After it seemed he'd finished, he leaned back against the vehicle and let out a few deep breaths. “Feel better?” Piper asked.

  Gary shook his head. “Not really.”

  “How do you feel about resting in the passenger seat and letting me drive?” Piper asked.

  “If I'm not driving, I’ll get motion sick. On top of whatever this is,” he said then hunched over as if still in pain.

  Piper opened her door and dug in her purse, revealing a travel size bottle of Dramamine. “I packed this for my flight, but maybe it can knock you out, so you don't have to worry about it.”

  Gary examined the bottle. “It's worth a try.”

  “You don't think Jackie’s kids had the flu or something?” Piper asked. “I can check to see if any of them are sick.”

  Gary downed the pill with a swish from his water bottle, and shook his head. “I'm sure it's just food poisoning from the gas station food. It tasted funny, it just took a minute to settle in.”

  They situated him in the passenger seat, and Piper climbed into the driver seat. Andy Williams sang “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” on the radio, and Piper would have laughed at the situation, but Gary looked so miserable.

  Before pulling back out onto the road, her mind sped through all their options. They couldn't make it to Memphis, not when Gary was sick. They needed to stop to get him some medicine and get him a place to rest. That meant canceling their reservation and finding something closer. She examined the map on her phone and searched for the closest hotel locations. There was a Grand Northwestern in Oklahoma City, so she made the calls, one to cancel in Memphis and one to reserve in Oklahoma.

  “Yes, but I need one for tonight,” she explained to the woman on the phone.

  “We do have one room available tonight, Miss Chapman, but it only has one bed, and not the two as you requested.”

  Piper cringed and hoped the sleepy Gary wouldn't mind. “That's fine. Is there a couch?”

  “Yes, ma'am, but it's not a pull out.”

  “No problem, that will do.”

  With their location set, Piper pulled out onto the open road, and sped down the street. The medicine seemed to help the miserable Gary sleep for some time as she drove into the afternoon, but eventually he started shifting in his seat and moaning in his sleep.

  Piper placed a hand on his arm. “Gary, are you all right?”

  “Nooooo,” he moaned, clutching his stomach.

  All of a sudden, there was flash of blue and red lights behind them, and Piper’s heart sank. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  As she pulled over to the side of the road, sure enough, the police car followed them.

  Piper waited for him to appear beside her, but he made his way to Gary’s side. She rolled down the window, but only halfway.

  “Good afternoon ma'am, I'm Officer-”

  “You might want to be careful, Officer. You're in the line of fire.”

  The man in the uniform narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”

  Piper grimaced. Poor choice of words. “I'm sorry, he's got food poisoning, and I didn't want you to get puked on. I'm trying to get him to our hotel, that’s why I was speeding.”

  Understanding dawned on the officer’s face. “Thank you for the explanation. I'll still need to see license and registration, please.”

  “Mine or his? This is his car,” she said.

  “Your license, his registration.”

  Piper dug out her ID, then reached for the glove box while Gary writhed in pain. “Gary, where's your car registration?”

  He pointed to the drop mirror in front of her, where she found multiple documents pinned to the shade. She grabbed the registration and handed everything to the police officer. “Thank you, this will just take a moment.” The officer paused. “And sir, if you're going to be sick, please try to stay in the car and… from the window…”

  He disappeared back to his vehicle and left them alone. “Are you going to be sick again?” Piper asked, pressing a hand to his face. His skin still felt clammy, and he didn't look good.

  “I don't know how, there shouldn't be anything left in me,” Gary said, just before launching himself forward and throwing up out the window, leaving Piper grateful the officer wasn't standing there anymore.

  After a few heaves, Gary sat back in his seat and sighed. “How much longer?”

  “I've got us a hotel in Oklahoma City, we’ll stop there for tonight and you can rest.”

  Gary looked so forlorn. “But the trip…”

  “Don't worry about that, we'll get home eventually.”

  Suddenly there was a tapping on her window, and she rolled the window down for the police officer. “Here's your documents back. I'm going to let you off with a warning this time. I understand you're in a hurry, and it can be tempting to speed with these empty roads, but please try to keep it under the speed limit. And happy holidays.”

  Piper breathed a sigh of relief as she tucked the papers into the middle console. It was a Christmas miracle!

  The police officer flipped around and headed the other direction, so Piper gripped the steering wheel.

  “All right, let’s see. It's still an hour and twenty minutes till we get there. Think I can trim off a few minutes from the ETA?”

  Amidst Gary’s illness and drug induced sleepiness, he barely remembered arriving at the hotel. But when he woke up a few hours later, it was dark outside and Piper was seated on the couch next to the bed watching a Christmas movie. She glanced over at him, and her ease immediately changed to concern.

  “Hey, how are you feeling?”

  Gary swallowed and assessed his body. “I'm honestly a little hungry, but I'm terrified to try anything. I hate throwing up.”

  Piper smirked. “I'm not sure anyone really enjoys it. I got you some Gatorade and crackers, but we can order some soup or sandwiches from room service if you want.”

  “Let's start with crackers,” he said, and she grabbed them off her side table for him. “I guess you were right.”

