Holiday Spice & Everything Nice

by Conn, Claudy

  Once again Sidney was at a loss. “What kind of suit? A lawsuit, you mean?”

  “No. Usually a tailored Armani and comes with a guy in it. A high-level executive who pushes papers around a desk to be more exact. That would be the only kind of competition my brother would be gun-shy over.”

  “He told me she left him because he couldn’t afford the things she wanted out of life.”

  “That’s only half the truth, as Riker would have taken good care of her. What he couldn’t give her were clean hands. She wanted a guy who didn’t sweat, swear or hammer a nail. A suit. In the end, she kept my brother around just until she found the man of her dreams. That suit just happened to be one of Riker’s most influential clients.”

  All kinds of things came to her then. Their conversation in the pool when she’d told him about her parents. What she’d said about Ken. How she’d passed Riker off as the maintenance guy to her mom…

  “You okay?”

  “Yes.” She blinked and gave him a half smile. “I appreciate you letting me know about this.”

  He turned to leave and then swung back around. “Look, I wasn’t going to say anything, but now that I’ve met you and I see…well, I saw all the indicators that Riker’s got a thing for you so I better let you know.”

  Sidney practically beamed. She was positive there was nothing he could say that would dampen her happiness at the moment.

  “Riker’s ex knows he’s going to the cabin, and after listening to her bitch about her suit-wearing husband, I got the feeling she was going to be paying my brother a visit to get some dirty hands on her. Brianna can be very persuasive and with a guy on the rebound, well…”

  Sidney got the message loud and clear.

  After Caleb left she didn’t waste any time. She bought her ticket which wound up draining her bank account, organized a rental car—thank God for credit cards— got her stuff together and then called her parents. After a very uncomfortable conversation with her dad, who’d been on the verge of actually trying to ground her before her mother came to the rescue, she only had one thing left to do. Stop at Martha’s before heading to the airport. She’d already decided to mull over what Caleb had told her during the three hour flight. Either then or during the two hour drive Mapquest indicated she’d have, once she touched down in Colorado.

  “Watcha need, doll? Where are you going?” Martha asked when she spied Sidney’s suitcase. “I thought you were home for the holiday.”

  “I’m going to Denver.” Sid gave her a hug and added, “I didn’t want you to worry when you didn’t see me around.”

  “Going after the boy?”

  There was no shame in admitting, “Yes.”

  “Well then, come in. You gonna need…”

  By the time Sid got in car her carry-on looked like it was going to deliver healthy twins. Martha insisted she bring her ‘prized’ winter coat. It was white faux fur and reminded Sidney of the abominable snowman in Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer—she’d just watched that classic last night— and a pair of boots that matched the coat. Only the fur around the heels and toe was all matted, causing the foot part of the boot to mimic jester’s shoes. She was going to leave the items in her car when she got to the airport. She fully intended to until Martha made her promise to take some photos. As she’d put it, her winter ensemble was, “Pretty snazzy” when she’d bought them and as to that, Sidney guessed it was probably sometime during Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

  You’re committed to wearing them now.

  Gah, she couldn’t seem to catch a break. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, she muttered, “The flight better be smooth, the ride to the cabin better be uneventful and that ex better keep her paws off of my guy.”

  What if Riker was ‘persuaded’?

  She hated to think about that eventuality because then she’d have to accept he was never her guy to begin with.

  *****

  Riker braced himself before he entered the cabin. He knew Brianna was inside. Even though she’d upgraded her car to a Beamer, she still had the same license plate. GQ-GRL.

  “Riker, you made it. I was worried. When I left the house they were predicting a storm.”

  He threw down his duffle bag and shrugged out of his coat, deciding that Brianna hadn’t changed much. Still elegant and beautiful. Tall and thin, although her hair was different now. It was cut with the back shorter than the front. The sides framed her face in twin waves, making her eyes look bigger.

