by Leah Atwood
Norma Sue’s face grew almost as red as her hair. Maybe she’d hugged her too tight. The older woman reached up and wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. “Ah, sweetie, it ain’t nothin’. It does my heart good to be able to do for others. You have a blessed day, too.”
Officer Sterling flipped his siren on in the quiet of Christmas morning. They didn’t pass another vehicle all the way to the small regional airport, but the siren continued to sing out its discordant tune while the squad car lights lit up the still-heavy sky. Norma Sue called ahead to the airport and let them know Joe was coming with important passengers for Herm so airport security wouldn’t panic when he came blazing through.
Panic, as it happened, was the last thing on anyone’s mind. A good two dozen people stood around Herm’s airplane as Officer Sterling pulled his car into the hangar. The curiosity on people’s faces moved from mild to rabid in a hurry when they noticed three people in prison jumpsuits getting out the back of the squad car.
A grizzled old man moved away from the plane and inspected them closely in all their bright orange, prison-jumper glory. He turned to Officer Sterling. “Norma Sue didn’t say anything about them bein’ prisoners. Do I have to worry about them slittin’ my throat while I’m in the air?”
Avery thought a funny comeback appropriate. Officer Sterling, however, was going to have none of that. He was as solemn as could be. “No, sir. No need to worry about that. I don’t think none of them can fly, so they’ll need to keep you alive while you’re in the air.”
Before she knew what was happening, Avery was belted into a seat next to Herm in the cockpit, while Eli and Gavin were in the two seats behind them. The luggage was stored, and they were taxying for takeoff.
As soon as they were in the sky and Herm’s attention wasn’t required to talk to the sleepy folks at the tower, Avery tried to smooth things over. “We’re actually nice people. There was a bit of a mishap with a skunk, and that’s why we’re dressed in these jumpsuits. I wanted to change before we left the police station, but Norma Sue said we had to hurry.”
Herm chortled. “Norma Sue told me all about it. I can’t help but give young Joe a hard time. He’s such a serious fella. Been that way his whole life.”
Avery couldn’t speak to the whole life part of Herm’s statement, but the rest sure rang true.
Herm’s words reached her over the rumble of the engine. “So how is Norma Sue doin’, anyway? I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“She’s a spitfire and nice as can be. Christmas is hard for her, I think. I hope she has friends to spend the day with.”
Herm kept his gaze focused on the instruments in front of him. “You know if she’s seein’ anyone?”
She couldn’t have stopped the grin that stretched her mouth wide if she’d wanted to. “We talked a little bit, and it sounds as if there’s no one special in her life at the moment. Why? Are you interested?”
Herm shrugged, still avidly staring at his controls. “I’ve been thinkin’ about it. Norma Sue and I go way back. Known her forever, it seems. She’s a good one, through and through. Not a mean bone in her body. She was a vixen in her younger years, but she’s aged well. Like a fine wine, I suppose. More mellow than she used to be, but still full-bodied and full of zest. You can tell by her hair, you know. But underneath all that, not a truer friend could be found.”
Avery leaned back in her seat. “You’re going to see your son, right?”
Herm nodded.
“What about your wife?”
A gruff laugh escaped Herm. “You’re not a subtle one, are you?”
“I wouldn’t know subtle if it jumped up and bit me on the backside.”
His shoulders still shook with laughter. “My wife passed away some ten years ago now. Loved her like crazy. Took me a long time to get over it. I’ve been thinkin’ lately is all. It don’t seem right for a person to have to spend every day alone, and, I don’t know – Norma Sue kind of came to mind.” Herm tossed a quick glance her way. “You probably think it’s crazy, a guy as old as me thinking about courtin’ someone.”
Avery reached a hand out and rested it on his forearm. “Having a chance at some God-given happiness and turning your nose up at it – that’s crazy. Thinking Norma Sue is special enough to spend some time with – that’s common sense.”
The remainder of the flight passed quickly. It was coming up on ten in the morning when Herm taxied his airplane up near the terminal at the Albuquerque Airport. He pulled the plane to a stop and twisted around to face his passengers. “There’s no lavatory in here for you to change, but those jumpsuits aren’t going to work at this airport. They don’t know me here, and I’d rather not get bogged down with security, if you don’t mind. I got a son and grandkids to go spend Christmas with. Dig through your luggage and find some baggy clothes you can pull on over those suits, and then we’ll get you out of here.”
Everyone did as they were instructed, and before long, Herm was opening the hatch of the airplane and allowing everyone to climb out. “You got anyone to pick you up?” he asked.
Gavin shook his head. “Nah. We were thinking we’d rent a car.”
Eli, who had slept through most of the flight, must have thought that was the funniest thing ever. He laughed so hard he started coughing. Avery pounded him on the back. “Tell you what, Eli. If they have a Zeon this time, we’ll find a way to make it work!”
Herm waved as he climbed back into his airplane and started taxying back toward the runway. Gavin, Avery, and Eli stood there on the tarmac with their collection of luggage and camera cases around them.
“Well.” Avery looked at their pile of gear. “I’d like to be able to say it’s good to be home, so let’s get to it.”
