by Linda West
That seemed to mollify him and he finally drove away.
She watched him leave, and then ducked into Pinto to call Drake.
Pinto was the trendiest new restaurant in town. There was a long wait for a table, even if you were rich and famous. It was decorated with all silver for Christmas. Silver lights, silver bells, silver plates. Lots of silver. Summer guessed silver must be in fashion this season.
“Chardonnay please,” she smiled at the cute bartender with the deep dimples and the green eyes. He smiled back at her and filled her glass extra full.
Summer sat quietly sipping her drink and waited for Drake to join her. All around her, there were happy families dining and enjoying the Christmas spirit. Small children were dressed up in their finest outfits. Moms and dads were snapping pictures in front of the trendy Christmas tree and warning the young tots to, “…Be good or Santa will bring you coal...”
All of New York seemed to be joyous in anticipation of the coming holiday season. Summer sighed. She couldn’t shake those ‘mean reds’ as Audrey Hepburn called them in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
She knew she should be happy. She was grateful to have become a success. Growing up with a single mom had been financially difficult. Now, because of Summer’s fame and fortune, they never had to worry about money again. Summer had been able to pay off the mortgage on their home back in Kissing Bridge Mountain the very first Christmas after she had started modeling.
Still, she hadn’t been back home since she had left. It was just too hard for her. Going home just reminded her of the life she would never have. She had never intended to become a famous supermodel and end up with this fake life where only fame and money mattered and nannies raised the children.
It had been her dream to have five kids and be a stay-at-home mom. She was so far away from what her heart had always truly wanted.
She just had to have faith that God would work things out for her, despite the family curse.
Her mother had taught her that faith was very important, and Summer had cleaved on to that, and for good reason. She had known since childhood that strange things can happen in life and you have to be strong—and have faith. And sometimes due to the curse, you lost people you cared about.
Each of Summer’s aunts had all lost the men they loved— in various odd ways—due to the Landers’ curse.
Aunt Carol had lost her fiancé with his untimely demise, and mom had lost Summer’s dad as well.
Literally lost.
The story goes that her mom and dad were newly married and had wanted to start a family right away. When Mom got pregnant right off, they were so thrilled and excited, they had not even had time to change her name from Landers yet.
Mom started having some weird pregnancy cravings and one night had a special hankering for a Sloppy Joe from the local Pup and Stuffs, so dad had gone out to get one. Unfortunately, they had run out of Sloppy Joe’s at the Kissing Bridge store, so they had suggested he go over to the Pup and Stuffs in the valley. So, off Dad had driven in search of that Sloppy Joe sandwich. Sadly, the Pup and Stuff’s in the valley had also sold out of all their Sloppy Joes! So once again, Dad went out in the snow in search of a Sloppy Joe sandwich for Mom.
No one seems to know for sure whether it was because of some mysterious unknown factor, or Dad just decided he wasn’t coming back without that sandwich—but he was never heard from again. They never found his car and he never showed back up in Kissing Bridge Mountain.
When Summer was five and old enough for school, her mother registered her as ‘Summer Landers.’ No one ever brought up her missing ex-husband or that Sloppy Joe sandwich again.
It was another case of the dreaded Landers’ curse.
Summer reasoned that she didn’t need love anyway. It just broke your heart. She had a great life. She had lots of money. She had fame and excitement. She should be happy.
And yet…
Chapter 5
Drake Mason paced back and forth in front of the Tiffany’s store on Fifth Avenue.
He glanced at his expensive gold Rolex watch. His driver, in his sleek black limousine, waited by the curb. A frown was beginning to form on his handsome face, when Summer finally came out of the restaurant. She was all long blonde hair and gangly legs like a young foal.
“Hey, I thought you wanted to have dinner? I finally got us a table. What’s up?”
Drake Mason was a sight to behold. Tall, dark and with twinkly brown eyes, he was drop-dead gorgeous. Drake was considered quite the catch with his stunning good looks and playful personality. His family millions didn’t hurt either—nor the fact he was a sought after A-list movie star. Drake Mason certainly had it all.
Still, Summer had not found herself falling in love with him, and for good reason. Drake was a perpetual Peter Pan type that refused to grow up and be serious. They had dated for six months and most of that time they had each been in different cities. From what the tabloids said, he hadn’t been faithful to her either. She’d seen more than one photo of some starlet draped around him while he was away shooting a movie on set.
Drake interrupted her thoughts.
“Honey!”
He took off his blue Armani suit coat and wrapped it around her lovingly.
Summer pulled the coat closer and looked up at him with her liquid blue eyes. So much she wanted to say. I hate my life. I hate modeling. I don’t know where I belong. I want to break up.
Instead she said, “Long day.”
“Come on sweetheart, we’ll get you some coffee. We can’t have you half asleep for the most exciting night of your life!”
Summer wondered what he meant.
Chapter 6
That’s how Summer found herself inside the prestigious blue-lined interior of the famous Tiffany store in New York for the first time in her life.
She was surrounded by rows of glistening diamond rings that the sales clerk had pulled out from the case.
