Let it Snow

by Rita Hestand

  Let it Snow

  Let it Snow

  Rita Hestand

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2014 by: Rita Hestand

  ISBN: 97813750517909

  Cover by Sheri McGathey

  Licensed Note

  This book Let It Snow is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. If you did not purchase this book or it was not purchased for your use, please go to Smashwords.com to purchase your personal copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Let it Snow is a work of fiction. Though some of the cities and towns exist they are used in a fictitious manner for purposes of this work. All characters are works of fiction and any names or characteristics similar to any person past, present or future are coincidental.

  ~Dedication~

  This is simply to wish you a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love makes the world go around and I hope you enjoy Let It Snow! God Bless

  Rita Hestand

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  About the Author

  Rita's Other Books

  Chapter One

  "She's coming home, oh Lord, I'm so happy." Judy Miller smiled so big her cheeks crinkled.

  "Who?" Mark Sutton asked as he screwed the last screw into the cabinet and tested the door to see if it was holding correctly. It swung perfectly. Satisfied he'd fixed it, he put his tools up.

  "Why Lori," she beamed.

  Mark glanced at the sweet older lady's smile and his heart flipped over. About time some of her kinfolk showed up! He was overjoyed for her. Finally, someone from Judy's family was bothering to pay her a visit. He couldn't remember when anyone had been here to see her. Not that it was a bit of his business. It wasn't, but Mark cared about Judy, especially since her bout with cancer a couple of years ago. All during that time no one showed up to help her, so he'd volunteered himself to help her anyway he could. "I'm happy for you Judy. I guess it's been a while, hasn't it?"

  "Oh, my yes, it's been seven years since I have seen her." Judy told Mark as he finished fixing her cabinet that had nearly fallen off and hurt Judy the last time she opened it to get a cup.

  "So, I guess someone's going to have a wonderful Christmas, huh?" Mark turned to look at his friend with a wide grin.

  "Oh yes. You've never met my niece, have you?"

  "No, haven't had the pleasure." He winked. "Haven't met any of your family as a matter of fact."

  "Oh Mark, I don't have any family left but Lori. I can't wait for you to meet her, she's a real beauty of a girl." Judy turned a funny glance on him.

  He knew what that glance meant, he'd seen it too often not to. Judy wasn't the only one in town trying to pair him off with some girl. Why did everyone want him to settle down and get married. This was the biggest hazard of a small town. The match-makers were always after him. "Now you wouldn't be playing cupid with me, would you?"

  "I wouldn't dream of it, dear." She chuckled.

  "Good. Because the last thing I need is a female giving me orders. Other than you of course." Mark shook his head and chuckled. "But I'm glad to see you smiling for a change. How come she hasn't been here in so long?"

  Judy's smile faded somewhat as she spoke. "When her mother and father were killed in an auto accident, she came to stay with me a while. She was with them when it happened, it devastated her so. She doesn't drive you know." Judy's smile faded for a moment.

  "Because of their accident?"

  "Yes. It was snowing, she'd just graduated high school back then. They were out celebrating." Judy began and Mark came to sit at the table with her as he listened, "and she was in the backseat of the car with them. Another car lost control, that's all it took. In seconds, they were dead. Which, was a blessing for them. But poor little Lori, she liked to have never gotten over it. It was a couple of years after that when she first wrote to me and told me how much she appreciated me being there for her. She promised to always stay in touch."

  "How long ago was that?" He asked.

  "Let me think, she's twenty-five now. It was seven years ago. She's a wonderful girl, but she's got a few hang-ups, but then, don't we all." Judy added.

  "Is she coming to stay or just visit?" Mark asked.

  "I don't know dear, she didn't say. She just broke up with her boyfriend so I'm afraid she might be emotional, again. And one thing Mark, I don't want you to tell her I have cancer. It would break her heart."

  "But Judy, doesn't she know?" Mark frowned as he searched Judy's beautifully weathered face.

  "No, there was no one to tell but her, and since I'm her last living relative, I just didn't have the heart to tell her. I'm in remission now, there's no use stirring that up. If the need arises, I'll tell her, but I'd rather not. No, after all she's been through, I just couldn't tell her. She's such a little worrier. So please, don't open your mouth about it."

  "I probably won't even see her but a time or two." Mark said, his expression disproved of her statement.

  "Promise me you won't tell her!" She said adamantly.

  "Okay, I promise." He frowned not a bit pleased with himself for weakening. "But she's no kid anymore, don't you think she could handle it?"

  "I'm not sure. She wouldn't drive after their accident. No telling what might happen if something happened to me. So, I've got to stay healthy, that's all there is to it. It'll be good for me. Just what I need."

  "How come there's no more family?"

  Judy frowned now, recollecting her family. "Well, I didn't have any children and my sister just had her. And the rest of the family all scattered and died off, no one in our family has many children. I don't know why, except I never could. I wanted them, but it never happened."

  "Kind of sad, don't you think?" He grimaced.

