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CHAPTERONE
As soon as the seatbelt sign turned off, taller travelers rushed to grab their bags from the overhead compartments. Much smaller in stature, Vivian Armstrong had to stand on her seat to reach the carry-on she’d tucked in the bin above. Despite her efforts, the other passengers didn’t notice her struggle.
Just then, a kind man from across the aisle offered to help. “Hey, kiddo. Do you need a hand?”
Vivian appreciated the gesture but politely declined. She was often mistaken for a child but was far from a youngster at thirty. “Thank you for your offer, but I’m good,” she said with a smile.
The man chuckled. “Good things … small packages, right?”
“That’s what they say.” Vivian wanted to say, “Oh, you have a small package? That’s too bad,” but she was used to the same over-used pleasantry and had stopped bristling at comments about her height long ago. She had often been overlooked and underestimated due to her more diminutive size. She had grown used to people’s reactions when they first saw her; she always heard the same jokes about her being ‘small but mighty’ or ‘bigger on the inside.’ She had been told she was ‘too short’ to play sports, reach the grocery store’s top shelf, and even ride certain rollercoasters.
Though she was five foot nothing, she refused to let her height limit her. Since she was a young girl, she had been determined to prove to the world that she could do anything anyone else could, especially anything her older brothers could do. She worked hard, paid attention to details, and was determined to succeed.
Vivian had also learned never to back down. She used her wit and humor to disarm people and never let them feel like their comments were taken too seriously. Instead, she laughed it off and used it to show her strength and resilience. With six brothers, there was no place in her life for weakness. It was survival of the fittest.
With determination in her eyes, she grabbed her bag, narrowly avoiding hitting the man next to her but proving she didn’t need help. She felt a sense of pride and satisfaction as she stood tall and confident, ready to show the world just how powerful she could be.
As the line began to move, she swiftly exited the plane and was hit by the crisp afternoon air of April in Denver—a city that didn’t know it was spring everywhere else. The cold seeped past her jacket and settled into her bones. Val, her brother, had booked her a car. She couldn’t wait to hit the open road and start her adventure. However, when she arrived, she was surprised to find the parking lot of the national chain nearly empty.
A massive jet-black Yukon occupied spot N-47. The mere thought of driving it sent shivers down her spine. The last time she’d driven something that large, she needed a booster seat to see over the steering wheel and platform shoes to reach the pedals.
“This will never do.” She marched to the customer service kiosk and waited for her turn. To her right, two children played with a jumbo-sized game of Jenga while Vivian waited for the man in front of her to negotiate a deal on a car.
Large blocks of wood tumbled to the ground, and the kids gave up and came to stand beside the man Vivian assumed was their dad.
When it was her turn, she walked to the desk, smiled, and said, “Reservation for Vivian Armstrong.”
The woman behind the counter, whose name was Cassey, looked at her and smiled. “Your Yukon is ready. With your Elite membership, you don’t have to wait in line. You get to grab and go. Unless you came for some snacks.” Cassey pointed to a display that held everything that could give a person diabetes or a heart attack—all the good stuff like gummy worms, chocolate, and chips. Cassey moved from behind the counter and attempted to stack the wood blocks. “Whoever thought this was a good idea should have to clean up this mess after every customer.”
Vivian kneeled and helped the woman pick up the blocks. “The Yukon is a problem for me.” She wanted to murder her brother Val, who undoubtedly ordered it as a joke. She thought they were past the pranks, but now it appeared that wasn’t true. “Do you have anything smaller?”
Cassey stood and went back behind the counter.
Vivian followed her and grabbed several treats for the road. It was a long drive, and one shouldn’t travel into the mountains without supplies. She giggled as she picked out three candy bars, two bags of chips, and two packages of gummies.
Cassey’s fingers danced over the keyboard. “I’ve got a Mini Cooper?”
“Seriously?” Vivian opened a candy bar and took a bite. Times like this required chocolate. She took another from the stand and placed it on the counter.
The woman shrugged. “There’s a big Indigo concert in town. She hasn’t performed since she gave birth, and it’s a one-time gig. It sold out in less than an hour, and so did we. That band has a huge following.”
Vivian looked at her weather app. There was a storm approaching, so she didn’t have much choice. Mini Coopers weren’t known for their handling in the snow, and she knew from living in New York that spring storms could bring lots of wet snow that turned to ice when the evening temperatures fell. “Fine, I’ll take the Yukon.” She glanced at the Jenga game. “Would you be unhappy if some of those pieces found a different home?”
“Take them all if you want.” Cassey rang up the order and placed the snacks in a bag.
Vivian paid. “I just need a few.” She picked up four and tucked them inside her bag. “What about tape? Do you have any I can buy, borrow, or steal?”
Cassey opened a drawer and lifted out a large roll of duct tape. “This is all I’ve got, but you can have it.” She handed it over, and Vivian was on her way. Her life often required adaptations. Today would be a doozy.
It took her five minutes to adjust the seat and mirrors, and it still wasn’t to her liking. She pulled a few things from her bag and stacked them on her seat before she taped the Jenga blocks to the bottom of her shoes.
She texted Val.
I’m on my way.
She waited a few seconds to see if he’d text back. As a professional bodyguard, she always prioritized safety and followed the rules behind the wheel. Stay alive, don’t text and drive.
We can’t wait to see you.
