Page 6 of No Business Like Snow Business

“What do you mean?”

Sterling reached into his pocket and pulled out a bent and scuffed Christmas card. He opened it and took out a photo, which he set on the desk.

The photograph looked pretty old, in that soft, grainy way that told me it had either been taken with a cool vintage filter turned on, or on actual film. I leaned toward actual film. It wasn’t so old that everything was tinted yellow, or faded, but something about the oversaturation of the colors definitely screamed disposable camera and prints developed at the kiosk in the mall.

The photo was of two guys, one in a cap who was ducking his face, and the other smiling at whoever was taking their picture.

“They’re cute,” I said, and looked up at the hot guy.

His expression was doing something complicated. “You think they’re a couple?”

“Oh.” I took another look. “I mean, that was my first impression, but maybe not.”

“I think they are too.” He nodded sharply as though I’d confirmed it for him.

“And they’re from here?” I asked. “Oh, yeah. Look at that tractor. ‘Christmas Falls Festival, 1989.’” I looked up at him again. “What’s this about?”

“That’s my uncle. I was told he left in 1987 and nobody ever heard anything from him again. But he sent this photograph home in 1989.”

“Oh,” I said, my chest suddenly aching. “And it looks like they were together.”

Sterling nodded, his jaw tight.

“Wow.” I traced a finger along the edge of the photograph. “I guess things were different back then.”

He hummed. “Or not.”

Well, that was depressingly true. “So, uh, you’re trying to track him down? Your uncle?”

His blue gaze locked with mine and he nodded. “My grandfather passed away recently and?—”

“Oh my God!” I blurted. “I’m so sorry!”

“Thank you,” he said, and then tilted his head. “That’s what people say, isn’t it? Thank you, after you say you’re sorry for my loss. Even though after his funeral I found this photograph that proves Freddy wrote home, and my grandfather let everyone believe that he’d never heard from him after he vanished.”

“Wow,” I said again. The sudden sharpness to his tone made me want to give him a hug, even though we were strangers. “So you’ve come all the way to Christmas Falls to find Freddy?”

“Well, it’s a long shot,” Sterling said. “But I had to give it a try.”

“Of course.” I picked the photo up and stared at it more closely, as though I might see something that he hadn’t. I didn’t, obviously. “I think it’s really amazing.”

He tilted his head. “Amazing?”

“Yeah. That you’re trying to find him and let him know that all of his family aren’t total assholes.” My brain caught up with my mouth. “Sorry, I don’t mean your grandfather was an asshole. I’m sure this is a very complicated situation and you have conflicting feelings, and, um, stuff.”

“I mean, you’re right about the conflicting feelings, but probably also about the family of assholes.” He made a snorting sound that was almost like a laugh. “Anyway, I was hoping the museum would be the place to start.”

I nodded. “Sure. I mean, I wish we could see the boyfriend’s face, but the cap he’s wearing? It looks kind of familiar. Come with me.”

I led Sterling into the next room, which was mostly framed photographs on the wall, along with display cases with old flyers and programs and decorations. I leaned over the case with Felicity Burgess’s crocheted reindeer and sleigh in it—best handmade decoration from 1998—and squinted at one of the photographs on the wall. It was a pair of teenage girls working a cotton candy machine.

Sterling squinted at the photograph too and then gave me a quizzical look.

“Same caps as the guy in the photo.” I tapped the glass. “And the cotton candy stall was sponsored by Blitzen’s Boat Rides. I think your guy—well, Freddy’s guy—must have worked for Blitzen’s too.”

“Wow, that’s incredible.” Sterling blinked at me in astonishment.

“Well, don’t get too excited. I’m pretty sure Blitzen’s closed down about twenty years ago. Someone different runs the boat rides nowadays. But maybe if we can find someone who used to work there around the same time, we can find out if anyone recognizes Freddy or his boyfriend.”

---