It was generous of Loving Heart to gift them with an all-inclusive holiday to Colorado. A week of relaxation sounded like heaven after pushing for so long to complete their assignments. However, due to the last-minute nature of their trip, the mechanics were a bit rushed.
They were seated on opposite ends of the plane for their first flight. Louis heroically traded his aisle seat for Harry's middle seat near the toilets to give Harry the chance to stretch his longer legs. Their connecting flight—where they were booked in the same row but separated by two tantrum-throwing children who declined their many offers to switch—was delayed. Their luggage was not waiting for them when they landed in the tiny Colorado airport. Cozy Bear was a remote resort and had a remote airport to match. With only their carry-on bags and the clothes on their backs, they were thrilled to see a man bundled up like a flannel snowman holding a sign that said, "Harry & Lewis" with a heart between them. The man waved and they walked his way.
"Nice touch," Harry said under his breath.
Louis struggled with his left mitten and his steps slowed. "I wonder what they think Loving Heart is. A love cult or something?" Harry appeared next to him and tugged the bunched fabric at the wrist of his winter jacket. It allowed him to pull his mitten fully on. "Cheers."
They shared a quick smile, exhausted but warm, then looked away. The uncomfortable parts of their trip almost made it easier to avoid the elephant in the room (or on the plane). Since the night of the holiday party, both were busy packing and preparing for the trip. Other than a few cursory text messages, they had not seen each other until they were in the lounge waiting to board.
"Hey, fellas, I'm Oscar," the snowman said from beneath his layers. His bushy grey moustache twitched and his square glasses were fogged atop his bulbous nose. "I'm one of the grounds supervisors at Cozy Bear and I'll be driving you."
"Cool, thanks," Harry said.
They followed him through the small airport until they exited through automatic doors. Wind and snow thwacked them in their faces, big gusts of icy air whirling to find any exposed skin. Oscar swirled his arm as he spoke. "Normally, we send a big fancy pants van but since you're the only two arriving today, and the weather has been so unpredictable, we thought it would be best for me to just take my Jeep. We've been wishing for snow and it seems our prayers have been answered, and then some. I hope you boys don't mind a few bumps." Harry and Louis exchanged a glance as they hugged themselves, their breath puffing in pure white clouds of steam. Oscar opened the creaking hatch door on the back of the Jeep. The Jeep was so covered with snow that the colour was unidentifiable. He looked at the ground around them. "Where are your bags?"
"Lost," they said.
He guffawed. "Good luck with that. Kidding, kidding. No worries." He slammed the back shut. "We have anything you'd ever need at Cozy Bear and we'll send someone to pick up your bags later. We'll take good care of you. Now, who wants front and who wants back?" They peered into the car and saw a red and white St. Bernard snoozing across the backseat. His snores were audible even with the door closed. "Oh, that's just Bruno. He gets lonely, so I always take him for the ride."
Harry murmured, "You take the front. Don't want you to get carsick."
Louis' cheeks warmed. Only Harry would remember an offhand comment about carsickness amidst the millions of words they'd traded. "Okay, thanks."
They banged as much snow as they could off their boots and settled in the car. Some of their newly purchased winter gear felt stiff while the older pieces didn't seem to keep the chill out. Harry put his bag on the floor then squirmed until his thighs were under Bruno's face. The dog rolled onto his side as he dug his head between Harry's legs. After their unpleasant journey, having an enormous St. Bernard warming his legs was not the worst thing to ever happen to him, even if he was squished against the door. Louis hugged his rucksack to his chest and rested his cheek on the top. He closed his eyes. The car's engine roared and their seats vibrated beneath them.
