Page 9 of Catch Yourself a Snowmance
“Okay.”
“Two: live in the moment. Life’s full of demands. Vacation should be full of spontaneity.”
“I like that,” she says with a soft smile.
She grabs some eggs. Then some more. “Two dozen or three?”
“Four,” I say. “I think we might have gone through nearly two dozen this morning. Maybe we can get some oats and other hearty breakfast foods to make up the difference. I make a mean quiche. Let’s get some half-and-half so I can make a few quiches. That will spread out the egg consumption.”
“Man shopper, huh?” She props one hand on her hip and studies me.
“Didn’t say I couldn’t cook.”
“Okay then. Lead the way to the quiche ingredients. And we can grab oats when we get to dry goods.”
We end up taking two trips through the store with our handheld baskets, laughing and talking easily as we load up oncandles, flashlights, matches, s’more fixin’s I insisted we throw in, and enough food to last our big group at least four or five days.
On the drive back, I look over at Alyssa and say, “So let’s indulge our hosts. They want us to get to know one another better.”
“Okay. What did you have in mind?”
“How about favorites?”
“Favorites?”
“Yeah. We go through categories and each tell our favorite … like, favorite song. Mine is … well, now I put my foot in it.” I chuckle and glance over at Alyssa. “I have too many favorite songs.”
“Tell me a few of them.”
“Okay. Let’s see. The Smiths. Like,There is a Light That Never Goes Out. But, if I’m in more of a Friday night, let’s go dancing mood, maybe old R & B likeSeptemberby Kool and the Gang. Or something by Bruno Mars. And, being from Tennessee, I love a good two-step. But when I’m in a stay at home, introspective mood, maybe …” I give her a look. “You cannot judge. And no, I’m not a Swiftie.”
“Taylor Swift?”
“Her acoustic songs.” I don’t even look over. “Your turn.”
She giggles. “Not a Swiftie?”
“Not. And it’s completely your turn.”
I’m smiling too. She’s fun and I’m immune to female taunting. Four sisters. The end.
“Okay. Favorite songs.Put Your Records Onby Corinne Bailey Ray. That song just makes me happy. Country songs? Hmmm …God’s Countryby Blake Shelton. And pretty much anything by the Eagles. But I also love Norah Jones. Do you know her?”
“Yeah. Bluesy singer?”
“Mm hmm.”
“I like her too.”
“Okay,” I say, wishing the drive to the cabin were just a little longer.
The clouds are getting heavy in the sky, telling us they’re not playing. Snow is coming and not a little.
“Food …” I say. “You first.”
“Food. You’re going to be sorry you asked. I’m kind of a foodie,” she smiles proudly.
“That’s what I like to hear. A woman who eats.”
