“You said Shannon’s not been feeling well?” I wanted desperately to explain away Flynn’s abrupt manner. Perhaps he was worried about his wife.
“She’s fine. Uncomfortable mostly. This is going to be a large baby by the looks of things. I’m hoping for a boy this time.”
“I wish you the best.”
Flynn shoved my shoulder. “What’s gotten into you? Have I done something to offend you?”
I studied the points of my wing-tip shoes. I’d shined them before I came out, and they reflected the light over the doorway. From the parking lot came the sound of men carousing. “Nothing’s gotten into me.”
“Is it Cym’s obsession with the competition? Has she turned you against me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She would never do such a thing.” I turned toward the sound of the ruffians and could see they were passing a flask around their circle of six men. Was Theo right about Fiona working here? Had it become too rowdy for women?
“What is it then?” Flynn asked.
I looked back at Flynn. The tip of his cigarette glowed red. Like a dangerous snake, I thought. “Do you really want to know what I think?”
“I asked you.”
“You seem to have forgotten you’re a Barnes. Your father didn’t build this town to have it run by thugs. Or for you to become one.”
He flinched, then dropped the butt of his cigarette and stubbed it out with the heel of his shoe. “You’re not a Barnes. You do know that, right? Never will be. Even if you marry my sister. My father seems to have forgotten that Phillip isn’t his real son. Favors him over me these days. I suppose the same will happen when you marry Cym.”
“That’s neither here nor there. Don’t toss aspersions to make excuses for your behavior. I know your family. I’ve watched how your father and mother have conducted themselves all my life. Lord Barnes wanted reputable businessmen here.”
Flynn straightened his tie and attempted a jovial response that fell flat. “You’ve become high and mighty now that it’s obvious how my sister feels about you.”
“I’m not high and mighty. The opposite, in fact. Having a woman like Cymbeline in my life has humbled me.” I placed my hands in the pockets of my coat. They were itching to ball into a fist and punch Flynn in the chin. “She’s taught me how far I have to grow before I’m a man worthy of her.”
“How are you doing that exactly? Becoming as whipped as a man can be? I know what you’ve been doing out at your house and on the slopes. Training her as if she had a place to go with all this. What’s left for you? Holding her handbag?”
“Your sister’s perfectly capable of holding whatever she needs to.”
“Obviously. But I’m talking about you. What kind of life does a man have married to a woman like Cym? Don’t get me wrong. I respect her as much as you do, but I have to wonder what’s in it for you?”
“We’re talking about your sister.” I shook my head, amazed and disgusted. “You should be defending her, looking after her, not besmirching her to the man who loves her.” I pressed my fingertips into the lining of my coat pockets. Keep calm, I told myself. Fighting with Flynn would be mortifying to all of us, most especially Cym. “It’s a great way to get the daylights beaten out of you.”
“Whoa up.” He stuck his hands in the air as if I were about to hit him. “I’m not saying anything bad about her. She’s a force, that’s all. I worry about you. Is attempting to tame her for the rest of your life what you really want?”
“That’s just it. I have no intention of taming her.” I looked up at the sky. A few stars twinkled down at me, as if to remind me of Cym’s light. “She’s just right as she is.” I shook my head. “You know what’s sad? She believed that of everyone in her life, you’d understand the best.”
“About what? The competition?”
“About everything. Her desire to be an athlete and have a job. Wear pants, for heaven’s sake. I want her to do whatever pleases her. I’m not interested in changing who she is.”
“It was all fine when we were kids, but she’s an adult now with the ability to embarrass the family.”
“If anyone’s doing that, it’s you.”
His cheeks reddened. He leaned in to speak with a quality to his voice as hard as cast-iron into my ear. “Listen here, Olofsson. You and I go way back, but you have no idea what it means to be a businessman. You’re like a child playing banker in your well-made suit. Keep that in mind before criticizing me.”
A staff member arrived to man the door. Flynn greeted him and told him the secret word patrons would need to get into the underground club.
Flynn drew back and once again straightened his tie. “And now I have to get home to my wife and child. Lest you forget I’m a respectable man in this town. A family man.”
With that, he walked away, disappearing into the night. I blew out a long breath into the cold air. What had happened to my fun-loving friend? Of all of us, I’d never have predicted he would become so heavy with the burden of living. Were the girls right? Was he in trouble?
To my surprise,Mrs. Barnes sent an invitation to my family for the holiday feast. Mother was so excited by the request that she was making herself a new dress.
Heavy snowfalls made our daily practice sessions at the mountain possible. Because of work, I was unable to accompany Cymbeline to the jump most afternoons. However, Fiona was often able to attend, measuring each jump dutifully for her sister. Several evenings a week, Cymbeline would come by my house to report on the day’s accomplishments. During the week, the slopes were mostly empty, giving Cym ample time to perfect her skills.
News of the competition spread. Flynn reported confirmations from skiers all over the country.