A Winter Romance

The crackling of the fire was soothing to Ella's hurting heart. It had been four months since the news of the accident. Robert was on his way to see her, to finalize plans for their Christmas wedding, when the car blew a tire. He lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the lake.

Robert did not know how to swim; Ella always teased him about it, "You have lived all your life near the ocean and never took the time to learn. What if, one day, this skill could save your life?"

Now those last words were haunting her, like the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. She turned to look out the window. The snow was gently falling and blanketing the yard. Robert loved to play in the snow. Tears began streaming down her face.

They had met the year before, during the Christmas play auditions at the local theater. The fresh fallen snow had covered every surface in town. Ella was an aspiring theater major determined to get the lead role in the upcoming play. Robert was a director determined to make this play the grandest of all.

"What part are you auditioning for Ms. Thornton?" asked Robert in a strong and intimidating voice. "I am auditioning for Mirabella's role Mr. Jenkins." He looked at her, his eyes piercing her soul. Ella froze; no words came out as she tried to speak her part. Robert sensed her hesitation. With a smile warm enough to melt the fallen snow, he rose from his seat and joined her on stage.

He took her hand and, looking her in the eyes, began uttering the words the lead actor was to say right before Mirabella's lines. "I am so glad to see you. Your presence warms my heart; your smile touches my soul." Ella's heart raced as it had never raced before. Was it the freight of the audition? Or was it his presence on stage and the words he gently spoke? He was so different from the first impression he had given her.

"Mr. Collier, I welcomed you in my home because the letter you sent said it was urgent you came to see me. What is this urgent matter that brings you out on such a frightfully cold and snowy day?" Her words flowed soft and flawlessly as she tenderly looked into his eyes.

Robert let go of her hand and calmly returned to his seat. "Thank you, Ms. Thornton. We'll be in touch" he said, with his, once again, strong and intimidating voice. Ella was confused. Was she not convincing in Mirabella's role? Was her physical appearance not perfect for the part? Did she not feel she had touched his heart? She knew he had touched hers.

As she left the theater, walking in the snow, Ella thought of how she had to win the role. Her entrance to the most prestigious acting school depended on it. She had to be part of the play. Yet, was it really the role she wanted, or was it her desire to be near him? As she tried to come to grips with her feelings she heard her name, "Ms. Thornton! Ms. Thornton!"

As she turned, she hit a patch of ice. The fall was inevitable. Her spirit bruised as was her body. Mr. Jenkins helped her up and held her until she steadied herself again. "Mr. Jenkins... I was not expecting to see you ...I feel like such a fool. Thank you for helping me!" she said, her cheeks blushing.

"Ella, is it?" she nodded. "Bob" he continued. "Ella, could we step in there and have a cup of coffee? ... it is too cold outside" he said as he pointed to the quaint corner café. He held her by the arm as he gently guided her in. The snow began to fall again, softly covering the footprints they left.

"Ella, I believe you have terrific talent and a personality to win anyone's heart. I hear that you are counting on this role as your ticket into acting school," he said as they sat at the table by the window. Ella nodded her head and looked at him, wanting to figure out where he was going with the statement.

"What if you could get into the school without playing Mirabella's part?" he asked with almost pleading eyes. "Why don't you want me to play Mirabella in the play? And how can I get accepted without that role? The leading role will pay for my tuition. They have a scholarship I can receive, if I land the main part," Ella protested.

"Hear me out, Ella." Robert proceeded to explain his reasoning behind his request. The scholarship based on her role would only be good for one year. He could get her in the school through a friend, and he would help her find a scholarship that would pay for the whole degree. Ella was astonished at the words she was hearing. Yet, she believed him.

"I will do as you ask" she replied. She looked at him straight in the eyes as she spoke those words. A warm glow reached deep into her heart. She felt her heart race once again and the sudden desire to leap into his arms. He scribbled his number on a napkin. Snow was still falling as they left the café.

"Bob," she called. He turned with a sparkle in his eyes. "May I call you Robert? It has a sweeter and more musical sound than Bob." With the same warm smile he had at the theater, he nodded, "Yes, you may call me Robert." He began walking back to the theater again. She started on her way home only after she could no longer see him.

His words were still playing in her ears, his eyes still piercing her soul, his arms still holding her close, soothing her bruised spirit. Her mind was consumed by one name and one name only: Robert.

Thus, their romance began. The days at the theater turned into weeks of visits to each other's home. Winter had brought them warmth to their hearts that no chill could displace. It was during one of these winter nights that Ella began knitting a sweater for Robert, out of a challenge he gave her to learn something totally knew to her. It was to be his Christmas present, the first they would spend together as husband and wife. Together they sat, as she steadily knit and he playfully prepared the balls of yarn.

He had chosen the colors, blues to remind him of the hues of her eyes, and browns to recall of the colors of her hair in the summer sun. She was entertained by the way he wrapped the balls of yarn so awkwardly. They spent countless hours reciting poems and lines from plays that expressed their love.

With the play behind them, they had begun making plans for their future together. The sweater was slowly coming along, but she knew she still had months ahead before Christmas. Right now there were vows to be chosen, flowers to be picked, a dress to be made.

The news of the accident came as she was searching for the list of the guests they had invited. What came after was just a blur. Did she cry? Did she tell him she loved him? Did he tell her he loved her? Had they settled the argument they had had? What was the argument about anyway? Now it just seemed so unimportant.

As she sat by the fireplace looking out the window, with tears now dried, she thought of the sweater, waiting silently to be completed. It would soon be Christmas, his gift from her. If she could only tell him one more time she loved him. If she could hear him tell her one more time he loved her.

She reached for the sweater and the yarn. Finishing the sweater was going to be her love message to him. As she began knitting again, she could feel his presence. She could see him play as he wrapped the yarn. Slowly the ball of yarn grew smaller and the sweater came closer to completion. Something inside the ball shined as the fire flickered. She reached for the yarn and began slowly to unwrap it. Something fell.

Tears began flowing again as she picked up a necklace with a charm, "I Love You" it read. Their winter romance, warmly wrapped by a finished sweater and a message left by the one she loved, would never end.