  "Some families are that way Mark. You are fortunate to have come from such a big family. Still, even you have to admit that all your brothers and sisters have moved off but Seth. That's how families are. But now you can understand. I don't want her visit to be marred by that. I only have to go to the doctor once this year, as I'm in remission, so there's no need to stir up trouble." Judy insisted. "She'd worry about me, and I don't want that. In fact, she'll probably take my mind completely off that. And that's a good thing. The more you act and feel sick, the sicker you get."

  "I don't like this, but okay, you win." Mark conceded.

  "Will you take me to the doctor next month?" Judy asked.

  "Of course, when?"

  "The fifteenth. I want to get a good bill of health before Christmas." Judy assured him.

  "Can I come in when he talks to you?"

  "That won't be necessary." Judy fussed. "Don't you think I'm telling you the truth?"

  "Yes of course, I just wanted to be there with you. You do everything alone, and at your age, you need someone with you more. I worry over you Judy." Mark's voice was filled with concern.

  "I love you for it too, now, how much do I owe you?" She asked him as she scrambled through her purse for her little sock coin purse. She had completely changed the subject and Mark was concerned that she was ignoring her health issues.

  "You owe me, an apple pie, all my own." He smiled.

  "Get out of here, I need to pay you. You’re a h
andy man and I'm not about to take charity." She insisted.

  He turned her around and looked into her beautiful but fading blue eyes and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he stared into her face, "It isn't charity. It's love. And if you were a few years younger, I'd marry you myself." He kissed her on the cheek and turned her back around.

  "Alright, one apple pie, coming up. When do you want it?"

  "I guess when I go pick this niece of yours up at the airport." Mark calculated. "I've got to help Joe Struthers put up a fence and that's going to keep me busy for the next few days."

  "Fine, but don't forget, she's coming into Dallas on the twenty-third of November."

  "I won't, you won't let me forget." Mark chuckled as he grabbed his tools and headed for the door. "If you need me call me on my cell."

  "Will do, darlin'." She called after him.

  Judy sighed with happiness as she reread her niece's letter again.

  Now she'd have someone help her with the decorations for Christmas and maybe keep her spirits up. The last couple of years she'd barely managed a tree, much less any decorations. Although she knew that Lori would probably be crying a lot from losing her boy-friend of two years.

  Judy put the letter back in its envelope and set it under the salt and pepper shaker so she could read it again when she wanted.

  ***

  Lori looked out the window and saw the magnificent sunshine and smiled. It looked so much better than the snowy cold of New York. As she had grown up in Texas, she revered the sunshine.

  She could almost feel her life slowing down as the plane touched down. The seat belt sign flashed and she let go of it. She had a small bag overhead and one that she'd have to pick up in the baggage center.

  She wondered who this Mark Sutton was that was picking her up. Her aunt hadn't gone into much detail about him. But he had to be nice, her aunt bragged on all the things he did for her. She was grateful her aunt had someone looking after her, as Judy was getting up in years now.

  She adjusted her clothes, and ran a hand over her dark hair as she joined the line to depart the plane. She was anxious to get home to Aunt Judy and be with her for the holidays, especially since this was the first real holiday she'd allowed herself. She'd quit her job, and wanted to move close to her aunt so she could help her if needed. If she could only find some work in Wylie, that would put her right once more.

  She could hear bells ringing in the lobby as she came down the ramp. Christmas music echoed over the intercom. The old airport was buzzing with people coming and going for the holidays. Christmas was definitely in the air. Funny, but it had been a while since she indulged in Christmas.

  Most of the people had already met someone and started moving away from the ramp, as a lot of hugging and laughter lingered in the air, going every which way. Lori felt a pang of loneliness hit her for a second. She quickly squashed it. She so wanted to be upbeat and happy right now. Fond memories of her aunt made her shrug away the blues.

  Then suddenly a young man appeared before her. He was tall, well built and sporting a cowboy hat.

  "You must be Lori Laningham?" The man smiled and it created such a startling change in the man when he smiled like that. It took her breath away for a moment.

  "And you must be Mark Sutton?" She asked with a smile. Lori was shocked that the man was so young, she figured he'd be middle aged.

  "That's me. Welcome home," He said in a southern drawl that was both warm and sincere.

  Even though Lori wasn't man hunting, she gave Mark a second glance, noting the nice thick hair and flashing brown eyes. She always paid attention to hair, because that was her business.

  "Thank you. I'm sorry to inconveniencing you this way." Lori began. "But I guess my aunt's told you I don't drive."

  He nodded and pulled her out of the line of people. "She mentioned it, yes."

  "Oh…I've got to get my suitcase from the baggage center." She told him.

  "Sure, let's go see if we can find it."

  They headed for the baggage claim area and found a huge crowd around it.

  "It's pretty crowded, why don't we step over there and get a coke or something and let some of them leave." He suggested.

  "Sounds good to me." She smiled and followed him.

  Once they were seated at the bar like refreshment center, they ordered and waited.

