It’s still dark outside and Jenn is busy baking in the kitchen so I write up the muffin special (raspberry and white chocolate) on the chalkboard and flick the ‘Open’ sign. The dark street is deserted, probably due to the depressing mixture of sleet and snow that’s falling in a steady drizzle. If only it was a few degrees colder there would be some nice, white fluffy flakes falling instead.

I look down my watch and head back to the kitchen, yawning broadly while 7.06am blinks back at me.

‘Jenn, I don’t know how you do this every morning.’ I sigh, trying to stifle another yawn. I very rarely work the early shift, but Terry had to go out of town for a few days, so here I am.

‘It’s not that bad!’ Jenn smiles, giving me a gentle nudge. ‘You’re not telling me you used to get up early back in London?’

‘Yeah.’ I shrug. ‘But I’ve got a raging hangover. Remind me not to drink vodka again. I’m out of practice.’

She laughs as the cowbells jingle on the door. It’s probably Hank, the new vet. He’s been coming in every morning for coffee and a muffin ever since we started running the Monday promotion and although he’s pleasant enough, he put a bloody sack, quite literally bloody, on the counter yesterday while he looked at the menu and decided what to have. I was so freaked out I had to get the disinfectant out and scrub the entire place down, Turns out it was a dead racoon he’d scraped off the highway. Yuck. If he does that again this morning, I may throw up.

‘Mornin’’

Oh great. Maybe a bit of road-kill might have been a better option.

‘Alright?’ I mutter. ‘Americano?’

‘Sure.’ Aaron smiles. ‘Great game last night, eh?’

How can anyone be so perky at this hour? Oh yes, he gets up at the crack of bird-shit every day. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a tattered black leather wallet.

I put my hand up. ‘You can put that back where it came from.’

‘You sure?’

I nod without smiling. ‘To go?’

Yeah. Thanks, Lex.’ He hands me his thermal mug. There’s an awkward silence as I rinse it out under the tap.

‘Gotta hate this rain, eh?’ he says, trying to make conversation.

‘Sure. It’s a bummer.’ I shrug, not really feeling like a chat. ‘Does Lisa want anything?’

He shakes his head. ‘She’s got her flask in the truck, trying to wake up. She hates working with the dynamite so I said we’d check on one of the weather stations by Snake Glades. The rainfall’s making the snow-pack pretty unstable so we’re bombing a couple of danger spots.’

I listen as I dose one of the metal filters with ground coffee and tamp the grains down firmly. Terry’s been getting a bit obsessive about the coffee machine now that it’s fully functional. He cleans it lovingly every night and gave me a long lecture about the importance of correct tamping - apparently it improves the quality of the espresso. I didn’t like to remind him that the only reason the coffee sucked so much when I first got here was that he hadn’t been taking proper care of his beautiful Italian machinery.

‘Can I get some warm milk with it?’ He adds, watching me work.

‘Sure. Muffin?’

‘No… I’m good.’ He smiles, patting his perfectly flat stomach underneath his Patrol fleece. He turns around and the steam almost burns my hand as I think about how nice his arse looks in his uniform, rather than concentrating on the job I should be doing. Christ knows why I’m being so grumpy with him. Must’ve got out of bed on the wrong side.

I warm up the milk and put it to one side, tapping the jug on the counter to settle the foam before I fill the mug with hot water.

He looks puzzled. ‘Don’t you usually put the coffee in first?’

I raise an eyebrow at him. ‘Do you want to come over here and make it? Be my guest…’

He shakes his head quickly, looking scared. I definitely need to stop being such a cow. I add the espresso shot and pour it over the hot water.

‘How much milk?’ I ask, poised with the jug and a spoon.

‘Not too much… that’s great.’

I hand his coffee over, fold my arms and lean back on the counter. ‘Take a sip.’

He raises the mug to his mouth and takes a sip before swallowing. He looks thoughtful for a minute. ‘Okay… you win. I can usually tell the difference between StarBucks, Blenz and Timmies. This is better than all three.’

