Page 33 of December Wishes
“Oh, trust me. I’m from Idaho. I know all about getting stranded at the wrong place, wrong time.”
Amy had such a lilt to her voice that made the corners of Skylar’s mouth twitch every time she heard it. “I’m from SoCal, so although I lived in Portland before here, I’m still not used to everything being closed before eight. They keep telling me it’s the Scandinavians’ fault, but I don’t know what that means.”
“If I ever figure it out, I’ll let you know!”
Skylar pulled back into the same space she had occupied a bit ago. “Do you need any assistance besides this? I could probably call my friend back at our house. She got engaged tonight, so she’s a bit, um, wired.”
“Wow! Crazy night for everyone, huh? Actually, do you think you could help me explain to the attendant what’s going on? I’m so freaked out right now. In a place I don’t really know…”
Skylar was more than happy to help, not that she understood why.A few minutes ago I couldn’t stop thinking about going home and sleeping forever.Now there was a flutter in her chest. A flush to her cheeks. She got out of the car and followed Amy into the convenience store, where they had to wait for the attendant to come out from the back office to speak with them.
Amy lowered the hood of her jacket, exposing a torrent of full, chestnut brown curls. She turned her face toward Skylar, a dazzling white smile crossing her long and pointed face.
Skylar was frozen where she stood.
“Can I help you ladies…?” The same old man stumbled out of the office, readjusting his glasses. “Oh! It’s you again! Forget something?”
“Actually,” Amy began, “she was kind enough to pick me up off the side of the road. My car broke down about a mile east of here, and I havenoidea what to do. I can’t get a signal on my phone. Guess my carrier hates this area.”
“It’s a bit finicky.” Skylar pulled out her phone. It was a weak signal, but it worked. “Here. You can borrow my phone to call a tow truck.”
Amy extended her hand. “Thanks! Wow. People are really nice around here at midnight in the middle of nowhere.”
Her fingers brushed against Skylar’s. Their eyes lingered on one another. Although Amy barely missed a beat taking Skylar’s phone and looking at an insurance card, Skylar took a step back, unable to contain her grin.
What was going on with her?
“Hey! Hayley! That you, girl? You’re never gonna believe what happened… long story short, I need you to come pick me up at the…” Amy stopped to look out the window. “Well, it’s the only convenience store in this part of the county, so…”
Although she was wrapped up in her conversation, she still had a smile to spare Skylar.
Suddenly, the cheesy Christmas playing on the speakers wasn’t so bad. Nor was the idea of driving back into Paradise Valley on a rainy winter’s night.
One never knew what might happen, even in the most unlikeliest of places.
THE END