Page 2 of Chased at Christmas

“It’s more than that. When I’m sad, he sends me my favorite song, or he calls and we spend hours talking, doing Q&A’s, or watching movies. I sit with him in his pocket some days when he works. There’s nothing we don’t know about each other.”

“Without video?”

“Without video,” I repeat, a little annoyed at this point. I get that everyone is looking out for me, but I hate that they think I’m dumb or something. “There’s sincerity in his voice, Emma. I know he’s for real.”

She rolls her eyes and grabs her bag off the kitchen counter. “I have to get to work. You need to get this guy's picture.Please.Don’t give any more of yourself to someone you don’t even know.”

“It doesn’t matter what he looks like! I already told you that.”

“It does, though. It does. I’ve played Q&A with you too, and I know you have a very specific type you’re into. If this dude is eighty pounds with a mouth full of rotted teeth, you’re going to be disappointed.”

“I would know if his teeth were rotted out.”

“Would you?”

“Yes! He’d talk funny.”

“What does he sound like?”

I grab my coffee mug off the counter and flick the light off in the kitchen as I head out the front door. “Wouldn’t you love to know?”

“Oh please. You’re going to tell me he sounds like some deep voiced god, because you’re delusional right now, and we both know it. So, just say it so I can get to work.”

I glance toward Emma and shake my head with a grin. “I’m going to look into support groups for you.”

“Don’t need one,” she hollers back, “but I’ll look up some foryou.”

I roll my eyes and laugh under my breath as a buzz rings in on my phone. I’m hoping it’sWolverine, but it’s my boss, Gabe.

Gabe: I need you in my office now.

Well, my morning just keeps getting better and better! What else can go wrong?

Chapter Two

Gabe

Snow falls heavily outside and piles up on the walkways. I call out for my brother Nick to do a clean up again when he’s back from plowing down on Main Street. While the rest of my brothers work exclusively for the farm, Nick picks up odd jobs for local businesses. Most of it is plowing, but during the summer months, he does a lot of handyman work. Small roof repairs, leaky faucets, things like that.

“Ten-four, brother,” he groans into the walkie, and static resumes as the door to my office creaks open.

Mira stands behind it. She’s wearing a long, cranberry red jacket and a white knit hat with a poof on top. Her dark hair falls over her shoulders and, as usual, despite the season, she smells like a field of lavender.

“How were the roads coming in?”

“Terrible! It was straight whiteout in some spots. I think there’s a big storm coming. Did you hear anything on the radio?”

“Nothing. I hate these ghost blizzards. They come out of nowhere. I think I’m going to put out a group text and let everyone know to stay in today.”

Her brows narrow. “Okay… I guess I can go home then?”

“No, you’re already here. It would be dangerous for you to leave again. Sit down,” I nod toward the armchair in front of my desk, “and relax for a minute.”

I’m not sure if she knows I can see her eyes roll, but I can. “Are you worried that the eclipse won’t be visible? I mean, we usually get a white Christmas, which means cloud cover. The party won’t be much good if no one can see the show.”

I drag in a deep breath and type out a message to the staff as I talk. “Yeah, that’s crossed my mind, but the sky will still go black and it’s Christmas Eve, so we’ll have plenty of festivities to keep everyone busy.”

“What kind of festivities? You know, I plan parties right, like… it’s what I’m going to school for.”

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