Love In The Alps Part Two | Rewind Bedtime Story For Sleep

Before we begin, here's a quick ad break that keeps this free content possible. To go ad free, subscribe via the link in the show notes. So you want to start a business. You might think you need a team of people and fancy tech skills, but you don't. You just need GoDaddyAero. I'm Walton Goggins and as an actor, I'm an expert in looking like I know what I'm doing. GoDaddyAero uses AI to create everything you need to grow a business. It'll make you a unique logo. It'll create a custom website. It'll write social posts for you and even set you up with a social media calendar. Get started at godaddy.com slash aero. That's godaddy.com slash a-i-r-o. Welcome back to Night Falls. The bedtime show of classic and original stories designed to guide you into a calm and peaceful sleep. I'm Jeffrey and tonight let me transport you to the snowy peaks of the Alps. A year has passed since Sarah and Luke's last visit to their lone cabins in the mountains and this time they'll be staying together. Relax, breathe and let's get lost in our story. In the crisp silence, you would almost swear you could hear a snowflake drop planting itself amongst the billions of other intricately formed ice particles. Maybe if you closed your eyes and really focused, you would expect to hear the muffled hum of far-off chalets, restaurants or resorts. Or perhaps you would listen for the shuffling and crunching of snow underfoot as a bird lands on the ground where a fox slinks by. You could try to search for all these sounds but you would probably fail to find them. Here on this slope in the Swiss Alps, it is perfectly peaceful and surreptitiously silent. It is also breathtakingly beautiful. Jagged grey mountaintops border the landscape, creating a separation between the white snowy ground and the pale sky. Snow-dusted pine trees climb up the sides of the sprawling mountains, adding texture to this blank canvas of wilderness. When the wind blows hard enough, flurries of snowflakes can be seen floating on the breeze above the ground like shimmers of magic moving through the air. If you watched the land for long enough, you might be fortunate enough to witness some of the breathtaking animals that call this wintery wilderness their home. You might see the great golden eagle soaring through the sky or the lumbering brown bear guiding its young through the snow. If you're really lucky, you might catch sight of the white mountain hare hopping from place to place, camouflaging excellently within its habitat. And there is nothing quite like seeing the magnificent antlers of a stag as it emerges from within the trees and trots across the open land to find its heart. Thousands of holiday makers swoop upon the ski resorts and chalets each year, longing to find their own place in this wilderness escaping from the hustle and bustle of their normal lives for the quiet wonderland of the Alps. In one particular cabin, nestled on its own quiet slope, two holiday makers had returned to enjoy the blissful peace and romantic scenery that the Alps provided. The log cabin was quaint, guarded around the back by a swarm of pine trees and open at the front so that, from the wooden porch, you could admire the view of the natural landscape for miles. Sarah nestled herself into the rocking chair on the cabin porch and wrapped herself in a thick blanket. The steam from her mug of coffee floated, wispily, up into the air, creating swirls and patterns of white in front of her face. The air was crisp and dry. As Sarah took a deep breath in through her nose, she felt her whole body lift within vigoration from the fresh, clean oxygen. The scent of pine needles hung in the air and a tinge of smoke from the cabin chimney tickled her nose. The landscape ahead of her was peaceful and serene. There were no vehicles, no passers-by and no other cabins in sight. She felt totally alone in the wilderness. It was what had attracted her to the area in the first place. Last year, the Swiss Alps had called her name, inviting her to relax, recharge and re-center herself in the solitary confines of her luxurious cabin. The spontaneous solo trip changed her life in many ways. She had been forced to slow down and disconnect from her bustling life in New York City and learn to savour the small things. To take note of the simple, wonderful things that we experience every day but are too busy and distracted to properly process. A year on from her last trip to the Alps, Sarah no longer woke begrudgingly to the chiming of an irritating alarm. Instead, she naturally woke to the sunrise and welcomed it with open arms. Every morning, she made herself a cup of tea and sat by the window in her bedroom, watching the sun gracefully appear over the top of the New York skyline. She would use this quiet time to daydream and sometimes to write in a journal. She would eat her breakfast slowly and delight in the textures and tastes of her food, feeling gratitude for every single bite. Only when she felt like she had enjoyed a suitable amount of time acclimatising to the new day would she dress herself and head to work or start her activities for the day. Aside from her gentle morning routine, Sarah had brought home several other things