Snowflakes & Second Chances

Anna

“Why me?” I groan. I’m heading home for the holidays, and of course, a deer runs out in front of me, and I swerve right into a deep snow bank. This is my first Christmas home since I moved to San Diego three years ago. Even though I grew up driving the snowy roads of Colorado Springs, I forgot how bad they can be.

“Now what am I supposed to do?” I say to no one. I check my cell phone and see I have no service. Of course, it’s freezing out, I can’t get my car unstuck, and I’m on the smallest highway known to man. I suppose I will just have to wait for another vehicle to come by, no way can I walk to town from here. My GPS still shows I’m 20 miles from town. I go to my trunk and grab my blanket, fuzzy socks, an extra sweater, and a hat from my bag. Good thing I packed heavy for this trip.

I get back in my car, which is thankfully still running for now, and wait. It’s nearly 5 o’clock, which means it’s already dark outside, but also means people should be heading home from work. I pull out my phone and bring up my reading app. Might as well catch up on my book while I wait and watch for lights. I think to turn my flashers on quickly so others will know I need help.

About an hour goes by, and still no lights. I check my fuel gauge and see I still have 1/4 tank, which should be enough to keep me from freezing for a bit. I wonder if I start heading up the road if I can get service. I check the temperature and see it’s only 21 degrees out. No, I will freeze in this cold in the dark before I even get a mile up the road. I’m starting to lose hope when I see lights! “Lights! Yes, finally!” I get out of my car and run to the middle of the road and start waving my arms, praying they will stop.

The truck starts to slow down, and I do a little jump for joy. It pulls over on the side of the road, and the driver rolls the window down. A deep masculine voice shouts, “Ma’am, do you need help over there?”

“Yes, a deer ran out in front of me, and I forgot how slippery the roads can get and swerved right into this bank. I am stuck pretty deep and can’t get out on my own. Do you have a tow rope?” I shout back over the wind.

I can’t see his face, but something familiar pricks at the back of my brain. The man opens his door and jumps out. He is huge and muscular, all I can see is his outline so far and momma-like. As he approaches, his face comes into view, and my heart bottoms out into my stomach. This can’t be happening to me, I have the worst luck on the face of the planet. It’s Jace, the one man I ever truly loved but left behind to escape this town.

He looks me up and down, “Anna?”

“Yes, it’s me. Hi Jace. Would you mind helping me out? My parents are expecting me, and I can’t get any service out here to call for help.” He’s quiet for a moment and keeps staring at me with an unreadable expression. I’m starting to sweat even though it’s freezing out. I can’t believe he’s still here.

He finally speaks, “Yeah, I’ll help you out. Good to see you. I’m glad to hear you are back to visit your parents. They miss you.” He turns back for his truck to grab his things to tow me out.

Jace

My heart is racing. I knew she was coming to town, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to run into her. All these years and she’s still as beautiful as I remember. My heart clenches, but I grit my teeth and shut it down—no, not again. I school my face into an impassive expression and get to work tying the tow rope to the front of my truck and then under her rear bumper. “Hop back in your car and shift it into reverse; on three start reversing, and I’ll pull,” I tell her.

I deny myself watching her walk away in those skin-tight leggings she’s wearing. I jump back in my truck and drive around to get positioned to pull her out. I roll down my window and hold my hand out with a thumbs up, waiting for her to do the same so I know she’s ready. “One, two, three!” I holler out the window, then reverse hard, and her little car rolls right out of the bank. I throw the truck into park and jump back out. I start untying the rope from under her car when I hear her car door open and then shut. I feel her approach me.

Popping back up to my feet, I look into her face, “Thank you,” she practically whispers. I flick my eyes to her lips and then away. “Not a problem,” I tell her. “Better get moving, you and I both know how much your mom worries.”

She finally looks me in the face, “Of course, I better get going. It was great to see you, and I really appreciate you rescuing me. Just like old times, eh?” She does that nervous laugh of hers, and I fight a grin. I nod but don’t reply and turn to head back to my truck to be on my way. As I’m walking away, she reaches out and grabs the sleeve of my coat. I turn back to look at her, and she shocks the hell out of me by spouting out in a rush, “Would you like to get coffee with me, you know, as a thank you?” I stand there stunned for a minute.

