Page 4 of SnowBound

2

ANDERSON

Four years ago

“This was good, man. If you don’t make it big one day, you could become a country music Santa for older ladies,” my best friend Joe remarked.

“Yeah, right. That’s what I want out of life. To be Santa.” I couldn’t help chuckling at Joe’s teasing. He did this every time I finished a Christmas gig.

“Just saying, man. Those cougars were drooling whenever you strummed the chords. And when you sang, I’m pretty sure they soaked their panties. You’d be rich and famous entertaining them. I can picture it in my head.” He raised both hands before him as if unveiling a banner. “Anderson Ford, singing Santa in retirement homes.” I grimaced as he continued further. “Man, I think it sounds very…very promising.”

“Forget it. You can’t even convince yourself.” I let out a sigh followed by a deep laugh. “I’d choose dive bars over office Holiday parties anytime. But thank your dad for hiring me tonight. It means a lot.”

“He’s happy to help. And you know he loves your stuff. He talks about how good you are to all his friends. Anyway, I need to go back. Those ladies are generous when they’re tipsy. No way am I letting Jess cash in on all the extra money tonight. Are you gonna make it home in time for the Holidays?” Joe, aka the barman at his father’s office party, asked.

“Yes. My plane is leaving at midnight. I must head to the airport now. We’ll talk in a couple of days.”

“Sure. Say hi to your mom for me. Tell her she can send a gallon of her special eggnog my way anytime.”

“Will do.” A loud chuckle left my mouth. “Merry Christmas, man.” I grabbed my guitar case and made my way outside, relishing the cold winter air as it filled my lungs.

I had bigger dreams than singing in bars and office parties for a living. But, for now, it paid the bills and got my name out there. One day, it would be my turn to headline a world tour. I could feel it deep in my soul.

Snowflakes swirled over my head, and already I could see two inches of snow on the sidewalk. The wind picked up, and I buttoned my jacket, hailing a cab before shoving my other hand into my pocket. Damn it. They said the storm would start the next morning. Not tonight. I couldn’t afford to miss Christmas. Ma would be all by herself if I didn’t make it home in time.

“Where to?” the cab driver asked once I hauled myself onto the backseat, sweeping the snow from my shoulders and hair.

“Airport.”

“Oh, you didn’t hear, did you?”

I shook my head when our eyes met in the rearview mirror. “Most flights have been delayed tonight. There’s a blizzard coming our way. I hope you’re going to Florida because unless you are, there’s a big chance you won’t board a plane tonight.”

I dragged a hand over my face. This couldn’t be happening. I was supposed to leave two days ago, but when Joe’s father booked me as the main event at his office Christmas party, I switched my flight to make a pit stop in Silverville to fit in the new engagement.

“Let’s pray it calms down before midnight,” I said hopefully, or rather, trying to be. Holiday miracles exist, right?

With the snow falling, the streets were mostly empty at this late hour. People rarely ventured out when the weather was this bad.

An hour later, I sat at the airport café, my face buried in my hands. My flight had been rescheduled for tomorrow morning. I could have made it back to Joe’s parents’ for a few hours, but in this weather, I risked not coming back in time if the snow kept piling up all night in this small Pennsylvania town.

The waitress, a woman dressed in a Santa hat and apron, neared me and refilled my coffee cup. “Feeling down, son?”

I grunted. She sashayed down to her counter and turned up the volume of the Christmas song playing on the café speakers.

I quirked a brow up as to say Really when she shrugged and went on to welcome a new customer.

A girl. Jet black hair, crystal blue eyes, and a shy, lopsided smile. Our gazes met when she sat at the table next to mine.

“I’ll be right back with your order,” the waitress told her, disappearing behind a door.

“Hey,” the girl said. “Delayed flight?”

“No. I just enjoy whiling my time in airport cafés during the Holidays. What kind of question is that?” My piss-poor attitude didn’t seem to faze her because she smiled at me as if I’d just complimented her.

“Where are you heading?” she asked.

“Memphis.”