Chapter 1
The air was crisp; you could almost smell snow. Jo rushed through the doors of the store. She was on a lunch run. No time today for a real lunch
hour, so she was headed to the Starbucks across the street for much needed caffeine and a croissant. It was only eleven but already she was feeling
the fatigue of the biggest shopping day of the year. They had all arrived at five this morning to prepare for the early bird shoppers and door buster
sales that the store had advertised in the Thanksgiving Day papers. All the clerks had been going non-stop since the doors opened and the only thing
Jo was grateful for was the fact that she didn�t work in the toy department. As the Assistant Manager of the children�s department they had their
fair share of shoppers but nothing like toys. She worked her way to the curb and waited along with all the other pedestrians for the light to change.
With the weather having turned cold it now felt like Christmas. For Jo, Christmas meant snow, hot chocolate, a roaring fire and skating on the lake.
She would never be one to spend this holiday in a warmer clime. She pulled up the collar of her coat as the light changed and she made her away to
the coffee shop.
She could barely make her way inside. Seemed every place was crowded today. Jo inched her way to the counter and took her place in line. From the
looks of things, she would be here a while. Slowly she made her way to the front of the line only to be cut off by an irate customer complaining that
she had been there first. Jo wasn�t in the mood to argue and gave up her place just to have the woman leave. As she checked her watch and just
knew that they were waiting for her back in the store she felt a tap on her arm.
"Here take my place. You look like you are in a hurry." Jo looked up into the most beautiful pair of blue eyes she had ever seen.
"No. It�s all right really."
"I insist." He took her hand and pulled her into his line while he moved into her place.
"What will you have," the young clerk asked. Jo, looked at the young man and then back to the clerk. The man nodded to her and Jo gave her
order.
"Vanilla Latte and a chocolate croissant." She turned to her benefactor. "Thank you, but it wasn�t necessary." He had the nicest smile to go along
with those eyes.
"My good deed for today," he grinned.
"Well I really appreciate it. It�s a very busy day." The clerk returned with her order and Jo paid her. "Thank you again." Brian nodded and watched
her as she left the store.
~*~*~*~*~
Brian strolled through the center of town, sipping his coffee. You could feel the excitement in the air. People hustled to and fro, eager to get all the
bargains and he just slipped in with the crowds as they filled the streets of downtown Lexington. He was sure the malls were just as crowded, but
there was something about walking the streets of the city to catch the sights, sounds and smells of the season. California just didn�t measure up when
it came to drinking in the holiday atmosphere.
He had been living out there so long now he was beginning to feel like a native. But in the last few months he felt a strange pull to come home and
not just to visit. He had no ties in LA, except for Kevin and Kristin. But they always found their way home too. As much as they loved the West
Coast, they, too, realized that the Kentucky countryside was the place to come and relax. But Brian was fed up with the false smiles and shallowness
of the people. People just didn�t get together for fun; everyone was always working an angle. He knew it was time to leave. He wanted a simpler life.
He could work anywhere and with modern technology new songs and contracts could be transmitted in a matter of minutes. So he was home for the
holidays to begin a new life back in the heart of his beloved Kentucky. As he came to the town square he noticed that workers were beginning to
ready the site for the arrival of the city�s Christmas Tree. He�d missed too many tree lighting ceremonies and this year he would be front and center
as the lights came on.
He dropped his cup in the trash bin and found himself on the edge of the university campus. He has spent his childhood dreaming of playing for the
Wildcats. But God seemed to have a different road for him to travel, not that he was complaining. His years as a pop star had provided money and a
lifestyle that he never dreamed possible and it also gave him the opportunity to help his parents enjoy a comfortable retirement. But for all the
glamour and notoriety, Brian missed having someone to share it with. His one chance at marriage had evaporated before they ever got to the altar.
Each wanting the brass ring and thinking they could have it all, only to find that neither one was willing to compromise. So they both walked away and
to this day it hurt to know that he had given up love in his life for a career.
Brian checked his watch. It was mid afternoon. His stomach growled and he picked up his pace. He stopped at a deli and picked up a
sandwich, which he consumed as he drove home. His dad would be waiting. It was tradition. All the Christmas decorations needed to be
pulled from the attic and sorted by his mom before anything could be put up. Brian knew the rest of the weekend would be spent
checking lights and creating a tasteful yet festive adornment for the house. Oh it was good to be home.
Chapter 2
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