  “About what?” she asked.

  “I guess I don’t manage very well without you,” Gary said pointedly. “I'm sorry if this is going to delay our trip.”

  “Don't worry about it,” Piper responded, and Gary was certain he caught a little blush in her cheeks. “I'm sorry I overreacted back at the gas station. I'm sure you've learned I can be a little too controlling, but that's what can ruin the Christmas season, and I don't want to be that person. We’ll just get there when we get there.”

  “Are you sure?” Gary said. “But you're going to miss all your Christmas Eve traditions.”

  “No, we can probably still get there before Christmas Eve. I think we have time. I've already told my parents, and they completely understand.”

  “I just feel so guilty. First the getting lost, then the getting sick…”

  “They weren't things you exactly had control over. Seriously, it's fine.”

  Gary leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes. “My mom used to say that all the time. ‘Focus on what you can control.’”

  “Then she was a very wise woman.”

  Gary offered a half smile.

  “Also, I might have some bad news. You remembered when the police officer pulled us over?”

  Gary suddenly froze with panic. “I thought he let us off with a warning.”

  “He did, but when I was getting the bags at the hotel, I also put your paperwork away.” She was grinning slyly, and Gary’s jumbled mind couldn't piece together what she was getting at.

  “So I discovered your real name from the registration.”

  Gary gasped, then chuckled. “You cheated.”

  “Garland Hart really is a charming name. You should use it more often.”

  “I told you my mom loved Christmas,” Gary said good-naturedly. “Can you guess my brother's name? It's from ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.’”

  Piper mentally ran through the lyrics, but shrugged.

  “It's Herald, with all the changed vowels,” Gary explained, and Piper giggled. “He goes by Harry now, so we're Harry and Gary.”

  “Your mother sounds like quite the character,” Piper said with a grin.

  “Oh, she absolutely was, and she knew it. I suppose Garland isn't so bad as an adult, but I swore my parents to secrecy growing up. The teasing would have been treacherous.”

  Gary felt a rumbling in his stomach and looked down at the crackers. “Oh no, they've betrayed me.”

  He rushed to the bathroom and emptied what little was left in his stomach. Shaking and weak, he returned to the room and threw himself across the bed, curling his knees to his chest.

  “Can I do anything for you?” Piper asked behind him.

  “I don't know,” Gary moaned. “Maybe I'll just lay here till I fall asleep.”

  He felt her move onto the bed, and then her hand pressed against his back. She rubbed his back and interchanged with fingernails to scratch his back. “Will this help or make it worse?”

  He wasn't about to send her away. “This is nice.” He turned his head toward the TV. “What are you watching?”

  “’White Christmas.’ It's one of my family favorites.”

  Gary relaxed against the bed. “One of ours too.”

  And so Gary was pulled again into sleep from Piper’s intoxicating touch, and to the sound of Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby singing about counting blessings.

  Chapter 7

  Two Days until Christmas

  When he woke the next morning, it took Gary a moment to remember where he was. A pristine hotel room, sunshine gleaming through sheer curtains, and a beautiful woman snuggled against his arm beside him in bed.

  Gary had to blink many times before he recollected the day before. Getting lost in the construction, getting pulled over while puking on the side of the road, and getting a one-bed hotel room with Piper.

  They had only spent three days on the road together, but already Gary could feel the magic of Christmas pulling them together and increasing his attraction. When she was awake, her eyes were bright and her desire to organize everything her main drive. But as she slept, her long lashes hiding the energy and passion she exuded, her peaceful slumber displayed her calm instead.

  She stirred against his arm, and when her eyes fluttered open, she was inches from his face. At first, she appeared alarmed, but then her gaze softened and her lips pressed into a smile. The quiet of the morning enveloped them in an intimate moment, and Gary was reminded of the last time he was this close to her, surrounded by the scent of pine in Albuquerque, and blessed by mistletoe.

  But then Piper grinned and said, “Good morning, pukey.”

  Any delicate tenderness suddenly dissipated and Gary rolled his eyes. “I should probably get cleaned up.”

  He reluctantly pulled himself out of the bed, leaving Piper alone to stretch. “How are you feeling?” she asked as she sat up.

  “Empty,” Gary responded. “Which I hope is a good sign, but I guess we’ll find out at breakfast.”

  While he dug in his duffel for clothes and shower things, Piper typed away on her phone. “Looks like we could still make it home tonight,” she said. “It would be a long day, like 14 hours plus a time zone change. But then we'd both have enough time to get home for the holidays.”

  Gary swallowed. He knew the purpose of the trip was to get them both home for Christmas. They both had their reasons. But it dampened his Christmas spirit to think of all this build up just to spend it without Piper.

  “Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve?” Gary asked. “We're certainly cutting it a little close.”

  “I think we can do it,” she said with a sleepy smile. “Do you feel up to it?”

  “I think so,” Gary said. “I’m going to shower real quick, we'll grab some breakfast downstairs and then hit the road.”

  After his quick shower and a thorough teeth brushing, they vacated the hotel, he managed to down some toast and fruit, and it was a bright 7:30 when they jumped into the vehicle.