Engagement rings.
So this was Drake’s big surprise.
She had thought he had wanted to celebrate his recent movie deal with Donald Trump. Drake had just been cast to star as Donald in the story of his life on the big screen. He was due to start shooting Donald—The Hair and The Story as soon as he wrapped up his latest film about the life story of James Dean.
Summer held a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, as Drake pointed to another ring for the sales clerk to try on her finger.
The brilliant perfect diamonds sparkled around her, mimicking the snow that had begun falling outside the windows.
The classic Tiffany blue walls created a soothing effect against the piercing beauty of the rings. Summer thought how much her mother would have loved being there in person.
She looked at Drake. He had never mentioned getting married and having a family.
He was focused on the largest diamond in the case.
“Try this one on.”
As if on cue, the salesperson slipped the six-carat, emerald-cut diamond ring on Summer’s wedding finger.
It was stunning.
“We’ll take this one.”
Drake lifted Summer up with him as he rose. “We have dinner with Donald. We have to get moving.” He led her out the door and called back to the clerk to, “Have it sent over to The Ritz after it’s sized.”
Summer felt like her world was spinning.
“Drake, I don’t want to go to dinner. I don’t feel well.”
Drake laughed it off.
“A couple glasses of champagne and you’ll be good as new. I need you there. Donald is bringing his wife.”
Soon they were at The Ritz with Donald Trump and his beautiful wife. Drake and Donald were enmeshed in business talk and Summer chatted to Donald’s model wife about the modeling business.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a group of waiters appeared with a small delicate white cake. It was decorated with exquisite diamond chips that glistened in the candlelight. It said ‘Congratulations Drake and Summer.’
>
A violinist appeared and began to play Going to the Chapel.
Drake turned to the restaurant diners, ecstatic.
“We wanted you to be the first to know. . .We’re getting married!”
The whole restaurant began clapping and offered congratulations.
Champagne was brought and poured. Summer didn’t even remember being asked. There had been no getting down on one knee and declaration of love forevermore . . . No moment to remember. . . No story to tell the kids…
Still, it appeared the matter was settled.
Summer picked up one of the tiny diamond chips off the little white engagement cake and looked at it carefully.
A waiter leaned in and whispered, “They’re edible!”
Summer’s face brightened as she popped one of the diamond chips in her mouth and tasted it.
She rolled it around her tongue expertly. She couldn’t make out the faint wonderful taste.
“Yum… Do you know what’s in this?”
The waiter shook his head. “No miss, that’s Mr. Puck’s proprietary recipe. His people dropped it off this morning.”
“Ooooh . . . Wolfgang Puck.”
Summer was impressed. She knew he was the king of delicacies. Of course, they were superb.
Summer smiled her famous bi-coastal grin.
“They’re delicious!”
Chapter 7
The skies over New York were clear, as the Boeing 757 got ready to make a landing.
Captain Brad Anderson finished the call sign to air traffic control. He was looking forward to a good time in New York tonight after the tough flight from Chicago. It had been the last flight out for the night because of the advancing storm system, and he was happy to be halfway home before it hit.
Eyes steady as he edged the bird onto the snowy runway, Brad was the perfect picture of a successful career guy at work.
He landed the plane smoothly, as usual.
After saying goodbye to the exiting passengers, he focused his attention on the beautiful flight attendant standing at the entrance. Not hiding the fact that she was attracted to him, she gave him a suggestive look before she wiggled her pretty behind out of the plane. Glancing behind her, she caught Brad admiring her.
She reached inside her uniform and rearranged her large boobs until her cleavage hung out almost over her collar.
Brad raised an eyebrow at her arranging ability.
She purred like silk, “Want to meet up tonight? I know a good place where we can go shake off the fatigue from the flight.”
Brad was not one to let such an opportunity pass him by.
“Sounds good to me. I’ll pick you up as soon as I get cleaned up.”
It had become a habit for him to pick up pretty women on the layovers wherever he flew.
Whistling softly to himself, he flung his coat over his shoulders. Life had been good to him. He was one of the youngest Captains in the company, and his job was to fly the world. He was content to have it that way.
He was living the dream. No feelings. No commitments. No kids.
He should have been happy.
Chapter 8
Bright and early the next morning, Summer hurried through the TSA, listening to the beeping signal on her iPhone, indicating she had messages.
She didn’t have time to answer it. She was trying to get her shoes on and the weird TSA agents always insisted on frisking her.
She knew it was her modeling agent again anyway—not happy. Summer knew she deserved her agent’s ire but it would have to wait. The tongue lashing would be easier to take in a voicemail. She knew how it would go as usual …
“Summer, you were late. The producer complained. Summer, you didn’t look your happy self. The client complained. Summer, Jasper doesn’t like you calling him Blue Monster.”
If she played it right, she could avoid dealing with anything until after the holidays. And by then, the whole fiasco might blow over.
Hopefully.
Thoughts of the upcoming Christmas planned for her this year brought up a new sadness in her.