  Sidney didn’t need a fancy haircut to accomplish that.

  No thinking about her, remember? “What are you doing here, Bree?”

  “No hello? No hi, how are you? Long time—”

  He tossed his coat on the hand-carved wooden bench and sighed. “I’d prefer to skip the small talk. Tell me why you’re here.”

  When she gave him one of her patented sexy pouts, he shook his head, kicked off his shoes and walked around her to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he prayed there was alcohol in it. Right now he needed a drink. He scanned the chilling items and smiled. Wine. The new service earned the extra hundred just for that alone.

  “I came to make you dinner and yes, I’d love a glass.”

  He didn’t turn around, but he did pause in the action of uncorking the bottle. “Since when do you drink?”

  “I do a lot of things now that I never did before.”

  Riker poured the pinot even as he bit his tongue. His first thought was to ask her if she was now a faithful woman, as she hadn’t been before. But then, her being here, dressed as she was and pulling out all her feminine stops with that pout, gave him his answer. So, yeah some things remained the same. And even though it bothered him that she was here, nothing would be gained by arguing with her. Brianna was great at debating. She was calm and cool. No cold. Not warm like Sidney who—fuck. Maybe it was good Brianna was here, after all. Dealing with her would be a welcome distraction from all the others he’d created by the sheer fact that he missed a warm and quirky angel who didn’t want him.

  Brianna wants you.

  “Sounds interesting.” He turned, not at all surprised to find her standing right behind him. Handing her a glass he added, “Why don’t you tell me about it.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sidney hated making this call. After gaining all her hard won independence the past few days, here she was phoning home.

  “Hi, sweetie. I’m so glad you finally called. I know I promised I wasn’t going to be checking up on you, but it’s been over a day, and it’s Christmas Eve day, besides, so if you hadn’t called I was going to call you at noon your time.”

  That was only ten minutes away. So much wasted time. She’d wound up having to stay at a hotel last night when the weather and inadequate directions forced her to give up on getting to the cabin in the dark. And visibility was no better today due to the continuing storm. Snow was still falling and she’d already gone around in a complete circle again trying to find Riker’s place. Her nerves were frazzled. It wasn’t easy driving on slippery roads and at this point she was ready to pack it in and head back to the airport. What good were Caleb’s directions of turn right at the deer sign, or left at the big rock, when all of that stuff was covered in a thick blanket of white.

  “Mom?”

  “What’s the matter? There’s something, I can tell by your tone. Did you get in an accident? Are you all right?”

  She felt like an asshole. She really did when she answered, “No. I’m lost.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m in Colorado, parked at a convenience store somewhere between the airport and no man’s land. It’s been snowing since I touched down. My flight was delayed on account of the storm and the holiday rush. The rental car place had low inventory because of that so I’m driving a compact instead of the SUV I booked. I don’t drive well in the snow and I can’t figure out the defrost system. The stupid car is a basic model so there’s no GPS. There’s no heat either. I stayed at a crappy motel last night and did
n’t get any sleep and this morning I’ve already stopped at the same gas station twice to ask for directions. I must be stupid or blind because when I follow them I wind up right back where I started from.”

  “Sweetheart.”

  “I think I made a mistake coming here.”

  “Why, because you don’t want to see him again?”

  She stuffed her free hand into the sleeve of her abominable snowman jacket, silently thanking Martha for the hundredth time, and said, “No, I still want to see him.”

  She wasn’t going to tell her mom how much she paid for her ticket, or about the worries she had over Brianna and what she may find, when and if she eventually arrived at the place.

  “You’re just frustrated.”

  “Wouldn’t you be?”

  “I’ll tell you a story about being frustrated, but right now let’s get you organized.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Give me the address and I’ll pull it up on the computer.”

  Sidney closed her eyes and banged her head against the headrest, saying, “Thanks, but I already did that before I left. I’ve followed those instructions to the letter and they don’t work.”

