It looks like a monster truck. The tires are like those of a tractor. This is an impossibly jacked up thing. No, wait. It’s a tow truck. Hallelujah! I might get to Jenna’s party yet.
Chapter 3
Bear
So far tonight, I’ve picked up a car load of college kids trying to bar crawl their way through the blizzard. They’d gotten their car stuck in a snowdrift at the city pedestrian plaza. Fortunately, their car started just fine and wasn't stuck too badly. I pulled them out and warned them to get themselves home. Slowly. And with a sober driver.
I stopped by a few accidents where I saw the police already handling the situation. Only one needed my assistance. All the ambulances were busy, so I drove one accident victim to the emergency room to get checked out.
For the most part, people seem to be staying off the roads, which is a good thing.
“Guess I’m not the only one who listens to Mary Reed,” I say to myself.
Before the words are out of my mouth I see an alert on my phone.
Mary Reed has posted a live video. Yes, I do have push notifications in place for any and all of her updates. Are you surprised?
I slow to a complete stop while I watch the video. It’s a shot of her face and she’s in her car, looking as perky and beautiful as ever. “I have a confession to make. I don’t want anyone to worry but I’m stuck in a snow bank on Highway 61 outside of town. That’s right folks, I didn’t take my own advice. But I don’t want you to worry, I have food and water and I’m completely fine.”
My blood runs cold.
She might be a plucky little female who knows how to handle herself, but something comes over me. I cannot let her stay out in this mess. Alone.
I toss my phone aside and get going. I’m on my way to find my weather girl.
I make my way to Highway 61 while wondering what the hell she’s doing all the way out there when everybody knows she lives downtown near the television station. Not that I’ve ever driven past her house for no reason. OK maybe like twice a week.
Soon enough I’m on the highway,
And there it is. A green car off in the distance. Not that I know what Mary Reed’s car looks like. Only a weirdo would make an effort to know what his TV crush’s car looks like.
Although these are white-out conditions, from up here in the cab, I can see OK. There’s a person, a female, standing outside. pulling up her jeans. The car’s hazard lights are blinking.
Female, alone at night, on the road, outside of town? This is not good. Suspecting that this female is Mary Reed triggers my protective side to a whole other level.
I start to slow way down as I get closer.
Sweet Lord, it is Mary Reed. I know I was specifically looking for her but I can’t believe it was so easy to find her. I don’t believe in destiny, but this feels like it.
I ease the truck to a stop behind her car, and then I see her face. She’s got a heavy coat, boots, hat and hood on, but she’s got my heart pounding outside of my chest. I’d know those eyes and that smile from a mile away. In real life, even in a snowstorm, my weather girl is not just beautiful. She’s phenomenal.
You know what else I can spot from a mile away?
A Christmas present from the Universe.
Chapter 4
Mary
Curiously, the tow truck driver is exiting via the passenger side door.
In one swift cat-like move he’s out of his truck and running past me and opening the driver door of my car.
For half a second I wonder if I’m about to be carjacked.
But I realize how preposterous that is in the middle of a snowstorm. I see the writing “Bear Bailey Towing” on the side of the truck. Bailey? Seriously?
Well, there’s no way anybody with a tow truck business would want to steal my car. I see that he’s turning off my hazards, grabbing my blanket and emergency kit.