They picked everything up and started moving toward the terminal.
All of a sudden, sirens blared. They quickly scanned their surroundings until they spotted a police vehicle approaching from their left. Instinctively, they all froze. The big black sports utility skidded to a stop not too far from them, and the passenger door flew open.
“Thank the good Lord! How dare you send me all those dire texts and then never follow up to say everything’s okay! You could have been coyote chow out there somewhere!” Mitchell grabbed Avery in a hug, then pulled Eli in for a smothering embrace. When he got to Gavin, he gave him a small shake. “I ought to deck you for not taking better care of my favorite journalist.” Then he hugged the photographer as well.
“How did you know we were going to be here?” Gavin stared at Mitchell as though the man was a few marbles short of a full set.
“Some woman named Norma Sue tracked me down. Said she had connections, that’s how she got my home number. She told me you were flying in. I didn’t even know you’d been found, let alone alive. I was up all night so worried I couldn’t even review the upcoming editorials. Didn’t it occur to you to call me when you’d made it to safety? No. Of course not. Let’s all take care of ourselves and not worry one bit about poor old Mitchell back in Albuquerque, frantic with worry.”
Avery put her arm around Mitchell’s shoulders. “Sleeplessness seems to work for you. You’re in fine form there, Mitchell.” Then she sighed, finally feeling like she was home. “It’s good to see you.”
Mitchell winked at her. “Load up, everyone. I pulled in a favor to get a ride to the airport so I’d have a vehicle big enough to haul all of you back home. My car can’t hold much more than an empty backpack by the time you stick four people in it, and I didn’t figure Gavin would want to put his cameras in airport storage.”
Everyone belted in before Avery asked the question that had been fighting to get out since Mitchell had first appeared. “Are you going to tell us why we ended up on a trip to a town that barely exists?”
The editor snorted. “Some nitwit at Corporate made a list of places for you two to feature. He apparently picked them because the names had good media appeal and would play well in the paper.”
“Nobody researche
d the towns?” Gavin’s voice was incredulous.
Mitchell grumbled for a minute before answering. “They’ve now got some intern in charge of making sure the rest of your assignments are going to be worth the trouble.”
Eli pulled out one of his earbuds. “What happened to the guy who sent us to Nowhere?”
“Demoted to the mailroom would be my guess.” Mitchell gave a shake of the head.
“When do we get to see the rest of the list?” Avery wasn’t exactly eager to see where else they’d be going.
“I expect it in my inbox by Monday. I’ll let you both review it then, and if you have any problems with it, I’ll kick it back to Corporate. One thing is for certain.” Mitchell spoke with finality. “There won’t be any more wasted trips if I have anything to say about it.”
A smile danced around the edges of Gavin’s mouth. “I wouldn’t say it was entirely wasted.”
The warmth of Gavin’s gaze touched Avery. There wasn’t anything she could do to stop the giddy schoolgirl grin fighting its way to the surface. And for the first time in more years than she could count, she was completely okay with that.
Eli and Avery stepped over the threshold into their home. She closed the door behind them and leaned against it.
“That was the weirdest trip we’ve ever taken.” Eli was again showing his gift for stating the obvious.
“Yep.”
“And it’s Christmas. It doesn’t seem as though everything that went wrong could have happened in such a short time.”
“Yep.”
“You’re not listening to anything I say, are you?”
“Yep.”
Eli shook his head and started down the hallway. “I’m gonna take another shower and then crash in my room. You know where to find me whenever you want to open presents or get a bite to eat or something.”
“Yep.”
“But I might not wait for you. For food, anyway. I won’t open gifts without you.”
“Yep.”
He’d already grabbed a fresh towel and was heading into the bathroom by the time he looked up to see his mom still leaning against the front door. Eli set his things in the bathroom and walked over to her. In an uncharacteristic show of affection that wasn’t at all colored by the light-hearted humor they normally shared, he put his arms around her. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”
As he pivoted back toward the bathroom, Avery swiped at a couple tears. She couldn’t imagine how Norma Sue had survived the loss of two children, even if they had been babies and she’d gotten to know and hold them only a short time. Who knew? That might have made it even harder.
“Hey, Eli.” She called after her son. “I was thinking about maybe volunteering at the homeless shelter over by the rental lot sometime.”
His eyes brightened. “That sounds cool. Could I come, too, or do you have to be eighteen?”
“I’m sure it’d be fine for you to come. I’ll check, though, and let you know.”
Eli bobbed his head in acknowledgment, a smile on his face, then ducked into the bathroom and closed the door.
Before she could change her mind, she sat down and booted up her laptop. A few clicks later, she found herself typing an email to the shelter’s volunteer coordinator.
I am writing to inquire about volunteer opportunities at the shelter. My son and I are interested in finding a way to contribute and help those whose situation or circumstances have put them in a place of need. Please let me know what opportunities would be available and suitable for a woman and her teenage son.
After she clicked send, Avery surfed through some gift sites. She settled on a lavish gift basket of meats, cheeses, and sweet treats – all with a skunk theme – to send to Norma Sue and Laura Jean in care of the Lawton branch of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Skunk-themed gifts. Who would have ever thought?
