Chapter 1
Frank and Song had just pulled up to the condo they rented for the quiet weekend away from the kids in Big Bear, California. Work had been piling up and the kids had been a lot to handle lately with the home schooling. Needless to say, they were thrilled when Grandma and Grandpa had offered to watch the kids while they went on their getaway. The 3.5 hour trip was fairly easy, but it was late on Friday night, getting out of town had been a bit of a headache and they were finally relieved to find the street the house was on.
It was a typical snow ski resort condo area that had small two bedroom condos next to each other with a nice view of the mountains from the back porch. It was perfect.
"Oh look honey, another Nevada license plate," Song said as they pulled into the driveway, referring to the car parked in the driveway next door to their rental unit.
"Popular place for Vegas folks this time of year I'm sure," Frank said fumbling with the instructions on how to get into the home. "Go inside and check it out baby, I'll get the luggage," Frank told his wife as he gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
The couple brought their items in and some groceries to make meals with over the weekend. Then Frank poked around outside. It was very quiet, the snowpack was thick, it covered just about all the trees and most of the porch overlooking their Mountain View.
"Wow, what a great view for a cup of coffee in the morning," Song said, delighted to be there.
"Where is that instruction guide on the hot tub?" Frank anxiously asked. He had specifically gotten this condo because of the hot tub on the back porch overlooking the forest and mountains.
"Here you go babe," Song said, handing him the paper.
"Must heat for 12 hours; are you shitting me right now?" Frank said hastily, "I wanted to get in this bad boy now," he said as he snuck up behind Song and put his hands around her waist and spun her around to kiss her deeply. "That kind of sucks, but whatever; it'll be primed for maΓ±ana," he said with a grin and a wink.
The couple finished unpacking their luggage and retired to their bedroom for a night of lovemaking and sleeping in late.
Saturday morning the couple enjoyed a peaceful morning alone without kids, alarms or a schedule. Coffee, mountain air, clear skies with a hint of clouds on the horizon. The weather had called for a cold day but expected a cold front to move in early in the evening.
After the first part of the morning broke Frank headed outside to check on his project, the hot tub. Frank had brought some great groceries to make a wonderful dinner that night and spend the remainder of the night getting down with his wife in the hot tub in the winter wonderland.
"What the heck man," Frank sternly said as he dipped his hand into the hot tub. It was freezing cold. Just as he pulled his hand out of the frigid water he heard snow crunching from the other side of the fence and felt someone looking at him
"Hi diddly ho neighbor," Tony said with a chuckle. Frank turned around, taking the moment to smile and appreciate the neighbor making him smile.
"What's up man?" Frank said with a grin as he turned to see another 40 year old white dude peeking over the fence. "Hot tub is an ice bath," Frank continued with a hint of displeasure.
"Brutal brah, mind if I take a look at it?" Tony replied willing to help. "Got mine to turnover last night and it's cranking the heat out real nice," Tony said as he gestured toward the hot tub on his side of the fence. Sure enough steam was emitting from the hot tub on his back porch area with a similar setup to Frank's.
"Be my guest man, I'll be forever indebted to you if you can make mine look like yours," Frank replied with a hopeful tone.
"I'm Tony by the way," Tony said, extending his hand to Frank as he walked around the partition separating the condos.
"Frank, nice to meet you Tony. You from Vegas too?" Frank said.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Tony responded.
"My wife saw your car and plates last night when we got in, figured you were getting out of town like us," Frank said warmly.
"Yep, wife Beth and I got here yesterday afternoon, nice weekend away from town.
We have the in-laws watching the kids, believe me Bro, much needed break," Tony said.
"Amen to that," Frank said. "Literally the same reason, same situation," he said laughing.
Tony went to the utility closet on the porch and poked around inside where the pumps and mechanical equipment was located. While inside Frank and Tony continued their conversation; kids, work, how long they lived in Vegas, typical guy-on-guy talk and making each other crack a smile.
Tony emerged from the closet and shook his head, "I think it's the heat pump man; its ice cold."
Frank quickly asked "Any chance you know if I can replace that?"
Tony put his hand on Frank's shoulder "Even if I had the right tools to replace it, I'd bet because of all the 'Rona supply issues it would take 3 weeks to get that part," Tony said as easy as he could letting down his new found buddy.
"Damn man, this sucks," Frank said with a good spirit, but Tony could tell this was something Frank was looking forward to.
"Look man, mine is right there; go for it. We were going to jump in there tonight after we went out but until then, it's yours," Tony said, offering the hot tub up.