There goes avoiding her while she’s in town. I mull it over for a second and intend to say no when my mouth betrays me and says, “I would love that,” instead.

She beams at me, then twirls back to her car and is just about to jump in when she asks, “You still have the same number?”

“I do.” I turn when she smiles again and shuts the car door. I sit in my truck and watch her drive away while I’m mentally kicking myself for saying yes to seeing her again. This can only end in more heartbreak for me. I shake my head and turn my truck to finish my drive home.

Anna

“Oh my gosh, my baby is home! I was so worried, you’re over an hour late!” My mother screeches at me before I can even fully exit my car.

“I know Mom, I’m sorry. I swerved to avoid a deer and got stuck in a snow bank with no cell service. I had to wait for someone to drive by and rescue me.” She runs up and starts to fuss all over me as usual.

“I can’t believe you were out there all alone. I keep telling you, you need a man. When are you bringing a man home?” I roll my eyes and walk back to my trunk to grab my things to drag into the house.

“It was Jace who found me. He stopped to pull me out.” My mother gets this bright gleam in her eye.

“I knew that boy was an angel sent from above. It still breaks my heart you guys broke up. Maybe we should have him over for Christmas dinner!” I can see the wheels spinning in her brain, working out the ways to push us back together and to get me to move back home. What she doesn’t know is I already decided I was moving back.

“Mom, he has his own family to spend Christmas with; he is probably married or has a girlfriend. I am taking him to coffee to thank him.” She beams at me and drags me into the house.

“He’s still single, you know. Never did date another woman after you. I think you broke the poor boy’s heart and ruined him for any other woman.” She turns to stare directly into my soul. I choke a little and blush, not knowing how to respond. I didn’t expect my mother to whiplash from loving all over me to scolding me. I always knew she loved Jace; I just didn’t realize they stayed in contact.

I sigh and start trudging up the stairs to drop my stuff off in my old room. I’ll go search for my dad and brothers in a minute. I throw my stuff down on the bed and follow it by plopping myself down on the pillows. I can’t believe he got even more attractive. How is that even possible? His broad frame is even larger now, he’s got that sexy dark stubble on his face, and I could tell he grew his hair out since it was curling out from under his beanie. He’s a little more stoic than I remember him being, but that’s kind of sexy. I smile looking back on the encounter. I totally checked him out when he was bent over tying the rope up. I wonder if he checked me out too.

I snap myself out of my haze and jump up off the bed. I better go say hi to the rest of the family before my room gets stormed by them. I found everyone down in the kitchen, I only had to follow the noise. Perks of having three brothers for siblings. My dad sees me and shoves everyone aside, “Pumpkin!” and crushes me in one of his bear hugs. I hug him back just as fiercely and breathe him in. This is one of my favorite things, being the only girl and the baby of the family; I was my dad’s little angel.

“Hi Dad, so happy I came home this year.” I turn to my brothers and wait as one by one they crush me in their own bear hugs. “Hi boys, no mischief so far I hope.” My mom tuts and shakes her head. The poor woman, my brothers were hellions growing up, which is probably why I was the goody two-shoes of the family; my parents had their hands full with the boys.

“Nothing fun yet, we were waiting for you to get here before we started the fun. Can’t play too many pranks with no one good to play them on!” My brother Jon says. I roll my eyes.

“Well, are we going to eat and catch up or what?” I say and head to the cupboard with the plates to start handing them out.

Jace

I’m just lying down for the night when my phone buzzes with a text. I roll over and check it and my heart squeezes when I see her name appear on the screen. I close my eyes and think about her out in the cold by her car, same long wavy blonde hair, blaring blue eyes, and tiny frame I remember. She was always so tiny, it didn’t matter that she could eat to rival her brothers. I smile remembering how much that girl can put away and still stay her tiny 5’1” and 100lbs soaking wet. I sigh and open my messages to see what she said.

“Does tomorrow at 9 am work? Thanks again and I hope we can catch up and things won’t be too awkward for you.” I start to tap out my reply and then put my phone on the charger. I refuse to read any more tonight. I just need to get through this week and she will be gone again. “Sounds good. No problem.” It’s all I have the energy for to reply.