Then, before she could change her mind, she ordered a massive bouquet of winter flowers to be delivered to the station for Norma Sue. Avery read over what she’d written on the gift card five times before she clicked the submit button.
You outshine all the stars in the sky and are more beautiful than any flower.
Regards,
Herm
Between the two of them, Norma Sue and Herm would figure out she’d been the one to send the flowers. If the bouquet put a pitter-patter in the older woman’s heart, though, then maybe it would help her agree to a date when Herm did come calling.
Once that was done, Avery plugged her phone in to charge and sent a quick text to Gavin.
It was an adventure to remember. Next time Mitchell sends us on location, I say we demand hazard pay. Merry Christmas.
A few minutes later her phone buzzed with a reply.
Hazard pay, a luxury hotel with a hot tub, and a town that’s actually there… that’s all I’m asking for. Merry Christmas to you and Eli, too. Hope you have a great day and some good sleep, in any order you prefer.
Chapter Twenty
Albuquerque, NM
December 31, 8:00 p.m.
Gavin, driving his well-used sports utility vehicle, pulled up to Avery’s house. This was going to be their first real date. He was looking forward to their time and hoped that ringing in the New Year together would bode well for things to come.
He climbed out of the car and began walking toward her front door. Partway up the path, he stopped and stared, confused. “Am I running late?”
Avery, sitting on her front stoop, scowled.
She looked weak-in-the-knees fantastic. Her brown hair was piled atop her head. She wore knee-high boots and a wine-red dress that somehow managed to flow loosely while still clinging in all the right places. Draped around her neck was a black silk scarf. He liked her penchant for scarves. One of these days he was going to have the freedom to reach out and tug on her scarf, drawing her in close for a kiss. They weren’t there yet, but he hoped tonight would be the night that would start to change that.
Avery still hadn’t answered him, so he approached and held out a hand to help her up. “Any particular reason you’re sitting out here in the cold without a jacket?”
“My son locked me out of the house.”
Gavin tried not to smile. “Why’d he go and do a thing like that?”
In her irritation, it didn’t appear that Avery even noticed when he looped her arm through his and began leading her toward curb.
“I might have been having second thoughts.”
He was going to have to buy something nice for that kid. “Second thoughts?”
Avery’s free hand climbed distractedly toward her hair and fluttered for a second before falling back to her side. “It’s been eons since I’ve gone on a date. I’m kind of nervous.”
Gavin opened the door with a sweeping bow. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”
Her eye-roll wasn’t lost on him. Neither was the way her mouth tipped up at the corners or the touch of red that climbed up past her scarf.
Once he climbed behind the wheel and buckled his seat belt, he let out a chuckle. “This feels like familiar territory, doesn’t it?”
This time she couldn’t hide her chuckle. “There’s nothing familiar about this roomy, sturdy vehicle.”
Gavin turned to her and waited for her to make eye contact. The uncertainty in her gaze tugged at his heart. “You have nothing to be nervous about.”
She looked away.
He waited. When her eyes returned to his, he said what was on his mind. “You are drop-dead gorgeous and a great conversationalist to boot. And, to top it off, you’ve already seen me at my worst.”
“I’m not sure that getting upset with the way our road trip went counts as ‘worst’.”
He winked at her. “I was talking about Rattlesnake Rest Area. Whimpering in pain and doubled over with cramps from food poisoning. Not exactly a stellar first impression.”
Her smile widened. “To be fair, that wasn’t the first impression you made.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Sh
e shook her head as he turned the key and listened to the ignition turn over. “Drinking some sort of hideous yellow concoction at a coffee house… that was the first impression I had of you.”
Wincing, he pulled out onto the street, pleased to hear the strain leaving her voice. “Great. I’d happily forgotten about that.”
At the first stoplight he came to, he turned to her. “Did Mitchell tell you about his fight with Corporate?”
She shook her head.
“He’s trying to force them to buy a special kind of insurance policy to cover any disasters we run into when we’re on an assignment they require us to take. It makes sense. Mitchell shouldn’t have to foot the bill if he’s not the one sending us on the trip. Corporate refused to take out the policy, but the last I heard, they finally said they’re willing to amend the contract in regard to ‘unforeseen disasters and the expenses therein incurred’ – Mitchell’s words, not mine.”
“Good for him.” Avery couldn’t blame Mitchell for fighting Corporate. “He needs to put his foot down. When the rental agency tried to bill him fifty thousand dollars for a replacement vehicle, he about hit the roof. He had no trouble telling them they were out of their minds. Corporate’s not that different, I suppose.”
“Mitchell’s never been very good at allowing people to take advantage of him. He’s the right man for the lead job at the Times.”
Another couple of blocks passed by before anything else was said.
“Thank you.” Avery’s soft words floated on the night air.
Gavin glanced over at her and didn’t want to pull his eyes away. She looked perfect, sitting there next to him. He’d already known she was beautiful, smart, and funny. Tonight was different, though. She was sitting in his car, a part of his life, and the emotional punch of it took his breath away. He finally managed to get some words out. “For what?”
