Winter's Icy Heart

December 20

The cab driver swerved to avoid a collision with the sedan that followed. He maneuvered the cab expertly, missed the curb on their left, but spun out in the parking lot of alone convenient store. A scream caught in Winter’s throat as the cab skidded sideways across the snow-slicked road then came to a stop inches away from a bright yellow crash post. She clutched her daughter, Andrea, to her chest as she thanked God that they didn’t crash.

“Get out of the cab, Winter.” His harsh tone was loud and promised pain.

Winter closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Only, there was no time to get herself together. Her eyes popped just as the passenger door of the cab was pulled open. Cold air and snow overcame the warmth inside the cab almost immediately.

“Leave us alone, Terry,” Winter told him.

Terry grabbed Winter by the arm; his fingers dug into her skin as he pulled her across the leather backseat. Winter struggled to keep hold of her daughter as she was yanked out of the cab. Her foot slipped on the snow and she would have gone down but Terry jerked her arm above her head. She had to tighten her free arm around her daughter as she danced on her tiptoes to gain traction.

“Get her fucking bags out of the truck, cabbie,” Terry yelled to her driver.

The cab driver looked at Winter with imploring eyes. He stood by the driver’s side door with one fisted hand on the hood and the other on the door of his cab. It was clear that he wasn’t sure if he should help. This wasn’t his fight and Winter had no desire to involve him in her mess. No one else should have to suffer for her choices.

Winter nodded her snow-covered head to convey to the cab driver that it was alright to take her things out of the trunk. Only, the cab driver stayed in place.

“Get. Her. Shit,” Terry yelled again.

Winter looked the cab driver over. He was an older gentleman with a studious demeanor about him. There was no way he could win a physical confrontation with Terry, and she hoped he knew that. She was certain he’d get hurt.

“Can you get my things out of the trunk, please?” Winter told the cab driver.

“Are you sure miss?” The man looked torn.

“She’s sure,” Terry answered for her.

Winter stared into Terry’s hard blue eyes for several heartbeats then nodded. The cab driver went to the rear of his cab and took out her two suitcases, then Andrea’s little character case and placed them next to Terry’s car.

With the luggage out of the cab, Terry relaxed his hold on her. Winter tried to pull her arm free of his grasp but he squeezed tighter then gave her a threatening look before letting her arm go.

Unrestricted, Winter was able to support Andrea’s small body better. She used her body to cover her daughter as best she could as she took in her surroundings. They were in front of a 24-hour convenient store that was decked out with red and green Holiday décor. The store and the parking lot were brightly lit but Winter saw no one inside. What she did see was a huge black dog that sat under the awning in front of the store’s door. Dogs usually frightened Winter but Terry owned the rights to her fear these days.

“Put the kid in the car, Winter,” Terry said from behind her.

Winter turned her attention back to the thorn in her side. He stood there as if he were a King and that all the world should bow to his will as snow fell over him. He picked up one of her suitcases that sat on the ground and held the back door of his car open.

If I put Andrea in that car seat, we will never be free.

The chill she felt was nothing compared to the fear that pulsed through her body. On shaky legs, Winter took a careful step back, then two more. The snow seemed to pick up the moment she made her decision. If that was a good or bad sign, she didn’t know, but Winter prayed for the storm to be in her favor. Her name was Winter after all.

“I swear to God, Winter,” Terry yelled, “You’re pissing me the fuck off.”

“Leave the lady alone,” the cabbie called out. He sounded scared but he did speak up for her.

That gave Winter a bit of needed strength. She took a few more steps back when Terry whipped his head around to stare at the cabbie.

“Shut the fuck up old man, before I shut you up.” Terry turned his angered attention back on her.

Winter backed away from Terry until the heel of one of her feet met the curb’s edge. She kept her eyes on Terry and used her foot to feel her way onto the sidewalk that led to the door of the store. If she could just get inside, maybe the clerk had protection hidden in the store?

When she took another step back, something large stepped into her path, and effectively shielded her from Terry.