  “Sometimes they get it wrong. Just give me the address and his full name, then put me on speaker and set the phone down somewhere close. I’ll drive with you until we get you there.”

  She sat up straight. “Really?”

  “Yes, and maybe I’ll tell you about the time I skipped school to drive my sister’s car across the state to watch one of Daddy’s baseball games.”

  “No.”

  “I’m afraid it’s true, but let me get this address square first, so you can get back on the road.”

  After Sidney positioned the phone in the cup holder she leaned toward it. “Mom?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Thanks.”

  There was silence for a second and then her mom said, “You know, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing between us. Just remember Daddy and I here to help any way we can. I’d plan on going through me first, though, because if Daddy had answered the phone and you told him you were lost, he’d be sending the marines to bring you home or something.”

  That made Sid smile. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Good, now let’s go find your guy.”

  In no time at all, Sidney was heading back up the highway, laughing and so relaxed she didn’t even care that every driver to pass her by either glared or gave her the finger. So what if she was going twenty-five in a fifty-five mile an hour zone. The tires felt like they were skating over the snow-slick asphalt so she didn’t give a rat’s ass that people were cursing her while she crept along. The one and half hour drive turned into over two, but the time flew by now that she had some company.

  “Oh, hey, Mom, I hate to interrupt, but this is Canyon Blue road coming up.”

  She heard garble and then her mom said, “It is, but you’re looking for Canyon Black road. That’s another mile north.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. I Googled his address. Is that the road you’ve been turning on?”

  A car honked the whole time it went by her and she winced. She really was getting sick of the road-ragers. “Yes. His brother’s hand writing wasn’t so great. I could only make out the Canyon part and the B of the second word scribbled so when I mapped it I just assumed.”

  “Well it’s no wonder you couldn’t find the place. That road loops back down to the I-77 on-ramp.”

  Sid hit the steering wheel and then grabbed hold to strangle it again when the car swerved a little. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No.”

  Hooooonk!

  “Geez, these pickup trucks are relentless. Okay, another mile? Great. Finish telling me about the dance.”

  When her mother did, Sidney smiled and realized she was actually relaxed. This time, when a big semi passed by her and tooted his horn several times, she casually took one hand off the steering wheel and flicked him the bird.

  “Canyon Black Road. Here it is.” She turned right and was just about to ask her mom if she had to go all the way up the steep hill that looked more like a mountain to her, when the connection started breaking up. “Mom? Hello? Can you hear me?”

  She didn’t dare stop now that she was going up and when she was greeted by silence she figured in this heavily treed area phone reception was going to be spotty. “Mom?”

  Silence.

  “Damn.”

  Since there were no houses in sight and the hill was getting steeper and she feared she’d never get to the top before sliding back down it, she followed her instincts and gunned the gas, praying that she’d make it all the way to the top.

  “Come on, baby. Just a little more. More,” she whispered as she hunched over the wheel and willed even her shift in body weight to propel the sub-compact to crest. A few car lengths to go and she’d reach the top where the tree line broke and gray skies spewed relentless flakes of snow.

  “Ha!” She hit the flat part of the pavement, almost in awe of herself after making it up that treacherous hill, when the car fishtailed. Unlike the snow on the heavily trafficked highway, the white stuff on this road hadn’t melted. There were slushy tire tracks, some looked to be a half a foot deep in places, but she didn’t have time to think about those. She was too busy trying to recall all her what-to-do scenarios. Somewhere in the back of her head a voice screamed to turn into the skid, but her every instinct was to do the opposite. She knew enough to take her foot off the gas, but again, should she apply the brake? Yes? No?

  The car was swerving right, crossing the center line, traveling in the wrong lane. Thank the good lord there wasn’t any oncoming traffic, but then it took a hard left over the line and then a drunken turn into the right again before—Oh god—it was going sideways. Use the wheel. Turn it. Her heart jumped against her rib cage. Adrenaline soared and for the first time in nearly six hours she wasn’t freezing. Then, even though the voice of reason tried to stop her, she let fear rule her and stomped on the brakes with both feet.

