AllFreeNovel
Share Us
PROLOGUE
DECEMBER 18TH
Fill N Go Gas Station, Woodbridge, Virginia
Leah adjusted her reindeer antlers in the domed mirror that was nested in the far corner of the store. Her boss wouldn’t approve of her show of holiday spirit, but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. He put on this persona of Scrooge, all bah humbug, but she sensed a deep sadness in him. It only motivated her to spread seasonal cheer with more gusto, especially just a week before Christmas Day. Hence the antlers, but the Christmas decorations didn’t stop there.
She’d brought in a small pre-lit tree, and out of her own money, had also picked up baubles and ornaments from the dollar store and thoughtfully set about placing them. The icon of the holiday took up residence next to the till. Garland draped the front of the counter in two big swoops, and a red bow was fixed in the middle. No mistletoe in sight, not wanting to send out the wrong message for those who came in the store.
Those who did venture out at this hour usually filled their tanks and paid at the pumps. That suited her fine too. It gave her more time to read and daydream about her future. Or she should say, intended, for deliberate manifesting.
Working here certainly wasn’t her endgame. It was just a stepping stone to help make her grand plans a reality. People told her, at only eighteen years old, she had it together more than some adults twice her age. Leah took that as a compliment, even if her decision to become a vet came easily to her. It really was a no-brainer given that she had loved animals all her life, with an especially soft spot for cats and dogs. Clocking hours here would help pay for her schooling. Although her parents never said it, she knew they couldn’t afford college. Each dollar her father earned went straight towards putting food on the table and a roof over their heads.
If she kept her goal clear in mind, it made the long, tedious night shifts bearable. With school out for the Christmas holidays, she had requested extra shifts too. It meant more time away from her family, but it was a small sacrifice. She was only adamant that she be off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Those days were sacred to her and spending them with her loved ones made them perfect. To make this year even more special, her great-grandmother would be celebrating her one hundredth birthday. Nothing would keep Leah from missing that epic milestone.
The door dinged, and a man in a heavy coat stumbled in.
Leah set her novel aside, popped up from the stool she’d been sitting on, and grinned widely. “Merry Christmas.” Her enthusiasm was met with a grumbled response, but she wasn’t about to let his bad mood sap her joy. Who knew what he was going through in his life.
The man headed for the refrigerated drinks.
“Is there anything I can help you find?” she asked him.
He ignored her, opened a door, and plucked out a bottle of water, holding it up at her as he walked to the counter to pay.
Not exactly the talkative type. Got it. She scanned the barcode and told him his total.
He fished out a handful of change and set each coin onto the plastic topper that covered the lotto tickets instead of into her waiting palm.
She hadn’t finished collecting them when the door dinged again as he left.
Nothing personal, she reminded herself as she often did when she didn’t feel seen. This time of year wasn’t everyone’s favorite like it was hers. To her, there was a vibration in the air, a warm tingling sensation that was nothing short of magical and possibly otherworldly, and she did her best to “sprinkle that shit” everywhere. She smiled, recalling seeing that meme online.
A look outside showed no one in the lot, no one at the pumps, no one driving by. She dropped back onto the stool and picked up her book again. It was a light cozy mystery about a talking cat who was solving a murder with its owner, making it a good choice for working the night shift solo. Nothing too dark to stir her imagination into a frenzy, even if there wasn’t much time left on the clock.
In just over an hour, she’d be tucking into her bed, though she’d need to face her mother first. Her father was harmless. He’d be settled at the kitchen table with the day’s newspaper—in print, believe it or not—with her mother nattering away about what needed his attention around the house that day despite his full-time job. She’d only pause long enough to point out to Leah, yet again, that it wasn’t safe or right for girls her age to work night shifts at a gas station. Leah would counter with the argument of equality, why was it okay for men and not for women? Their discussion would end with her mother throwing her hands in the air and walking away while mumbling something incoherent. It was the same shtick that followed every night shift.
A ding alerted Leah that a vehicle had just rolled over the line outside. She looked up to see a gleaming silver Mercedes sedan at pump four. Leah could own a car like that one day. In my wildest dreams, maybe. But if she had that much money to throw around, she’d put it to better use. She’d open no-kill animal shelters to give dogs and cats a second chance at an ever-after home.
A brunette got out, who had to be nearly six feet tall. She was dressed impeccably for this time of the morning in a thigh-length burnt orange peacoat and crisp black slacks.
She is a businesswoman or politician on her way to Washington, less than an hour’s drive away. There she holds a position of importance in some fancy office building and manages staff with an authoritative yet gentle hand.
Leah smiled at the woman’s story she’d written in her mind as she watched her fill the tank of her luxury car.
Another vehicle came in. This one a boxy, white Ford van.
Rush hour at the Fill N Go, she thought and chuckled to herself.
Leah shifted on her stool, not about to get up unless someone came inside. She liked to afford people the decency of rising to her feet for them, intending for it to make them feel special and seen.
The van parked at the back of the lot next to Leah’s old Nissan Versa.
Leah set aside her book, prepared to stand, as she expected the door would open in a few seconds, but it didn’t. The person in the van must have been held up in some way. Fishing for money in their console perhaps. Leah had been there.
The woman finished filling the tank of her Mercedes, settling the huge bill with electronic payment at the pump. Instead of getting into her car, though, she came into the store.
The woman was attractive, of fair complexion with delicate features, but there was a hard edge in her eyes. They told of a dark past and unhealed hurts. Being able to read people was a natural gift and one her great-grandmother had pointed out. Leah would wager this woman had been through some trying things in life.
