Snow Globe Secrets (Winter Secrets #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Austin

“I’m not coming to pick you up this year.”

Normally, I appreciated my dad’s good-natured bluntness, but ouch, okay, Dad.

My father had picked me up from school for the past three years, and truth be told, I always looked forward to our drives home from Hampstead University, but since I would be attending medical school there as well, after my graduation in the spring, I figured I could miss out on one trip with Dad if he had something going on.

It didn’t stop me from giving him a little shit about it.

“I love you too, Dad.” I chuckled, and Dad laughed in turn.

“Um, is everything okay? Should I look into flights? Or the bus? It’s a little late, but maybe I can check with some of my friends.

I should be able to at least get myself to the city.

Is Mom working from her office any time before the holiday? ”

“No, no! No need to do any of that. Do you remember my old college roommate, Randall?”

“Do I remember the guy who moved to England before I was born?”

That got another laugh out of Dad. “You do remember! He left right before you were born. He was the best man at our wedding and would be your godfather if he hadn’t gotten that job in London.

He left so quickly! Said it was his dream job, and he couldn’t pass it up.

He seemed really torn up about leaving before you were born, but we were young and just out of college.

You can’t blame him for jumping at the chance to spend a few years in another country!

But here you are, twenty-one years old, and he’s been there all this time.

” Dad trailed off a little, like maybe he was just then realizing how long it had been since his friend had moved away.

“Anyway, yeah, my buddy Randall! I had no idea, mainly because he didn’t tell me, but he moved back to the States this year. To Pinesboro!”

“Pinesboro?” I questioned. “Who moves to Pinesboro? The whole place is like one gas station and some cabins in the woods.”

“That sounds about right. Randall was always a quiet guy, kept to himself. If he hadn’t been my freshman roommate, I’m not sure we’d have ever become friends.

Anyway, your Mom saw his name pop up in a memo or an email or something at work about a week ago …

” I zoned out at that point, talk of my mom’s job acting like an off switch in my brain.

My mom was a vice president for a large bank, but I had absolutely no interest in anything to do with that world.

Dad generally didn’t either, but he loved my mom and tended to hang on her every word. It was kind of sweet.

I caught the gist of what my dad was saying, that Randall’s company was expanding to the United States or had been bought out or something, and that they’d sent the American expat back from England to be part of the transition team.

I assumed he was in finance or banking, like my mom.

Dad kept talking about mergers and college and …

whatever. I tuned back in fully as Dad finally got to the reason we were talking about Randall from college in the first place.

“… not really in touch with his family in Kansas since his mom died, apparently, so I insisted he spend the holidays with us. He tried to say no, so I kinda, sorta said it would be a huge help if he could bring you home since Hampstead U is so close to Pinesboro. So!” Dad sounded really excited.

“Randall’s all set to pick you up after that last exam on Wednesday.

I gave him your number, so expect a call or a text or whatever.

“This is going to be great! Get him out of his house and get you home for the holidays! Having Randall here will be just like college, like … getting the band back together!”

Yeah, great, Dad, I thought to myself. Five hours in the car with a total stranger who needs some friend he hasn’t seen in over twenty years to tear him away from a solitary Christmas in the woods. What could possibly go wrong with this plan?

I had to respect my dad’s optimism, though. To him, the plan was foolproof. He clearly cared about his old friend, much as I was fairly sure they hadn’t stayed in contact over the years. It was touching to see, but I wasn’t about to tell my dad all that.

Instead, I retorted, “Dear God, please tell me you weren’t in a band.” I have always loved making my dad laugh.

“No, son. Your mother and I, and Randall for that matter, were the geeks you perceive us to be. The three of us had a standing date to watch The X-Files together each week.” Of course, they did! That sounded more like my parents. It was my turn to chuckle.

“Okay, Dad, I’ll wait for your friend to reach out.

But wait. Pinesboro is south of here by, like, almost an hour.

Your friend shouldn’t have to drive up here to get me just to turn around and drive right past his house.

” I ran a quick search on my phone. “There’s a bus that can drop me off near the ski resort.

It’s crazy for him to drive all this way. ”

“Whatever. You’ll work it out with Randall, I’m sure. I can’t wait to see you, son. Thanks for understanding. Randall shouldn’t have to spend the holiday alone.”

“It’s no problem, Dad. I’m looking forward to embarrassing stories about you in college. Oh, and counting the days until I can have some of Mom’s famous eggnog.”

“Hey, no virgin eggnog for you this year!” Dad joked, knowing full well that I had been sneaking small samples of Mom’s, shall we say “spirited,” concoction during the holidays long before my twenty-first birthday.

“Uh-huh,” I responded noncommittally. “I’ll see you soon, Dad. Love you.”

“Love you too, kiddo. Good luck on those exams. Your mother and I won’t pester you again so you can focus on studying, but call us if you need anything before you head home. And don’t ignore a text from a stranger!”

“Got it! Text with strangers on the internet. Times sure have changed since I was a kid.”

It was always great when Dad and I ended a conversation laughing.