Winter is coming

 

The cold vortex was coming. Or so the weatherman kept insisting, but of course, they'd all been wrong on all the local news channels. It had been dry to the bone lately, with a chance of a wild fire. There was a smokey haze over the hills.

Sal looked out wondering what it might have been like when it was just a frontier. He could only imagine it might not have been as quiet as expected. Somedays, he thought of jovial conversations between the natives and the foreigners.  Other times, quite frightful. Although, he'd never given much thought to write a western. He sipped his lukewarm coffee, thinking winter time brought his best writing. But then again, he was usually alone. But not this year.

He sighed as he returned to real-time, the bar and what they needed to worry about if the pipes froze or the power shut off. He went to check on various compartments in the kitchen of his establishment. Of course, he was about to tell Aaron to go home to Jody. No one was coming. Most folks were still stocking up at the grocery store before the storm. Hopefully, Fan would see to that. Although, he wasn't expecting it.

Of course, he couldn't let on he knew her that well, but he did. She meant well, but she did get sidetracked easily. He never asked. The less arguing made live a little easier, but he knew she thrived in arguing. It made everything so much more lively. But these days, she smiled more. She talked more to those in need where she worked. 

He thought it was a good thing. He just hoped she would be wise. It was the holidays. There were still some scary folks out there. 

About then the door jingled. There was a customer, after all. A stranger, in fact.

"We're about to close," he told the fellow who looked as if he'd been through a lot and yet always came out looking better than he should.

"Can't I, at least have a beer?"

Sal nodded. 

"What ya have?"

"Whatever's handy." He grumbled.

Sal did as he was told. He was straight-lipped, wondering if this was going to have to do with Fan. Just what he needed another old flame to deal with. As it was, he thought he knew them all. She usually liked to bring them up when she was drunk. Of course, he considered it all half-truths and her wayward romantic thinking.

Although, he couldn't smile about it. Still she was like a fire he'd always been drawn to. Still, it always made him a little sad. He felt he'd never quite win her over, even if she was living with him now. Why did he have to be so pessimistic?

They'd had such a great Thanksgiving. All her kids were there. Lots of laughter and good times. They'd even gathered together for a family photo. Even Fan wanted to take the photo to the local maker's space to see if she could put it on a dozen or so tees for Christmas presents.

"I don't think there's that many of us," he'd said about it then, but of course, she might have something else in mind. It was best not to ask.

So he gave the stranger a mug of foamy beer. After a sip or two with a foamy mustache, the guy asked, "I hear my son works here?"

"Oh." Sal drew a blank. He couldn't imagine who. 

"I was hoping you could help me out," he gave Sal a dead stare.

"Well," Sal sighed. "There's Aaron, he's cleaning the oven at the moment."

"Aaron." He grinned then as if he liked the name. He laughed as if he got an inside joke.

"Aaron!" Sal shouted. Maybe he saw a resemblance. God, this was not the Christmas he was expecting.