Linda's Story

Planning

Linda stood out in the cold, refusing to smell and breathe the cigarette air Tony was blowing in Marni's house. She wasn't even sure why her father, and sister and her family were here anyways this winter break.

The door opened, and a cup of cocoa appeared in her line of sight. She took it with a smile, "thanks, Nonna."

Rosita sipped her own cocoa, "It's nicer out here, isn't it?"

"The air is clean... well... clean for New York."

Rosita chuckled, "what're you doing out here in the cold?"

"I hate the smell of cigarettes and cigars. It smells like something died and someone's set fire to it." That opinion would cause her to temporarily butt heads with a stubborn but kind man far into the future. For now, she took another sip of cocoa, "Nonna, why is Papa here?"

"He said it was a surprise."

Linda didn't like Tony's "surprises". They usually involved things she hated or wasn't comfortable doing, and when she spoke her mind, she'd always get a slap to the cheek. That was if Tony was in a good mood. She closed her eyes, "do you know what it is?"

"I believe it's something about Canada."

"Is he moving there?"

"Why don't we go in and see? He's done with his cigarette."

She sighed, watching her breath freeze in the air and mix with the cocoa steam, before relenting and following Rosita inside. "This better be good," Linda mumbled as she took a seat next to her brother at the dinning room table.

"What's going on?" Jimmy whispered to his sister.

"I was hoping you knew..."

He shook his head, "Grandma says It's something about Canada?"

"Maybe he's moving there."

"Would that involve us? I mean, he and Mom aren't married anymore."

That still stung, even though she knew if they'd stayed together things would be worse. "I don't know."

"Listen up!" Tony yelled, his speech clear and crisp. "I may not live here anymore." Under his breath he added, "thanks to some cow."

Linda cringed, hoping and praying they wouldn't yell at each other more than they already do.

"But that doesn't mean I have to stop being your father."

What? This wasn't like him. He thought father meant ruler, and anyone who had a qualm about it got a beating. The family stayed quiet.

"So I have booked us on a flight to Canada, where we will spend a week skiing."

"Wow, really?" That was definitely a surprise. Linda didn't even know how to ski!

"Yes. We leave Friday, promptly at two. So start packing."

************

"And because of this, the vehicle could not..." Mrs. Wilt left the sentence hanging for a student to fill in the blank. When everyone gave her blank stares, she sighed, "I Guess winter break has already started... You can talk until the bell rings."

Linda smiled and immediately turned around n her seat. "So what're you doing to kick of the break?'

"Getting a peppermint pastry at a coffee shop with the sibs," Danny responded. "Hey, you could come! And afterwards, we can ditch the siblings and just do.... stuff."

"I'd love to!" Her face fell as she remembered what Tony had said. "But I can't. My father blew inot town today, announced we were going on a ski trip."

"Where?"

The bell rang, signaling the students to gather their things. The friends continued to talk, "somewhere in Canada. Ottawa, I'm pretty sure."

"That sounds fun," Danny stood next to Linda as she emptied the books she needed into her backpack.

"Yeah, I guess so... I don't even know how to ski though!"

"So you'll take lessons. Do you know where you're staying?"

"Some lodge somewhere." She swung her bag over her shoulders.

"How long will you be gone? Three, four days?"

Linda grimaced, "a week."

"Oh.... Maybe when you're not skiing, you could call me? We can talk about what an awesome time you're having."

"Not 'awesome'. Maybe mediocre.... so... At nine?"

"Your time or my time?"

"I'm fairly certain Ottawa and New York have the same time zone."

"Okay, so nine."

"Nine." Linda smiled and gave Danny a kiss. "I might try to call before we leave. Tony says we're leaving at two, but you know how that is."

Danny smirked, "I do. You're gonna have so much fun!"

************

"But you were so excited about going," Marni looked at her daughter in confusion.

"That was before I knew Danny wanted to do stuff," she tried to explain.

"You're going to go. Before you know it, you'll forget about this Danny fellow."

She sighed, pouting and rolling her eyes. She couldn't forget about Danny- how could she? It was impossible to forget his smile, or his eyes, or his hair, or the way he was totally enthralled with what she said, even if it was something stupid.

The doorbell rang, Linda walking to answer it. She grinned widely, "Danny!"

"Hi. Looks like I caught you before you left." He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to talk to her before she left on vacation.

"Looks that way." She stepped aside, "come in!"

He did so, "I got something for you before you go."

"A present? You didn't have to do that!"

He presented the object he was holding behind his back. "Ta da!"

She took it from him, "thank you! I always wanted a... um..."

"They're mitten minders- so you don't loose your mittens. My baby brother swears by them."

"Consider my mittens minded!" She stretched the material, "want to stay for a bit?"

He saw the suitcases lined up by the door, "you look busy."

"We're about to leave in a little bit- but I've been ready for three days! I can talk."

Danny shook his head, "I'll just be in the way. Call me when you get there?"

"Sure."

"Come on, Linda!" Wendy moaned as she tried to pass the friends. "You're blocking the pathway!"

"I'll call you," Linda promised Danny before kissing him and sending him out the door. She was going to miss him.

**********