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Winter skies spanned on across the ceaseless days, marbling the lands in greys and white as snow descended from the heavens. The veridian forests were stifled in white, the wildlife hidden away to while away the winter nights.
And Marnie was ever so lonely these days.
How many shapes could she make in the snow on her walks?
How could she bring life to these empty days?
Never in the peak of winter, that small voice in the back of her head chastised her. You’ll catch cold before the day is up.
She couldn’t wait for the spring to arrive, to melt away the suffocating whites and revive the countryside in it’s vibrant glory.
The crunching of snow beneath her shoes was the symphony at her ears, the chill of winter’s breeze the embrace calling out to her. And it made the emptiness of the lands more profound with every step. She dearly missed her fireplace all the more with each step, and struggled to steel her resolve to brave the cold winter day.
She distracted herself with contemplation and questions, and considered who she might run into on her errands.
Perhaps she might encounter the lively Gus on his way to the Rosewood Farm, eager to meet up with Farmer Arthur to purchase the days ingredients for his business.
Or perhaps, she might happen upon Marlon, the tall, dark and mysterious man who patrolled the outskirts of town, keeping dangers far, far away from the residents.
Or less preferred, she would encounter Lewis, the excessively prideful son of the current Mayor.
There were very few people that lived in this town, but such was the way of an isolated town in the middle of nowhere.
Marnie huffed as she carefully brushed her chestnut hair out of her face, lamenting the difficulty she was having with all this snow. Exercise wasn’t exactly her best friend these days, but she fancied herself fit enough to have less trouble than she was dealing with at that moment.
But, no. She had to get to the Saloon.
Marnie clutched the letter firmly in her gloved hands.
She had somebody to meet.
The streets were empty, entirely devoid of life as Marnie made her way through town past the Falkners residence, through the plaza and eastward towards the modest brick building emblazoned with a large sign with “Saloon” written across it in large red font. However, with every step closer, Marnie could hear plenty of voices on the breeze.
It sounded like half the town had come to bask in the warmth of the large wood fireplace inside.
Marnie paid little heed to the lime green motorcycle parked across from the saloon, or even to the distant form of Lewis walking across from his fathers house. What caught her attention instead was a small red hatchback car parked just down from the motorcycle.
With a bright smile spreading across her lips, Marnie let herself inside.
‘Oh, Marnie! Good afternoon!’ Came the familiar voice of Gus from behind the counter, beaming in greeting as the kindly woman brushed the snow from her hair. ‘I should have known you’d be on your way!’
‘Hello Gus.’ Marnie greeted the owner of the Saloon as she cast a cursive glance throughout the Saloons interior. ‘It looks like a busy day, today.’
‘It’s certainly more lively than it has been for a while.’
Marnie took a moment to gaze at the Saloon Owner.
He was a kindly man with a round, expressive face and a boyish enthusiasm that made him quite attractive for his twenty-something years of age. Working the kitchen and the bar on his own must have been an arduous task at times, but not once in the whole time since he’d opened up the Saloon had he ever complained. In fact, it appeared that running this establishment was what he wanted to do with his life.
Marnie wished she had such a strong conviction with her own choices in life.
‘So what can I get you?’ Gus asked as he discarded his cleaning rag and approached the counter closest to Marnie. ‘The usual?’
‘Actually, no. I’m meeting with somebody.’ She declined with a small shake of the head. ‘Has, umm… anyone new to the area stopped by, yet?’
‘You mean other than Arthur’s monthly visitor on the motorcycle in the next room?’ Gus began thoughtfully, before an epiphany had come to him. ‘Oh, yes actually. There’s a couple that requested the private room out back. Mentioned they were waiting for their sister.’
‘That sounds like them.’ Marnie promptly agreed. ‘Do you mind if I head up there, now?’
‘Not at all.’ Gus denied promptly as he leaned over and scooped up a handful of menus from beneath the bar and gently handed them to the young woman. ‘Give me a shout when you’re all ready to order.’
‘Thank you.’
Marnie’s footsteps lead towards the swinging saloon doors to the left of the counter, down the corridor and around the corner towards the first door along the way.
She clutched the menus in her grasp tightly, lifting a hand to quickly straighten up her outfit and brush her wavy hair out of her face.
She was nervous, of course.
And for very good reason, too.
But she was also very excited to meet the people on the other side of the door.
‘Okay, Marnie. You’re not a little girl anymore. Chin up and walk through that door like the adult you are.’ Marnie murmured her pep-talk to herself as she brushed her frizzy hair down with her fingers carefully. ‘The worst thing you can do is leave them waiting.’
A few moments later, Marnie gave herself an affirmative nod of the head and knocked thrice on the door.
It was a few seconds later when a familiar voice rung out from within.
‘Come in, Marnie!’ The musical voice of a woman echoed, causing Marnie’s nerves to bristle momentarily.
The young woman carefully opened the door and tiptoed inside, smiling nervously at the two within.
An older version of Marnie sat with a smile at the far end of the dining table inside, accompanied by the smiling form of a tall, dark featured man with brilliant emerald eyes. Both were clad in winter clothes, and looked remarkably tired. Undoubtedly from the excessively long trip all the way out here from the other side of the country.
‘Hello Delilah, Daniel.’ Marnie greeted the two.
‘Hey, Sis.’ Delilah greeted brightly as she carefully picked herself up out of her seat and leaned over to look at something hidden on the other side of the table. ‘Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go.’
‘Go?’ Marnie repeated curiously.
‘You’ll see in just a moment, Marn.’ Daniel informed her with a grin. ‘Hang on.’
Wordlessly, and with nothing else she could do, Marnie carefully stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.
A clumsy set of footsteps came to Marnie’s notice as she waited at the door, and as Delilah’s form straightened up at the edge of the table, Marnie’s gaze promptly fell at the sight of something small approaching her.
It took her a moment to realise that what she was staring at was a very small child.
A small, two year old boy was clumsily approaching her, bearing the dark hair and emerald green eyes of Daniels, as well as the large, softer features of Delilahs own. His gaze was affixed to Marnie’s form without a shift in gaze, tiny arms wrapped firmly around a small bouquet of Sunflowers and Fairy Roses.
‘Whoa—’ Menus and an envelope clattered to the floor Marnie quickly swooped down to intercept the tiny boy by the shoulders as he lost his unsteady footing and toppled over. Instead of a startled cry or even an alarmed scream, what escaped the tiny boy was none other than a bright peal of laughter as he was righted back on his tiny little feet.
‘Aunty!’ The two year old squealed out as he eagerly extended the bouquet right up towards Marnie’s face.
‘I’m sorry, what?!’ Marnie gasped out.
She had no knowledge of this, of anything like this at all!
But… this child looked so much like her sister and brother-in-law.
‘Marnie, this is Shane.’ Delilah gently introduced as the tiny boy beamed brighter than the springtime sun up at the startled young woman. ‘He’s your nephew.’
And as Marnie stared down at the tiny, adorable face brimming with boundless kindness and sugar-sweet giggles, she felt the corners of her lips turn upwards with a smile.
At Twenty Three years, Marnie found the bounds of her quiet little world grow just a little bit more.
Maybe winter wasn’t so bad, after all.