If Only

C H A P T E R 1

THE STORM

MIRANDA

Giving up on fixing the damn car, I hurried back inside it before the pitter-pattering of the soft rain on the hood turns into a full-on storm. Idle, I turned up the heat a little as I started wiping the droplets from my face and pulled my bonnet down to warm my head.

Me, in my lonesome–stranded in the road meters away from the town I came out on.

Awesome!

A message came through breaking my reverie. A huge grin broke into my face as the picture of Ruen and Amelia's ring fingers came into view. I typed a quick message to congratulate both of them. My angel's absolutely happy.

Pulling an all-nighter to drive her instrument there paid off. All I ever wanted for her was to be loved and cared for. I'd do anything to make sure she is. She deserved it and more.

Deep in thought, I was startled by the loud tapping on the window. Squinting, I gripped my taser in my bag then pressed the button to roll the window down. Holding an umbrella over her head, a woman in her late forties greeted me with a smile and asked why I was out in the middle of nowhere in the rain.

"Car trouble," I eased up on the taser.

"I'm sorry. I'm no good at fixing cars but I could drive you back in the town where it is warm and safe," she politely offered and pointed to her car across mine. Raven's Inn was etched on the side of it, "We could have it towed and fixed by my husband."

"That would be a great help," I smiled warmly, "can you spare me a room?"

"No problem," she smiled back.

"Give me a moment please," I quickly gathered the valuables in my bag and reached for the thermos Ruen gave me earlier. After securing mine, I walked with the woman to her car.

Just seconds in, the rain started to thicken. I shivered at the thought of being stranded if she has just passed me by.

"Thank you. My name's Miranda," I shook her hand as she introduced herself as Harriette Gibbs.

She carefully drove us back in town, "what brings a young woman like you out in this terrible storm?"

"I was getting back from meeting a friend but I was not smart enough to check the car's condition before heading out here in the first place. What about you, Harriette? Aside from rescuing people like me, why are you braving the storm?" I inquired good-naturedly.

"I drove our guest to the ferry in the next town down there," she smiled, "I was not expecting to take a new one in along the road and this close to the holidays."

"Lucky me, I guess," I chuckled.

My phone rang this time. Answering the phone, I regretted having it so close to my ear in seconds.

"Mim!" Ruen's voiced laced with concern filled the line, "did you make it out before the storm? You ok?"

No doubt my rescuer heard that scream. Heck, my ear was ringing echoes with it.

"Calm down, Rue. My car broke meters from the town but Harriette saved me before the storm hit."

"Harriette?"

"She was so kind as to drive me back in town. I'll be staying in her inn to pass the bad weather."

"What inn? You in her car?" she spoke quickly, "can I speak to her? Put me up!"

Mothering hen.

"Ok... ok..." I told the woman that my friend wanted to talk to her before I put it on speaker.