to Caro, smirking. “So… a casual walk, huh?”
Grinning back, she says, “As God is my witness.”
“I believe you,” Jim says, his eyes twinkling.
Rolling her eyes playfully, she changes the subject. “What do you think of the blue run?”
Meanwhile, on the chair behind them, Lucy presses Gregg: “Do you like her? Fancy her?”
Gregg smiles tightly, resisting the urge to tell her to mind her own business. “We’ve agreed to be friends,” he answers carefully.
Lucy narrows her gaze. “If you hurt her, I will not be responsible for my actions.”
Gregg nods solemnly and steers the conversation to skiing instead.
The morning on the slopes is incredible. The powdery snow offers perfect conditions, and everyone enjoys themselves.
After lunch, they agree to split up: Jim, Sally, Susie, and Lucy sticking to the blue run, while Tom, Nick, Caro, and Gregg try the red run.
At the top of the red slope, excitement and nerves buzz through the air.
“Just take it slow,” Gregg advises. “If I didn’t think you could handle it, you wouldn’t be here. Tom and Caro, you go first. Nick and I will follow.”
Everyone nods. No questions.
“Off you go,” Gregg says, gesturing them forward.
Twenty minutes later, Caro and Tom reach the bottom, flushed and exhilarated. Nick and Gregg follow soon after.
“That was amazing!” Caro exclaims, her cheeks pink from the cold. Tom nods in agreement, equally thrilled.
On the lift back up, Gregg pairs Nick and Caro for the next descent. They manage it smoothly and soon regroup at the bottom.
They grab coffee and sit outside under a cloudless blue sky, swapping stories.
“What races are we doing, Gregg?” Susie asks eagerly.
“How about a timed sprint and a technique challenge?” he suggests, clarifying, “Jim, Lucy, Sally, and Susie will form one group; Caro, Nick, and Tom the other.”
“For the technique challenge, it’s about who can stop closest to me without falling,” Gregg explains.
Everyone nods, grinning with excitement.
At the T-bar, Caro and Gregg share a lift. Settling beside her, Gregg leans in slightly.
“Will you have dinner with me tonight, Caro?” he asks softly.
Caro’s heart skips. Without hesitation, she smiles. “I would love to.”
Gregg squeezes her hand gently, and they ride in warm, companionable silence.
At the top, Gregg instructs, “I’ll go first to set up at the bottom. Then Jim will follow, thirty seconds later. After that, you each follow thirty seconds apart.”
Once clear, Gregg launches himself down the slope with easy grace, carving turns effortlessly.
“He’s magnificent,” Caro thinks, watching him disappear into the distance.
Jim follows next, then the others. Caro is last. She nails her stop, sliding up close to Gregg with a wide smile.
“That’s it for today!” Gregg calls out. “How about a beer while I announce the results?”
Tom and Susie win the sprint, Jim takes the technique prize.
As they finish their drinks, Gregg smiles at Caro. “I’ll pick you up at 6:30. See you all tomorrow at ten. Have a great evening!”
With a final wave, he leaves, but not before Caro flashes him a playful wink. He laughs and disappears through the bar doors.
“When did that happen?” Lucy demands once he’s gone, her tone dripping with curiosity.
All eyes turn to Caro.
“What?” she says innocently.
“When did Gregg ask you out?”
“On the T-bar, right before the final run,” Caro admits, trying to sound casual.
“I’m not surprised,” Tom says. “Even while being professional today, he kept sneaking looks at you.”
“But he didn’t ski with me!” Caro protests.
“All the better to watch you from afar,” Nick teases.
Caro throws a beer mat at him, laughing.
She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Okay, for the record: Gregg and I really did meet by accident this morning. Yes, we had breakfast. Yes, he asked me out. Yes, it’s a date. And yes… I do fancy him. But no — I don’t know what will happen, and yes, I’m nervous.”
Her friends all nod. Jim grins mischievously. “Just don’t upset him — he’s a good guy, and a great instructor and we want to keep him until the end of the week.”
Lucy laughs and adds, “That doesn’t mean you have to sleep with him if you don’t want to!”
Blushing furiously, Caro buries her head in her hands as everyone bursts into laughter.