‘Told you.’ I huff.

‘Are you always this cranky early in the morning?’ He grins.

‘I am so not cranky!’ I exclaim, fully aware that I’ve been nothing but. ‘I’m just not so great at early mornings… Sorry. So, how was Luc’s house-party?’

‘I wouldn’t know, I went home. Didn’t I mention that?’

I look up at the ceiling, trying to sound utterly nonchalant and failing miserably. ‘I thought maybe you went in the end. With Emily?’

‘No.’ He shrugs, taking another sip of his coffee. ‘We just had a beer together.’

‘I didn’t know you were so friendly?’

‘We’re not, eh. But I bumped into her in the parking lot and she said we should get a drink. Seems like a nice girl.’

‘If you enjoy hanging out with drugged-up bimbo aristocrats.’ I mutter under my breath.

‘Hmm?’

‘Nothing!’ I smile brightly, grabbing a cloth and wiping down the counter. ‘You’d better not keep Lisa waiting. Did you want anything else?’

He looks a bit taken aback. ‘No… I’m good to go. Thanks for the coffee, eh.’

‘No problem!’ I wave as he leaves.

The morning rush comes just after Aaron leaves. Hank opens the door (without a sack) and my morning passes in a coffee-filled blur. It gets to late morning and the café is deserted, giving me a chance to think again. I sigh heavily and sit at one of the tables, trying to read the newspaper. I wish I hadn’t been so moody with Aaron this morning because he didn’t deserve it. I’m behaving like a petulant child whose favourite toy gets taken away and played with by another little girl. I couldn’t bear it if Emily managed to get her claws into him. The more I think about it, the more I think there’s more to Aaron’s past that’s made him wary of dating. He must’ve been hurt badly.

Jenn is making soup so there are some amazing smells wafting through from the kitchen, which is making my stomach rumble. I try and take my mind off eating by standing up and picking up the broom to give the floor a good sweep. I’m saved by the phone ringing.

‘Full O’Beans, Lexie speaking?’

There’s a breathless voice on the other end of the line. ‘It’s me!’

‘Tazzy!’ I exclaim happily, before I wonder why on earth she’s calling me at work. ‘Weren’t we meeting up later?’

‘Yeah, well, no. It’s, like, mental up here. There’s been a big avalanche over in Snake Glades.’

‘Oh my God!’ I exclaim, almost dropping the phone before I realise the true impact of what she’s just told me. ‘Are you alright?’

‘I’m fine. But…’

‘What about Dan, and Travis?’ I ask hurriedly, my heart pounding in my chest. ‘Is everyone okay? Stevie? Benno? Where they even riding today? What happened?!’

‘We’re all fine. Everyone is fine. Well, almost everyone. One of the cornices at the top of Boomerang Ridge collapsed and the slide went all the way to the drop off point for the Cedar Chair, but it didn’t make it to the ski area.’

‘Holy shit!’ My voice is shaking.

‘I know, I know… But listen. I just saw an ambulance leave the Patrol hut. It looks like two people got hurt.’

‘Who?’

Taz pauses. ‘Travis told me it’s Aaron and Lisa.’

I gasp, putting a hand over my mouth. ‘Oh, Jesus!’ I remember Aaron saying something to me about checking a weather station this morning. It totally makes sense.

‘I didn’t know if I should tell you or not, but after our conversation last night… well, I thought you should know. Maybe you’d better go to the hospital and find out?’

I hurriedly wipe my eyes. ‘How badly are they hurt?’

‘Mate, I really don’t know much. Everyone up here is totally freaked out and RFM want us to carry on like everything is peachy, so that the tourists stay on the hill and carry on skiing. Just go and find out what you can – Jenn’ll let you go, right?’

‘Yeah, course. I’m leaving right now. Take care, Taz. I’m really glad you’re okay.’

‘Sure, sure. Just go! Text me when you know more.’

I run upstairs and grab my jacket, trying to pull it on awkwardly as I run back down, almost killing myself as I trip on the bottom step and slam into the wall. Jenn looks horrified as I rush into the kitchen.