Staying with Drake’s parents in downtown L.A. was the worst Christmas holiday she could imagine. In winter she wanted to ski—not brunch at Wolfgang Puck’s newest place—too many shallow elegant dinner parties with healthy trendy food. Winter was an excuse to eat cheese, darn it! What was wrong with these Californians?
And then also, the engagement well wishes.
She looked at the super huge diamond on her finger.
Ugh. She was losing it. She was just so unhappy lately, no matter how happy she should have been. She was the girl who had everything—except Prozac at the moment, which might have actually helped.
She had wanted nothing more than to marry a great guy and have a family. After the disaster with Brad, Summer had been too afraid to open up to love again. She had never given her heart to anyone since.
Of all the men she had dated over the years, Drake, at least, understood her the best.
Let her be her.
She wasn’t getting any younger, Summer reasoned to herself. Maybe God had brought her Drake to give her the family she had always wanted? Maybe she was supposed to have faith?
He did get her a Tiffany ring. Surely that was a sign.
She thought back to Brad and that fateful night at the Christmas Mistletoe Ski Event.
At one time she had wanted to have five children and be a stay-at-home mom. Brad and she had planned to give their children all names that started with J’s.
Summer almost laughed out loud thinking of the horror on her agent’s face if she told her she was pregnant.
Ruin the body of the year? Gasp.
Perhaps that was the root of her sadness.
All she ever wanted was a big family, and instead she was flying around the world smiling for a living with not a child in sight.
Her Tiffany ring sparkled on her hand as the light bounced off the silver rails of the escalator.
She was engaged. Here was her chance to have the family she always wanted. Maybe she should just take what God had brought her and marry Drake?
She found her gate and sat down on an empty chair. She plopped Fluff down next to her in his Gucci carrying case and fished through her purse for his cat food and ugly Gumby toy.
An old lady with a nice face sat down next to her. She looked a lot like Summer’s Grandma Izzy. Summer smiled at her.
The old lady smiled back. She looked at Fluff in the carrying case. His little black nose was squished up to the net as his big yellow eyes peered out at them.
“It’s so nice to be able to bring your pet nowadays.”
Summer agreed. “And he’s a joy to travel with.”
She barely opened the top of Fluff’s case and squished the Gumby in quickly before slamming it shut.
She had to keep Fluff in the case because he flipped out from too much airport stimulation. He was a chill Malibu cat. He didn’t do crowds. They’d barely survived a bad stint in Singapore.
“Where are you spending Christmas this year?” Summer inquired, as she slid the cat food into Fluff’s case carefully.
The lady said with a sigh, “Here, now. I just called my son to come back to the airport to pick me back up. I was supposed to fly out and visit my daughter this year in Denver. Oh well.”
“I love Denver. Oh, I’m so sorry you can’t go. What happened?”
She pointed at the TV screen above them showing the news channel with pictures of a large snowstorm coming in.
“They’re saying it’s the biggest snowstorm in decades. They’re shutting down all the airports west of here. They just closed Chicago so that means no Denver for me.”
Summer looked at the state of the weather on the TV screen in horror.
“Oh no! They closed O’Hare? And Houston? Shoot! That means I can’t get back west to California either…”
She watched as the newscaster explained the extent of the storm.
Summer gasped. “Did that announcer j
ust say that flights would be delayed for a week?! But that’s all through Christmas!”
Summer put her head in her hands and moaned. This was turning out to be the second worst Christmas ever!
“I could have gone with my fiancé on the private jet last night, but Donald is allergic to cats.”
She cast a blaming sideways look at Fluff.
The old woman fished in her bag for a minute and finally brought out some Christmas cookies tied with a pretty bow.
She handed them to Summer.
“I was bringing them to my daughter, but you look like you need them more.”
Summer did.
Over the loud speakers United announced, “Beginning boarding for Kissing Bridge, Vermont.”
The nice lady that looked like Grandma Izzy motioned to the gate.
“Looks like that’s the last flight out for the day and it’s going north. Well, good luck, Sweetheart and Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Summer said.
The old lady walked away to meet her son.
Summer didn’t know what to do.
She didn’t have any close friends in Manhattan with whom she could spend Christmas. Christmas was the most special time of the year—the time you spent with your closest ties and family. Everyone was home with his or her family; everyone but her.
She gazed at the screen and was surprised to sees Earl, the lodge keeper up at Kissing Bridge Mountain on the TV.
He was being interviewed about the big snowstorm, “… Up here, we love snow! We have great snow! Now, if you like to ski, you should come on up to friendly Kissing Bridge Mountain!”
Summer smiled. “Hey Fluff, it’s Earl, the lodge keeper. I know him.”
Summer chomped on the nice lady’s Christmas cookies in deep thought. She loved snow. She loved to ski. Snow and ski in Kissing Bridge.
The clerk at the United gate announced “Final boarding for Kissing Bridge, Vermont.”
Chapter 9
Summer drank a hot cup of coffee and stared out of the plane window at the snow falling over the runway below. She pulled up her dark sunglasses and let the light hit her face.