from the Alps. A new sense of purpose, a refreshed set of priorities and a partner to go through it all with. Sarah took a sip of her coffee, swallowed and sighed with a smile. She heard the front door to the cabin open and she glanced over her shoulder to see Luke peeking his head around the door frame. Good morning. He greeted her in his soft, gravelly voice. Luke looked a little dishevelled from his gray woolly jumper, tartan pyjamatrisers and fluffy slippers. His dark hair was ruffled from sleep and his bushy beard needed a comb. His eyes were heavy and he yawned slightly as he greeted her. Sarah suppressed a giggle. He looked a far cry from the appealing, tough, lumberjack persona he usually presented, but still appeared just as ruggedly handsome as always. A year had passed since Sarah and Luke's chance encounter in the Alps and ever since their kiss on New Year's Eve last year, they had been almost inseparable. Despite the fact that Sarah lived in New York and Luke hailed from Livingston in Montana, they had made their relationship work. They each took turns regularly flying across the country to spend time with each other and technology certainly made keeping in touch easier these days. Luke had experienced Sarah's high flying life in New York and enjoyed exploring the city with her. Whenever she went to work and returned home from the office, he would be waiting in her penthouse apartment with a home cooked meal ready for her. They would eat and drink together, taking in the amazing views of the Manhattan skyline from the huge glass windows that bordered her apartment. It was a luxurious side to their relationship that they relished and Sarah appreciated Luke sharing it all with her. Then, when Sarah flew over to his home in Livingston, they experienced a different side to their relationship. In Montana they led a slower and simpler lifestyle, but it was full of moments that they both treasured in a different way to New York. Sarah had met Luke's family, his many brothers, and their children several times over the course of the year. Whenever the family got together, the place was wild with chatter and laughter and Luke and Sarah barely had a moment to themselves. But when they returned to Luke's charming small house at the end of a long day, they happily slunk back into their comfortable, intimate routine. No matter whether they were in New York, Livingston, or a part, things were always easy between them. They didn't have to be busy to enjoy each other's presence. They shared a contented companionability. They had each found their soulmate in the other. To mark their first year together, Luke and Sarah had decided to return to the cabin in the Alps where they had first got to know each other and shared their first kiss. It was here, on this very cabin porch, that Sarah had plucked up the courage to kiss Luke. It was heartwarmingly nostalgic for them both to think back to a year ago and reflect on how their relationship had developed since then. They were very much in love with one another. Luke had slept in that morning after they had spent a late night playing board games together. But he was up now and ready to take on the day. They had no plans except to enjoy each other's company in their little cosy log cabin, looking out on the dazzling Alps. They discussed making breakfast and Sarah told Luke that they were almost out of woods for the fire. He raised his eyebrows and said that they would have to go chop some more together. Sarah grimaced at the suggestion. The last time she had vacationed in the Alps in her luxury cabin, she had ordered chopped wood to be brought to her door. She had never chopped wood for herself. Luke decided this was the perfect opportunity for her to learn a new life skill. He threw on his coat and hat, slipped on his boots and stepped out onto the porch. He ushered Sarah to follow and she reluctantly followed him out into the snow. Luke led the way around the back of the cabin and into a clearing in the woodland where a few tree stumps and a whole load of piles of wood were littered around. An axe was placed to the side of one of the stumps and Luke picked it up and held it out to Sarah. She stared at his outstretched hand and protested that she wasn't strong enough to chop wood. But Luke wouldn't acknowledge her excuses. She would never know unless she tried, he pointed out. Luke constructed her to grab a few blocks of wood and bring them over to one of the tree stumps. He stood one of the pieces of wood upright on the stump and touched the axe's tip to the top of it. Then he swung the axe back just enough and brought it back down on the wood, chopping it cleanly in half. He made it look so easy after years of practice but Sarah watched on, intimidated. Grabbing another piece of wood and balancing it on the stump, Luke guided Sarah through the process. As she clasped the axe with both of her hands, he gently held his on top of hers and helped her chop the wood in half. At first Sarah was nervous but after a few goes with Luke's assistance, she felt confident enough to try it on her own. The moment when she brought the axe down on the wood and watched it split in two with a crack was satisfying. Sarah could now say that she knew how to fetch her