  “No!” Everything went in slow motion as the car skidded sideways down the center line for what seemed like ages. Did she blink? She wasn’t sure as her view changed. She was facing the tree-line again. Then the left, only it was to the right now, and then straight ahead. That’s when everything sped up into one quick whiplash movement as the car spun out, veering off the road onto a snow bank. The vehicle literally drove up it, coming off the ground a few feet until it stopped dead. The wheels were still spinning, she heard them but she wasn’t moving. Forward that is, because she was rocking. The car was beached on the bank.

  “Jesus Christ.” She let out the breath she’d been holding and then nearly jumped out of her skin when her cell rang. It was her mom. She closed her eyes and decided not to answer right now as she was shaking too badly. Cutting the engine, she focused on calming her frazzled nerves.

  After a minute or two, when she felt sufficiently recovered, she grabbed the phone, stuffing it into her purse before she gingerly opened the driver’s side door. Looking down she heaved a sigh of relief. It was only a three foot drop. She’d seen the banks up ahead, no doubt created from a recent plow, and some of them were five feet or better, she guesstimated. Maybe her luck was turning. But when she slide out of the car and turned to close the door that perky thought vanished.

  Snick. She pressed the door gently to get it to lock.

  Creak. Groan.

  Uh oh, the car was moving. Shifting. Falling off kilter toward the back end of the bank.

  Bang!

  The sound was like a sonic boom. She jumped back and promptly fell on her ass. Right in the squishiest, slushiest tire treads of snow. The wet ice mushroomed up the back of her coat and slid down into her jeans. What didn’t make it in soaked what was out.

  “Aw man.” She got up and was just shaking her hands to get rid of the water when she froze. Her new suede purse. She looked down and then stomped her foot, which sent frigi
d water spraying everywhere. A few drops hit her cheek even. “Fuckatola!”

  Scooping up the ruined bag, she wanted to scream as she watched the ice slip off the sides even as water dripped from the bottom. That’s it. This wasn’t working. She was calling…Dad. She had her hand in her purse, her fingers wrapped around her phone when she stopped. Wow, her dad wasn’t the only one who needed to let go. She couldn’t have it both ways. Wanting her independence from him, actually demanding it as she had over the last few days, until now that life was throwing her some curve balls she was ready to invite him back into the game and make it easy for her? Oh no. All these stumbling blocks weren’t curve balls, they were learning curves and she was going to have to deal with them herself. She should be happy she was being tested this way. Yeah, she was growing up, just like Riker wanted her to.

  Albeit, stuck in a different state, practically lost and now stranded, wasn’t the most ideal time to have such an epiphany about life’s lessons, but who could predict when these things were going to happen? Not her. Otherwise she would have slept at the airport and waited for the rental company to produce a fucking SUV.

  “Sidney Capp,” she whispered as she took out her phone. “Language.”

  Dialing her mom’s cell, she started trudging forward. There was a house in the distance. Maybe it was Riker’s.

  “Sweetheart?”

  “Hi, Mom. I couldn’t answer before, sorry. Didn’t want to take my hands off the wheel, you know?”

  “You sound out of breath. Is that wind I hear?”

  “Yes, I’m just heading up Riker’s driveway and I wanted to call before I got to his door. Everything is fine.” She lied. “I’ll call you later.”

  “You’re breaking up.”

  “I’m fine. Call you later.”

  Her mother got out half a goodbye before the call was dropped. It was probably best that way. She hated lying. Especially now that she’d decided to handle things on her own. Right. Ignoring the mothball smell, she brought the hood up around her and tied it more tightly. Burrowing her chin in the front of the jacket while she shoved her hands into the cold pockets, she clutched her soggy purse under her arm and headed for that house.