Snowbound Hearts Read Online Free PDF

Falls?”
    “Where is the restroom?” she asked urgently. “I’m feeling sick.”
    Stephen pointed toward a closed door. She dashed off and slipped inside. He went on into the kitchen, got out the griddle, butter, cheese, and bread.
    ***
    Audrey closed the door behind her, rushed to the sink, and twisted the handle. Ice-cold water flowed from the tap and helped to calm her nerves as she splashed it on her face. An image of holding hands with the beautiful stranger in the next room while gazing at the Falls was still fresh in her mind. It had come to her like a memory rather than a daydream. Déjà vu. That’s all it is. She had never been to Niagara Falls, but she had imagined herself there with Daniel so many times the image had ingrained itself in her mind. Why Stephen had so easily replaced Daniel in that image and why he had spoken what she had been thinking were mysteries. I must be going crazy. No. I’m having a nervous breakdown. And why shouldn’t I after everything I’ve... Stop freaking out, it’s not helping.
    Audrey turned off the tap and clasped her freezing hands to the back of her neck. She pressed her eyes tightly closed for a moment, then popped them open. Sparkles floated through the air in front of her. The frosty white reflection staring out of the mirror at her could have been a ghost.
    That’s it. I’m a ghost. I wonder if I’ll make the news? “Audrey Whitmoore, age 22, froze to death after crashing her car during this week’s freak blizzard. And now the five day forecast...” I wonder how long it’ll take them to find me.
    She took a deep breath and glanced around the room. The breath felt real, her surroundings looked real, but something was wrong. I am not dead.
    There was another, more plausible, explanation. She could have lost consciousness, either from the crash or the cold, and been dreaming that she’d found her Stephen from so many years ago, waiting for her right where he was supposed to be.
    I haven’t lost consciousness, I’ve only lost my mind. No, I’ve just temporarily misplaced it. The eerie sound of her own laughter echoing in the small room startled her.
    She clearly remembered getting out of her car after driving into the ditch. The butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she trudged up the driveway toward the cabin, wondering who was inside, had been too nauseating not to be real. Everything made sense right up until a man who couldn’t exist had opened the cabin door.
    Okay, calm down and think rational thoughts. He’s in the next room, and I’m pretty sure he’s real. Maybe if I tell him everything, we can figure out what’s going on together. Yeah, right. If I do that, he’ll think I’m nuts.
    ***
    Eventually, Audrey came out of the restroom. Stephen gazed at her pale face as she wobbled his way. He took a step toward her and grasped her arm to steady her. She sighed deeply and leaned into him.
    “Are you feeling better? You’re awfully shaky.”
    “I think I need to eat. Maybe I’m having low blood sugar or something.”
    Stephen escorted her to the table and held a chair for her. He grabbed two grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches he had made for them.
    Audrey shrugged and frowned. “I was supposed to do that, you know, for your consolation prize.”
    “Eat. Just having your company is enough of a prize. Do you mind telling me why you ran off?”
    Audrey clasped a hand over her eyes, and for a moment he thought she wasn’t going to answer him, but she finally took it away and gazed down at her plate. “It’s silly, Stephen.”
    “I like silly, so you have to tell me all about it.” Stephen sat across from her and took a big bite of his sandwich.
    “Okay, fine. You’ll think I’m nuts, but I don’t care. My uncle Lenard claims that my father is a little bit psychic. He knew my mother’s name and that she would be his wife before they met. I’ve been told on more than one occasion that I inherited my father’s sensitivity. Most of the