  Gary turned the key and Mariah Carey’s voice filled the car with “Santa Claus is coming to town” which made Piper start dancing in her seat. He smiled and turned the ignition, but to no avail.

  Piper stopped dancing. “Oh no.”

  “Don't worry, it will just take a minute to warm up, that's all.” Gary held his breath.

  Again he turned the key, and this time the engine roared to life.

  “I'm sure this trip is just taking its toll on Cat,” Gary explained. “We’ll be fine.”

  He hoped.

  The farther they went, the more anxious Piper became.

  They crossed Arkansas’ flat landscape, she took her daily morning nap, she played solitaire on her phone until they lost signal, and eventually they crossed into Tennessee.

  Home was just one state line away.

  So why did she feel so nervous?

  Dolly Parton singing “I’ll be Home for Christmas” came over the radio, and Piper wanted to smile. She was excited to see her sister, despite the cancer diagnosis that was looming over her. She was excited to see her parents and eat her pie and relish in the Christmas spirit with her family.

  But what would happen at the end of the road when she parted ways with Gary? Would they return to Portland after the holidays and be strangers? She hated the thought of never seeing him again, but how does one start that conversation? These days traveling with you have been crazy and insane, but I like you, so could we go get dinner sometime? Not exactly the most romantic suggestion.

  Not to mention Gary didn’t want a relationship. He’d told her that from day one. The hardships they’d faced would likely not endear him to her, so she couldn’t assume that he was interested either. Perhaps he would be happy to be rid of her when he dropped her off in Asheville. It was better to leave things as they were, even if that meant she would always wonder.

  “Now entering Nashville city limits,” Gary said with a proud smile.

  “That means home is just 5 hours away,” she said, hoping the words were more enthusiastic than she felt.

  “That sounded rather fake,” Gary said, and Piper was equally thrilled and shocked that he could read her so easily. “What's the matter?”

  “Just a culmination of everything. Seeing my sister, the rush of Christmas, lots of emotions.”

  She felt Gary’s hand on her arm, and looked up. “I'm sure everything will be fine. If this trip has taught me anything, it's the good that can come from a bad situation.”

  Instead of the pulsing heart she'd expected, Piper was actually calmed by his words and his touch. “Thanks Gary. I hope so.”

  “And just think of if we'd actually made the flight.”

  “Well it certainly would have gotten us home faster,” she said.

  “But less fun. And we have much better company.”

  Piper glanced up at him and Gary tossed an amused wink in her direction. She rolled her eyes, but could feel her face growing warm as he pulled into a gas station.

  “I think it’s my turn to fill up,” Piper said. “I’ll see you in there.”

  Gary saluted her as part of the routine they’d fallen into and sauntered inside.

  As she waited by the car for the gas to fill, she thought on how different Nashville was from all the other places they’d traveled through. Much more humid, and loud music coming from every direction. And so busy, just crawling with people! And it still held the charming Christmas feel.

  When the gas was full, Piper made her way inside and found herself paused in the doorway. There were aisles with generic gas station items, but the walls were lined with guitars and photos of Elvis Presley, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, and so many other country music artists. And everything was emphasized because of all the Christmas décor. It was like walking into a classic time machine.

  She saw the bright smile of Gary amidst it all, and it brought her back to the present. “It’s something else, isn’t it?” he said.

  “It’s charming and inviting and… dare I say addicting?” Piper smiled. “I can certainly feel the draw and see the appeal.”

  Gary nodded. “I’m not super hungry yet, so what do you say we forgo snacks and get some dinner after we’ve passed downtown?”

  “You’re saying you don’t want more gas station food?” Piper said with a wry smile.

  “Maybe if my life depended on it,” Gary said as he took her hand and pulled her toward the door. “But as of this moment, it doesn’t, so I’ll pass on the fried food. Even if it is a donut shaped like Dolly Parton’s face.”

  Piper laughed, thrilled that he didn’t immediately drop her hand when they walked outside. He opened her door and then jumped into the driver seat.

  “Seriously, though. If everywhere in Nashville is this cute, I almost wish we could linger.”

  Gary turned the ignition, and it didn’t start immediately, just like last time, which is what Piper expected. But then he turned it again, and it still didn’t start, which made her stomach drop.

  He tried again, still nothing.

  Gary looked over at her with a sideways smile. “You might have spoken too soon.”

  “You said it would be fine,” Piper said, trying to conceal the worry in her voice.

  “Well, I thought for sure she’d get us home, but if I can’t get the alternator to turn over, it might need a mechanic before we can get there.”

  Piper bit her lip. There was still one day till Christmas. It was barely 5:30, so maybe they could catch a mechanic still open?

  Gary popped the hood and jumped out of the car. From where Piper sat in the passenger seat, there was no smoke, which had to be a good sign, but he almost immediately closed the hood and returned to the driver side. “This gas station is getting busy, so let’s move the car out of the way. I can put it in neutral and push it over to one of those parking spots… are you all right steering?”

  Piper shrugged. “Sure.”

  She jumped into the driver’s seat, and Gary pointed to the designated parking location. Piper held her breath with her hands on the steering wheel and barely felt the vehicle move as Gary started to push.

 

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