Free Stranded: A Christmas Story by Fiona Wilde Page A

trusty Jeep Commander, and nothing - nothing - was going to stop her from the satisfaction of seeing Paul Reeves, or from stringing him along for several days before finally relenting to go out with him.
    She imagined the conversation. “I don’t know, Paul. You’re a nice guy, but I’ve just been enjoying the company of so many friends. But I suppose one drink won’t hurt…”
    That would be a lie, too. Lydia’s transformation had been more than physical. She’d turned into a diva. The friends she’d made when she moved to Middleburg barely spoke to her now; the ones who would have remained had fallen away when she began refusing to take their calls in favor of a more glamorous set. They hung out at the clubs on weekends, affording Lydia a chance to show off the latest clothes she’d purchased with her comfortable salary as a IT specialist for the local hospital.
    Lydia lugged the suitcase off the bed. She hated checking bags at the airport and knew her next challenge would be to cram her over-stuffed suitcase into the overhead compartment of the plane. But she was on a roll and felt like she could make anything happen.
    “…fast moving front that’s growing exponentially. Those who aren’t on the road are advised to stay in to avoid running head-on into this massive system that’s predicted to bring record snowfall, high winds and…”
    She snapped the television off, checked her purse once more to assure her boarding pass was inside and walked out the front door. Lydia all but smirked as she looked up at the sky. There were heavy gray clouds and a strong, frosty breeze, but the sun peaked through in places.
    “Headin’ out?” Lydia’s neighbor, Tom Pickering, looked up from his losing attempt to rake sycamore leaves.
    “Going to see the folks in Maine,” she said.
    “You aren’t going through One Horse Pass, are you?” he asked.
    “Well, seeing that’s the only way to the airport I think I kind of have to,” she said.
    “But the pass is…”
    She didn’t hear him. She’s already shut the door and was waving as she backed out of the driveway. Mr. Pickering stood there, looking confused, before shaking his head and going back to his raking.
    Lydia decided the best thing to do was drive as quickly as she could without getting pulled. Flurries started falling before she even left town, but she told herself this was probably just the leading edge, the fringe of a storm that was still way, way off. Even if there was snow in One Horse Pass it wouldn’t be enough to stop her Commander.
    She turned up the radio as she drove, scrolling through the stations in search of something besides Christmas music. Christmas used to be her favorite time of the year and she still loved it, but since her transformation it was New Years that was now her favorite holiday. She’d packed a beautiful dress for the occasion - slinky and black with sequins and a daring low-cut back. Her parents always threw an elaborate New Year’s Eve party, and Paul Reeves and his family would be there. When he saw Lydia sweep into the room, her appearance would seal the deal.
    The flurries were coming faster and harder now, interspersed with some larger flakes. Lydia increased her speed.
    “You are now Leaving Middleburg,” a sign read. The long, winding One Horse pass lay just twelve miles ahead. A strong gust of wind rocked the Commander. Lydia tried to hold the wheel steady as she popped a Nine Inch Nails CD into the player.
    She resisted the urge to feel a touch of nervousness as the sky darkened rapidly. There was no sun now, only gray clouds so heavy they looked as if they may drop to earth at any moment. Lydia rounded the corner leading into the pass and through the flurries saw the flashing red lights. Two highway patrol SUV’s were stopped and the officers were pulling out roadblocks.
    “No, fucking way,” she said as one plunked one down and turned to her, waving his arms in a bid for her to stop. But she halted,