own firewood. They gathered up enough logs to fill their arms and carried it all back to the cabin where they rekindled the fire and cooked breakfast. The couple made their daily journey up the mountain to the little shop to gather groceries. It was in this little shop next to the cafe that they both originally met. When Sarah had been looking for a bottle of champagne to enjoy on New Year's Eve, she'd been left with only wine as an option. Luckily, Luke was nearby to recommend her the bottle of Gamma Ray and as a result, they went from strangers to acquaintances. It wasn't long before they became more than that when they discovered the cabins they were staying in were close to each other. Revisiting the shop now, Luke and Sarah stocked up on snacks and a couple of extra bottles of Gamma Ray for their cabin. It had unsurprisingly become their drink of choice. Once they had gathered everything they wanted and paid, they nipped next door into the cafe. It was quiet in the cafe. It wasn't a very busy spot on the mountain to begin with and, in the late morning, people were more likely to be hitting the ski slopes than the eateries. Luke and Sarah ordered a couple of hot chocolates and sat by the window overlooking the mountain site. They had a clear view of the slopes from here and they watched as little black dots in the distance zoomed across the pristine white landscape. Sarah took a sip of her hot chocolate and sighed. She hadn't been skiing in years but she had many fond memories of skiing holidays with her family when she was younger. Despite the regularity of snow where Luke came from, he had never been skiing himself. It had never interested him very much. Referring to the skiers in the distance, Sarah asked Luke, would you like to try it? Luke shook his head and scrunched up his face. The idea didn't appeal to him. He was perfectly content with his feet firmly on the ground without sliding around. Sarah pouted childishly and insisted that he should try it at least once. If he wanted, she could be his teacher. But Luke firmly declined her offer with a laugh. Sarah watched the skiers glide around effortlessly, weaving in and out of one another, leaving tracks in the snow. She recalled how good it felt to feel the icy air against her face as she soared down the slopes. Skiing was both exhilarating and calming all at once. When she got into the flow, she felt like she was flying. She wished that Luke could know what that felt like. Then she had a thought. She had a card still to play. Sarah cocked her eyebrow and pointed out to Luke that she had had to go at trying something new today by helping chop the firewood. Perhaps he should try something new for her too. Luke rolled his eyes inside. She had in there. Later that afternoon, Luke and Sarah headed to the ski hire shop and rented a pair of skis each, helmets and boots. Then they bought a day pass to hit the slopes. Sarah wondered if Luke was nervous but he seemed perfectly calm. Maybe he was just good at hiding it. Since it was Luke's first time, they took it easy and headed to the nursery slopes where he could practice his balance. They had a good giggle to begin with as Luke attempted to put his skis on and repeatedly lost his balance. However, he persevered and eventually got the hang of staying upright as he pushed himself along. Sarah taught him how to snow plow, to slow himself down and then they tried a few runs back and forth along the nursery slopes. While children whist past them on their little skis, Luke and Sarah stuck to a slow pace, gradually building up Luke's confidence. Despite his initial unease on his feet, Luke picked it all up quickly and it wasn't long before they progressed on to the next slope up for a bit more of a challenge. Sarah was patient as she taught Luke and he was an open and positive student. They had a great time. They laughed at their mistakes and they cheered at their successes. They worked together to figure things out and by the time they needed to head back down the mountain before sunset, Luke and Sarah were able to ski side by side down the ski road and back to base. Sarah was right as Luke slid down the ski road, navigating his turns well and allowing his skis to pick up some speed. He felt the air rush through his hair and revitalize his skin. It was surprisingly enjoyable. Sarah skied ahead a little and Luke watched her glide across the snow like a dancer. She was an impressive woman and she made him very happy. Luke counted his blessings that he had met Sarah here in the Alps just a year before. With their ski gear returned and the sun setting beyond the mountain, Sarah and Luke made the journey back to their cabin. They trudged up the snowy verge in their heavy boots tracing the edge of the trees that lined the hill and admired the glowing orange sun emanating its last beams across the land. With every step their feet sunk down into the thick, crumbling snow, leaving behind a trail of footprints. Luke's large, clumping boots looked like bear paws in the snow compared to Sarah's petite feet. Finally, at the top of the hill and back at their cabin, Sarah and Luke were exhausted and slumped down on the sofa in a heap. The fire had gone out but the cabin was still warm and toasty. Welcome