Page 1 of Once Upon a December
Chapter One
Felix Michaelson was lost in suburbia. He’d been to the upscale neighborhood where his parents had recently moved at least a dozen times already but during all of those visits he’d been a passenger in someone else's car. He’d noted the large houses and sprawling lawns that all resembled each other but only with passing attention. Now, as he turned down yet another street with a name straight out of the French Revolution, he wondered if the cookie cutter McMansions were really identical or if he’d somehow looped back to a street he’d already been down.
When he pulled his Prius to a stop at the next intersection, he whipped off his sunglasses and squinted up and down the streets again. It was weird. There were no cars parked against the curb. No vehicles lining driveways even in the homes that weren’t set off from the street with large gated entrances. In fact, there wasn’t a single soul in sight, as if the residents had up and deserted their lush surroundings at the first hint of cold weather.
Rich people. Felix scoffed to himself as he grabbed his cell phone and tried to make sense of the directions his mother had sent him. Rich babies, he amended when he saw a text from a college friend bemoaning the extended forecast and asking to reschedule their attempt to meet over the holiday until it warmed back up to a reasonable temperature.
The thermostat on his dashboard read fifty-four degrees and the sun was high in the sky, spilling warm rays down to glint off the hood of his car.
Felix wasn’t a big fan of cold weather either. He hated snow and thought ice was something the devil himself had invented. But there wasn’t a drop of white moisture in sight and his sweater, jeans and combat boots had been more than enough to keep him warm today. So he didn’t understand the complaints or the empty streets when the weather was downright beautiful in his humble opinion.
Another thing he didn’t understand was the total and complete lack of holiday decorations in this neighborhood. It gave the empty streets a sad, lonely vibe that unnerved him. Before he’d turned into the White Oak District, as it had been dubbed by the locals due to the massive white oak trees that lined the streets, each and every street corner, lamppost, storefront and home in Knights Port had sported an array of decorations in red and green, gold and silver and white.
On Canal Street, near where he lived in a converted condo, it looked as if Christmas had thrown up and that was just the way Felix liked it.
He loved Christmas. It was his favorite holiday. Always had been.
What was to dislike? There was good food and lots of it. His entire family got together under one roof to celebrate. There were presents for everyone and Santa treated the kids to stockings full of goodies. Festive music played on repeat and classic movies were always there to reminisce with until late in the night. There were lights and carols and sometimes there was even snow.
But he seemed to have stumbled into the town that Christmas forgot. It was a total bummer. It was also how he knew he hadn’t passed his parents’ house. They’d decorated the new house to the rafters the day after Thanksgiving so he knew in this barren landscape he’d be able to spot the festive yard from a mile away. At least he would once he found the right street.
The cell phone in his hand rang suddenly. The tinkling notes of Jingle Bells began and he grinned to himself as he let the familiar, jolly melody play for a moment before answering. His oldest sister always had a knack for knowing when he was in trouble or needed help so he wasn’t surprised at all that she was calling now.
“Hey Rox.” He flipped the speakerphone on and glanced in his rearview mirror in time to notice a car was coming up behind him on the otherwise deserted street.
“Don’t‘hey Rox’me.” His oldest sister huffed, “Where are you? You were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago.”
“I’m almost there. I just got a little turned around.”
“I swear,hermanito, it is a wonder you don’t get lost in your own head.” Roxanne gave an affectionate sigh, “Where are you?”
“All these streets look exactly the same. I think I’ve been down this road twice already and…”
A loud honk sounded so close that Felix jumped and fumbled the phone. He cursed under his breath as he glanced out the window to watch a sporty black Audi swing around him. The driver of the vehicle threw a hand up in frustration as he passed and then the vehicle was gone, roaring down the street in a streak. The only thing left behind was Felix’s racing heart and the sound of his sister’s voice coming from the floorboard where his phone had fallen when he dropped it.
“Felix? Felix? Fe! Are you there?”
“Sorry. Sorry.” He picked it up, putting it to his ear this time and trying to stem the panic in Roxanne’s voice. “Sorry I dropped the phone.”
“What was that? Were you in an accident? It sounded like…”
“Some asshole honked at me like I was blocking his way or something.” Felix glared at the empty street where the car had disappeared. “The road is deserted. He could’ve gone around me without being a prick about it.”
“You’re pulled off to the side?”
“Yes, mom.” He groaned at what sounded like the beginning of a reprimand but instead of rising to the bait his sister ignored him.
“Where are you exactly?” Roxanne insisted and after a quick glance at the street signs he relayed his location which caused her to laugh and no doubt roll her eyes on the other end of the line, “Fe, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Keep going straight down the road you’re on and eventually you’ll see the cul-de-sac where Mom and Dad live.”
“So I’m not lost?” He managed a grin.
“Oh, you’re definitely lost, little brother.” Roxanne laughed again, “Now hurry up. I’m hungry and Mama insists we must wait for herbaby boyto serve dinner.”
“I’m coming. I’m coming.” He chuckled but Roxanne had already hung up on him.
Felix sighed and tossed his cell phone in the passenger seat. As he pulled back onto the road, he realized he was heading the same direction the asshole in the Audi had gone. He kept an eye out for the expensive car but again, the streets were empty and there was no flashy sports car in any of the driveways.
Not that it mattered, he told himself. What was he going to do if he did see the car? Go up and knock on the door of the house? Demand an apology? Kick the tires and risk scuffing a vehicle he could in no way afford? Nope. He swallowed down his annoyance with the rude driver and turned the Christmas music playing from the radio back up as he slowly rolled down the street.
