Jan waded through the lodge cafeteria, holding her tray high to avoid bumping into people sitting at the tables. The snow, still falling outside, had forced everyone inside, causing a quite crowd. She'd seen an empty table near the window and was making her way towards it. When she was a table away a man and women sat down at her destination table and began striping off their goggles, gloves and hats. With a groan she again looked around for an empty table.
"You can sit here," Jan heard behind her. She turned and realized it was the woman at the table speaking to her. The man had set off towards the cafeteria kitchen. "There's plenty of room," the woman continued when she had Jan's attention.
Jan smiled gratefully and set her tray down opposite the red-haired woman. "Thanks, it's so crowded today."
"I know, I didn't expect this on Friday," the woman said, "By the way, my name's Dinah, Mark's off getting lunch." Jan guessed she was in her forties, she looked fit and had a broad smile. Her skin was fair, corresponding to her red hair, and her bright green eyes sparkled.
"I'm Jan," Jan said.
"Were you meeting anyone here for lunch," Dinah asked. "We can probably fit a couple of more here but if you're a crowd β¦"
"Nope, just me," Jan said. "Everybody else was working or busy for the weekend."
"It is kinda fun skiing by yourself," Dinah said, "You don't have to wait, or feel like you're holding anyone up."
"Yeah," Jan replied, thinking back to the note she'd gotten from her boyfriend a week before, breaking off their relationship. It turned out he was now going out with her best friend⦠She looked out of the window at the falling snow. "It's such a great view of the lake from here when it's not snowing."
Mark was finishing the same trek through the throng of people Jan had when he heard the woman sitting with Dinah mention the snow. He had seen Dinah talking to the brown haired girl as he had wove his way back. Now closer he could see she was older than he had first thought, late twenties to his and Dinah's mid-forties, and remarkably attractive. She was about Dinah's height and weight; her skin, at least her face and hands, which was all that was showing, were tan and smooth. She had a big brown eyes and a nice smile showing startlingly white teeth.
"The view is nice," he said, "but sign me up for the snow anytime." He stuck out his hand and she shook it, "I'm Mark."
"Jan," Jan said looking up at him. He was around Dinah's age, with blue eyes in a tanned face, brown hair showing some gray.
Mark dolled out the food to Dinah who eagerly took the proffered cup of hot chocolate, wrapping her hands around the warm cup. "I love the snow, I just hate the cold, I'm done for the day, I think." she said to Jan.
Jan smiled, "I know what you mean," and went on to list the layers of clothes she was wearing.
Dinah nodded knowingly and described her layers. "I wish I could wear my dry suit," Dinah sighed, referring to her scuba diving dry suit.
"Oh, do you dive?" Jan asked. "I learned a few years ago and dove in Hawaii a few times and once in Mexico. I need to try it again, now that I'm single again."
The conversation veered into Jan's relationship. Mark broke in to say he was going to make a few runs. Dinah kissed his cheek and told him she'd be right where she was sitting when he was ready to go. After he had geared up and left the two women continued their chat, running from relationships to diving, skiing, and other activities Dinah engaged in with Mark.
Dinah was describing their dive trip to Tahiti the previous year when she mentioned a woman they had met, Janet, and how close they had become. Not exactly how close, Dinah left out the sex part, but she did brush on it.
"That'd be great," Jan said, "I'd love to go on a trip like that."
"The hardest part is signing up," Dinah said.
Jan looked at her watch, "It's a long way back to San Jose, I should probably get started. I'm going to be sore tomorrow."
"That's a long drive," agreed Dinah. "Hey, you could stay with us tonight, we have a cabin a few miles from here. You could ski again tomorrow or leave for home in the morning when there's not so much traffic."
"That'd be nice," Jan said, "but I don't want to impose. And I don't have pajamas and stuff."
"I have some sweats you can wear," Dinah said, "You're welcome to join us if you want."
Mark had come back in, his hat and shoulders covered in snow. "It's snowing good now," he said excitedly, his little boy side showing. "You wanna come out again."
"No, I'd done for the day. I told Jan she could join us at the cabin tonight, she has to drive all the way back to San Jose otherwise."
"Sure," Mark said. "That'd be fine. We could try out the hot tub in the snow." He looked at Jan, "We just put it in this summer."
Jan looked from Dinah to Mark, "If you're sure it's not a problem, I'd love to."
"I'm going for a few more runs," Mark said, "Then I'll be ready to go."
"How about if we head out now," Dinah asked Jan. "We could shower and relax, then start dinner."
"Fine by me," Jan said.