‘Woah, there missy!’ She exclaims, before catching the look on my face. Her manner changes instantly. ‘What on earth is the matter?’

I hurriedly explain.

‘Well, let’s go! I’ll drive you!’

It’s barely a ten-minute drive to the hospital and for most of those minutes, all kinds of horrible thoughts whizz through my mind as Jenn weaves through what little traffic there is on the highway. How badly are they hurt? What about Mojo? Was he with them?Was he buried under the snow? What if he’s lying there, waiting to be found? An image of him pops into my head, digging furiously in the snow with his paws.

Jenn skids the car to a hurried stop outside the hospital entrance.

‘Thanks Jenn!’ I cry, jumping out and running to the entrance, my heart in my mouth. Everyone in the waiting room turns to stare at me as I run through the glass doors.

‘Ar…ar…aaron… Ir…ir…irving?’ I pant, leaning against the counter for support. ‘The… two patrollers…. From the avalanche?’

The receptionist looks stern. ‘Hey, hey… slow down. Do you need to see a doctor?

‘I’m…fine…’ I say, catching my breath and trying to calm down, frustrated that I can’t make myself understood. ‘I’m looking… for Aaron Irving? There was an avalanche on the ski hill… he’s just been admitted…’

‘Are you a relative?’

‘Friend.’ I pant, lowering my head and focusing on the floor as another wave of nausea comes over me. Please let him be okay. Please let them both be alright… please, please, please.

‘I’ll just get one of the doctors. I don’t know if he can see visitors yet.’The receptionist moves away from the counter and picks up the phone.

‘So, he’s okay?’ I wheeze.

The receptionist, now on the phone, gestures for me to wait, pointing to the row of plastic chairs. I wobble over on shaky legs while everyone else stares at me. I can’t believe she can’t just tell me anything. Bloody patient confidentiality – what a stupid idea. I sit down, feeling agitated. Usually I’m not one to cause a scene but I really need to know. I get up again and walk back to the counter.

‘Listen, I just need to know he’s alive? My friend told me him and Lisa were admitted and I don’t know what happened? Can you just tell me that he’s breathing, at the very least?’

The receptionist is obviously used to desperate people asking her questions she can’t answer. She fixes me with a steely look.

‘Listen, honey. I don’t know. I’m real sorry but you’re just going to have to wait for a doctor to tell you. If you’re not a relative then please take a seat.’

‘Are any of his family here yet? Do you know if they’ve been called.’

‘I don’t know anything. Now please take a seat.’

I go back to the row of chairs and sit, trying to distract myself with magazines but nothing sinks in. After twenty minutes, I get a cup of water but my hands shake so much I can barely drink without spilling it everywhere. What seems like an eternity passes before a doctor in blue scrubs appears and looks over at me when the receptionist points to my chair.

‘You’re a friend of Mr Irving?’ he asks.

I spring up from chair. ‘Yes! Please tell me he’s alright?! My friend Taz called me about the avalanche, and then she told me that Lisa and Aaron were taken away in a ambulance and I don’t know how badly they’re hurt and … I just wanted to check Aaron was alright… I’m… It’s just that…’ I stop, realising that I’m taking way too fast and not making any sense. The doctor looks sympathetic and beckons for me to follow him.

He explains more as we walk down the corridor. ‘He’s very lucky. A man of a smaller build would have suffered from much more serious injuries. His leg isn’t broken, just severely bruised. It’ll take time for him to get the feeling back in his thigh. Heavy impact to the quadriceps caused the muscle to be crushed against the bone. That was the area that took most of the impact from the tree.’

‘There was a tree?’

‘From what the patrol team told me, the force of the slide must’ve carried them down the mountain at some speed. Apparently, there was a lot of debris – trees and rocks, for example. As I understand it, they were saved by a large pine tree that caught them and stood firm, but Mr Irving took the full brunt of the collision.’

‘Oh my God. What about Lisa?’ I ask hurriedly.

