The Holiday Swap
A Festive Novella
Chapter 1
It was unbelievable how a couple of snow flurries could make everyone in Boston suddenly forget how to drive, Ally Walker mused, frustrated as she sat in the back of the taxi winging its way to the airport.
Granted, it wasn’t often they made it all the way till December without any significant accumulations.
But none of that especially mattered right now. All she could think about was making her flight.
“Outta the way!” her cab driver remonstrated as the car in front stopped suddenly at the airport terminal’s no stopping zone.
Ally scooted towards the edge of the back seat in an attempt to see out of the windshield. “You know what … this is good. I can walk the rest of the way.”
The driver pulled up to the curb, and tapping her phone to pay him, (adding a nice holiday tip) she exited the car quickly and hopped round back to grab her stuff from the trunk. Extending the pull handle of her carry-on suitcase, she was off and running into the terminal building, not even letting her three inch pumps slow her down.
Using her free hand to pull her trench coat tighter around her body and her wool sheath dress, Ally attempted to create a barrier against the bitter cold. And questioned what she could have been thinking this morning not wearing pantyhose while bitter snow flurries pelted her bare legs.
Inside, she made it to the security line in quick time. After years of practice, Ally could do this in her sleep. Which was fortunate because after a non-stop work day that began at 5am this morning, shefelthalf asleep.
“Come on, come on,” she muttered impatiently as she waited for the airline app to load so she could pull up her digital boarding pass.
But with ‘no reservation found’ displaying onscreen, Ally reluctantly gave up her place in the line to call her assistant.
“Walters Tech,” Mel answered, in her most professional and chipper voice.
“It’s me,” Ally greeted, trying not to make herself sound too demanding, but time was of the essence. “Why can’t I check in for my flight?”
“You know you’re not with your usual, right? They don’t fly into your friend’s location. I thought I’d mentioned that. ”
Ally winced. She hated changes of plan.
“I didn’t know that. Text me the info? Maybe if I run to the gate I can still make it.”
“Yeah you’re cutting it kinda close, considering…”
“I had to make a stop by my apartment on the way,” Ally explained, glancing at the garment bag laid carefully on top of her luggage, sequins sparkling brightly through the plastic covering.
She’d fallen instantly in love with the dress nearly four years ago when she happened to pass by it in a department store window and threw caution to the wind, purchasing it without any particular occasion in mind.
Since then the gown had been sitting in her closet, just waiting for the right moment to shine. And in her suitcase was a gorgeous pair of silver heels with jewelled straps she’d purchased a week later to match.
Just in case an opportunity presented itself, which it seemed would happen this weekend, courtesy of Ally’s best friend Lara’s invite to the Snow Ball, a gala event being held in her Maine hometown.
A girl couldn’t just wear any old shoes withthatdress.
Ally hadn’t put much else thought into packing for this particular visit though, since her friend had more clothes than Saks and she and Lara were pretty much the same size.
Lara’s was by all accounts averysmall town, so she figured most other outings while there would call for a pretty casual dress code.
Besides, the visit was just a short festive diversion from her final destination; Florida, which called for shorts, bikinis and not a whole lot else.
Ally always preferred to travel light.
“You wouldn’tbelievehow crowded the airport is today,” she muttered to Mel now.
Ally had flown over 100,000 miles that year, and never had to fight her way through this many people. All of them just taking their time, walking in large groups, talking, laughing, carrying huge wrapped gifts.