comparison to the bitter cold outside. Melting into each other's arms, they both closed their eyes in compagnonable silence and drifted off to sleep together. When their eyes eventually opened, the blanket of night had wrapped itself around their cabin and the moon was crescent in the sky. A stream of stars glistened in the heavens and not a sound could be heard across the land. Sarah gazed out the window and enjoyed the tranquil view with a glass of wine in hand while Luke lit the fire again. Sarah's eyes drifted momentarily from the outside world to the inside of their little cabin and she smiled. Years ago she would have turned her nose up at the idea of spending a week in a tiny, rustic log cabin in the Alps rather than a luxurious lodge or a chalet. But Luke had mellowed her and helped her learn to appreciate the simpler things in life. In fact, nowadays Sarah much preferred the likes of their little cabin in comparison to the elaborate, expansive lodge she stayed in last year. But the main difference that made the quaint cabin all the more special was this special man she got to share it with. Luke had opened her mind and her heart to a different way of living and loving. Sarah now found that the superficial things in life didn't bring her anywhere near as much joy and satisfaction as the humbler things did. Easy mornings in bed with Luke, barbecues in backyards with family and friends, feeling Luke's hand in hers as they walked down the street, the way his eyes soften when he looked at her. These were the kind of things that made Sarah happy now. Whenever Luke visited her in New York and then had to leave and return to Montana, Sarah began counting down the days until they would be reunited again. But even though they had both gone their separate ways from their respective cabins in the Alps a year before, the Alps had brought them back together again. They couldn't keep away from each other. Luke, Sarah and the Alps. Their time together might not be limitless, but Sarah had a feeling that they would always return to each other no matter how far apart they might be. She turned her attention back to the wilderness outside the window with a content heart. Meanwhile Luke encouraged the flames in the fireplace to grow and warmed his hands against the heat. He glanced over at Sarah and smiled. She looked so relaxed and blissful in comparison to how he felt. A whirlwind was rushing around his head and his heart wouldn't stop beating hard on his chest. He tapped his pocket to check there was still something in it, and he sighed with relief as he felt the delicate object beneath the material of his joggers. He sat down next to the fireplace and grabbed his own glass of wine. He referred to the large box by his side and asked, You want to play this board game? Sarah smiled and eagerly moved away from the window to sit opposite him. They set up the game and chose their coloured pieces, placing them on the start line. They loved playing board games together and tonight they plan to enjoy a classic game of trivia to settle down for the evening. As the fire crackled and heated up the room, Luke and Sarah rolled the dice, answered the trivia questions and moved their counters around the board, all while enjoying a bottle of gamma ray. Luke purposefully allowed Sarah to speed ahead, collecting all of the coloured wedges she needed to head back towards the finishing hub to win the game. Sarah giddily rolled the dice and clapped her hands with excitement as she rolled a four and placed her counter in the final hub. She grinned and asked Luke to give her her final question. If she answered correctly, she won the game. Luke felt like his heart might explode out of his chest and he wiped his moist palms on his sides. He was nervous to pose this final question to her. He took a deep breath and instead of reaching for a card out of the trivia deck, Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold ring with a circular diamond in the centre. He held the ring in front of him and moved so that he was now bending down on one knee. Sarah almost dropped her glass, she was so surprised. She stared at Luke with wide eyes and a gaping open mouth as Luke posed the final question of the game to Sarah. Sarah, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me? He asked. With sparkling tears in her eyes, Sarah took a deep breath and whispered back a yes. It was the easiest question she had to answer all night. Sarah held out her left hand and Luke slid the twinkling ring onto her fourth finger. He clasped her hand in his, gently interlocking their fingers and they both leaned in to share a long kiss. The proposal might have been a surprise to Sarah but the intention of spending the rest of their lives together wasn't. They'd both known for a long time that they were each other's soulmates. What a night. Sarah commented with a giggle. I went trivial pursuit and I got engaged. Luke laughed softly and gazed into her eyes. He gushed with happiness. You may have fun the board game but I won really. I get to spend the rest of my life with you and for that I am incredibly lucky. Sarah kissed him again and they both held each other, never wanting to let go. 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