‘She’s just regained consciousness. Her husband is with her. I can’t discuss the full details with you, I’m sure you understand.’

‘Of course.’ I have to stop for a moment and lean against the wall as my legs start shaking again. ‘Can I see Aaron?’

‘I think so. We’ve done some X-rays and he’s got some broken ribs to contend with, but they’ll heal with rest and recuperation. His face is badly lacerated from the branches so don’t be too shocked when you see him bandages up – it looks a lot worse than it is.’ He smiles kindly and points at a line of curtained cubicles. ‘He’s through there, in number three. He may be a bit groggy because of the painkillers, so don’t tire him out, eh.’

I thank the doctor and take a breath, pausing outside the cubicle before I knock tentatively on the partition wall and draw the curtain back. Aaron is lying against clean white sheets, his eyes closed in sleep. A large bandage is wrapped around his head at an angle, coming down to just above his right eye where I can make out a pinkish tinge of blood starting to seep through the material. I creep closer, anxious not to wake him. There are two large strips of bloodied tape attached to his right cheek, just under his eye where he’s obviously been cut up, and there’s another large bandage wrapped around his neck and some of his jaw. What little skin I can see on his face looks red. I exhale slowly as he groans and shifts his body on the bed, opening one eye slowly.

‘Who’s there?’ he croaks, squinting at me.

‘Hey.’ I take one of his large hands in mine. He’s really warm. ‘It’s me, Lexie. How are you feeling?’

‘Like I got eaten by a grizzly and spat out again.’ he mutters. At least he’s still got a sense of humour. ‘What’re you doing here?’

‘Taz called me from the mountain, and we just wanted to check you were alright.’ I explain quickly. ‘I’ll leave you to sleep.’

He keeps hold of my hand, his face contorting in pain again. ‘Don’t go…’

‘Okay.’ I nod, sitting down gently on the bed. I stroke his knuckles, noticing how bruised they are.

‘Do you know what happened?’ I ask, wondering if he remembers anything. There don’t seem to be any other visitors here with him, which surprises me. Where the hell are the other Patrollers?

His eyes narrow and he thinks for a minute, before he tries to sit up, crying out in pain. ‘Where’s Lisa?! Is she here?!’

‘Ssshh…’ I say, trying to sooth him and putting my hand on his chest to make him lie back down. A nurse comes into the room behind me.

‘What’s going on in here?’ she asks, giving me an inquiring look that’s not altogether friendly.

‘Where’s Lisa?!’ Aaron asks, his voice full of panic. ‘Please tell me what’s going on!’

I get up quickly and take the nurse to one side, speaking softly so he doesn’t hear us. ‘I had a chat with the doctor and he told me that Lisa - Mrs Galbraith – is here too. Is there anything I can tell him? He’s her patrol partner?’

Her expression softens a little. ‘Let me see what I can find out for you.’She pulls the curtain over as she leaves and I hear her shoes squeaking down the corridor. I go back to the bed and take Aaron’s hand again. He looks sleepy.

‘I’m sure Lisa is fine.’ I whisper. ‘But the nurse is just going to find out some more information for us. Her husband is here – the Doctor told me that much.’

He gives my hand a weak squeeze. ‘Thanks, Lex. I’m real glad you’re here. You won’t leave, right?’

I smile. My heart rate is just about back to normal again and I’m so relieved he’s not badly injured, even if he does look terrible. ‘Not if you don’t want me to. Did anyone come in with you? Do you want me to call your family?’

He shakes his head and mumbles. ‘No… don’t want them to worry... Long drive.’

‘Okay.’ I say. ‘What about the guys on the hill? They’ll want to know if you’re okay?’

‘Mojo?’ he whispers, his green eyes opening wide with panic again. ‘It happened so fast.’

I lean over and instinctively stroke a bit of hair that’s worked its way free from the bandages. ‘I’m sure he’s fine too. I’ll find out whose looking after him for you, don’t worry. Just rest.’

‘Tired now… need to nap…’

‘I’ll be here.’ I whisper.