  "So are you here to stay, or just visiting?" He asked.

  Lori shrugged, "I'm really not sure. I'd like to stay, but it deepens on if I can get a job and if my aunt has room for me. You see I quit my job in New York. So, I have no ties, and I am looking forward to living in Texas now."

  "Tired of the New York life?" He asked with an amused glance.

  "I'm tired of the snow, actually."

  He stared for a moment, "Snow?"

  "In New York, it is so common all during the winter, it is either snowing, or snow is piled on the sides of the street. Along with it comes the gray looking sky that is unending until spring. I don't like snow."

  "Really, any special reason, or is that not my business to ask." He smiled charmingly.

  She shrugged again, "It's no secret. I'm pretty much an open book. But, it's kind of a long story." She glanced at him.

  "I have nothing to do but wait for your luggage," he suggested.

  "Well, since I don't drive, I took an apartment in the city. It was not ideal, but it's expensive to live there, so I wasn't happy with the place, it was small, expensive and too far from my work. I had to walk eleven blocks to work, I was tired every day before I ever went to work. And I was on my feet all day, so I was worn out by the time I got home. Plus, I broke up with my boyfriend of two years, and well, I needed to get away. My aunt was so good to me the last time I saw her. I thought maybe we could keep each other company, especially during the holidays. She seems a bit lonely at times in her letters. And I've been feeling the same way lately."

  "You've got that right. She is a little on the lonely side, not that she complains. But like your letter, she must have read it a dozen times already. She was so excited that you were coming."

  "Oh, I'm so glad." Lori smiled. "Not that she's lonely, but that she wants me here."

  "You said you were on your feet a lot, what kind of work did you do?"

  "Oh, I'm a hairdresser." She smiled.

  Mark was somewhat shocked. "A hairdresser. Did you work in one of those fancy salons?"

  "Not real fancy, it was inside Macy's. Worked there five years."

  "That's a long time. Sounds like you might have some good references, then." He remarked casually.

  "Yes, I'm very good at it." She smiled. "And this was definitely not the season to quit."

  He stared at her, waiting for her to elaborate.

  "The holidays are when you make the most money and work the hardest. But for once, I wanted to slow down and enjoy the season so to speak. I put in a good twelve hours during the holidays. Sometimes six days a week. People going to parties, or business meetings or galas. Always something. Good money, but hard on the feet."

  "Maybe Francis could put you on, then." Mark replied.

  "Frances?"

  "She owns the Golden Glow shop, one of the local salons. Your aunt goes there regularly." He chuckled.

  "Oh, that would be wonderful. Is it within walking distance of my aunt's?"

  He hesitated, then frowned. "Do you ride a bike?" He asked curiously.

  "Yeah, I mean, I used to, why?"

  "Well, it is within biking distance." He smiled again.

  "You know I hadn't even thought of that, but a bike might me just what I need for getting around. I'll have to shop for one. Do you think she'd hire me? Or is she already over-staffed."

  "She's only got one-part time girl, and she has a lot of business, so, yeah, I think she'd grab you off the street and pull you in, if she knew you were a beautician."

  Lori laughed. Her eyes went over the man, he was such a charmer and very good looking with his thick brown hair and m
atching eyes. However, the last thing she needed was another boyfriend. This was her aunt's friend, and she wanted to be cordial, but she wouldn't be getting involved with another man for a while.

  She didn't want to even think about Jason right now. Not that their breaking up was entirely his fault. They'd just become so stagnant, it was more routine than love and she was tired of it. Tired of big city life, and Jason wasn't about to leave it.

  "Sounds like maybe my trip here might be fruitful then." She said.

  They finished their drinks and headed back for the luggage line which had dwindled down now.

  Grabbing her luggage for her, Mark took her to his truck. It was a nice-looking truck but she'd forgotten how men in Texas seemed to prefer trucks to cars.

  Chapter Two

  Aunt Judy was sitting at the table when they walked in and when she saw her, tears rolled down her cheek and she grabbed her and hugged her for a full five minutes.

  Lori warmed to the old woman like a hot stove. She felt suddenly as though she'd come home. She hadn't had that feeling since her folks died. Her eyes clouded with unshed tears.

  Her aunt had aged some, and her hair was curlier than the last time she saw her. It was mostly gray now with only touches of dark hair here and there. She was a tiny woman with the most beautiful blue eyes Lori had ever seen. But she looked much frailer now. Lori was ashamed she hadn't visited her more through the years. After all Aunt Judy was the last of her family and meant so much to her. Although she was sure her Aunt didn't know how much.

  "You look so good, Aunt Judy?" She cried.

  "So do you, child. But I can see right now I need to put some meat on your bones." Judy chuckled. "Sit down now and tell me all about New York, while I get this pie out of the oven for Mark here."

  Lori glanced from her to him. "That's my reward for going and picking you up." He smiled at her.

  "Actually, it's not, it's for fixing my cabinet the other day. I'll have to have you to dinner to pay you for bringing her home to me."