The next morning comes too fast. I get up, shower, and head out to meet her at the only place I know she would go for coffee. Her aunt and cousin’s shop on the corner of Main. I walk in and she’s already there chatting with her cousin at the counter. I lose my breath just looking at her. This is going to be a long week. The bell above the door dings and she looks up and sees me. She smiles and waves me over. “Hey, you made it. I’ve got us a spot in our old corner. I was just catching up with Sarah quick.”

I turn to Sarah “Hey, my usual please.” She looks at me and laughs.

“You never change, Anna already ordered for you. It’s at your table.”

I look at Anna, “You didn’t need to pay.”

She interrupts me with, “This is my thank you for rescuing me from the ditch. My treat.” Then turns her megawatt smile on me. My heart picks up a beat and I clear my throat and then motion for our table. I turn and start heading in that direction already knowing she will follow me. I pull her chair out for her because after all, my momma didn’t raise a Neanderthal.

“Thank you,” she says. Then she looks at me and seems to contemplate what she’s going to say next and settles on “How have you been? I know you still work on your parent’s ranch. Other than that what have you been up to?”

“I’m great. I can keep to myself. I built a house on that back plot I told you about which allows me to have my own place and stay tucked away. I don’t come to town much, I pretty much just work. How about you? How are you liking California?”

She hums, “Too bad to hear the goofball turned into a hermit. I suppose I am to blame for that. California is great, I love it there, I love my job, but it’s not home, you know?” I nod and watch her play with her hands in front of her cup. She’s nervous. “I’ve been considering coming home for a while. It’s getting expensive down there, and my mom is pushing to have me come home. I can technically do my job from anywhere.” Her words hit me like a freight train. She’s moving back. I don’t dare to respond for fear of what I will say. She’s staring at me expectantly.

It all becomes too much, and I push back my chair. “Thanks for the coffee,” and make my escape before I do something crazy like throw her over my shoulder and lock her up in my house to make sure she won’t leave again. I need to go blow off some steam and head home to go out riding to clear my head.

Anna

He ran away. I knew I couldn’t just come back and expect things to be okay. My heart sank, seeing him brought back all those feelings. I worked hard to get where I am in my career and to be able to come back. I always secretly hoped that when I did, he would still be single. After what I did, I suppose I don’t deserve a second chance. For months, I tried working up the courage to tell him I was taking the job opportunity, but he was just so excited about our life together I couldn’t bring myself to break his heart. The company called and told me someone quit suddenly and they needed me to come early. I took the coward’s way out and left him a note and was just gone. I’ve hated myself for it, which is why I haven’t been back home until now.

I look over at Sarah, and she’s giving me that pitying look. I tried to smile to let her know I was fine, and it came out more like a grimace. I get up and trudge my way home. “Mom, I’m back,” I holler down the hall. She rushes out and takes one look at me and knows.

“You’re back early. I figured you guys would be talking for hours.” I shake my head.

“Once I brought up moving back, he bolted like I lit his butt on fire.” She comes over and hugs me.

“Give him time.” Then she smiles at me and leaves me alone. I go up to my room to think and decide to read some of my book in my window. About three hours later the doorbell rings. I wonder who that could be; I decide I don’t feel like being social and return to my book. I perk up when there is a knock at my door; my mom says, “You have a visitor.” I get up and open my door. There he is, standing in all his handsome glory just staring at me. My mom turns and goes back down the stairs.

“I’ve never forgotten our promises. Call me stupid but I prayed for the day you would come home. I couldn’t face seeing you knowing you were leaving again. Telling me you’re coming back to stay, I just couldn’t process it and needed to clear my head. Stay.” He surges forward, crushing me to his chest and puts his nose in my hair. “Please stay, I can’t watch you go again.”

I turn my face up to his and admit what I’ve been refusing to admit for three whole years. “I never should have left.” Then stretch up and crush my lips to his and see the fireworks that have always been there between us. I guess there is such a thing as Christmas miracles even though it’s not for 2 more days. He should hate me, yet here he is, no questions asked and kissing me as if I never left.