The winner of this apple pie better appreciate it because I'm about to die attempting to deliver it.

The weather channel was way off with their prediction that the winter storm would begin this evening. It’s almost noon and in the eighteen minutes since I left Sugar Creek and ended up on this deathtrap of a mountain road, the weather cycled through stages like it had a schedule to keep. Clear skies, snow globe worthy flurries, white-out blizzard, bam, bam, bam without a break in between.

Gripping the steering wheel of my rented Jeep, I lean over my knuckles to peer out the windshield for any indication that I’m solidly on the road, but I can barely see the end of the hood through the snow. Creeping at a snail’s pace, I stay alert for headlights coming toward me and pray that none do. There’s nowhere to pull over if we end up in each other’s way and dying from a head-on collision in the middle of a blizzard on a remote road in the Rocky Mountains isn’t how I want to go out.

I had four months to poke around my temporary Montana home. But I waited until the day before I’m supposed to leave to visit Blasker’s Hill to grab a few scenic photos from the overlook. It turned out the pie winner lives on the way, so I volunteered to drop it off without realizing a major winter storm was right on my ass.

If I hadn’t procrastinated, I wouldn’t be here right now.

You shouldn’t have been a teacher. You’re a bad role model, Ember. You’re teaching the kids it’s okay to fuck around like you do instead of getting shit done.

The bitchy little voice creeps to the front of my mind. Once it starts yapping, it’s hard to shut it up. Just like my ex, Johnathon, who spewed the insults I can’t seem to forget.

Don’t eat that. You look frumpy today. You should smile more, Ember.

Come on, I’m just trying to help you be a better version of you.

Screw him. My family is currently in Punta Cana, Mexico enjoying the expensive tropical vacation he purchased as a surprise honeymoon and couldn’t get a refund for when I called off the wedding.

Scratchy prickles spread over my face and seep into my hairline.

I could have taken the vacation with my family and spent Christmas on the beach, but I wouldn’t have enjoyed it. The holiday is ruined for me now, but I’ll get through it, alone, in my Milwaukee apartment with Thai take out and a package of store-bought sugar cookies for Christmas dinner.

Curling my lip, I groan. It’s going to be a pathetic Christmas.

The chime of my cellphone startles me. Glancing at it on the passenger seat, I make a mad grab for it before putting my hand back on the wheel. Grabbing the tip of my mitten with my teeth, I pull it off so I can hit the answer button.

“Hello.”

“Ember? Where are... you... “

My chest swells with sudden comfort as my friend Meghan Bailey’s voice cracks over the line.

“Almost to the cabin. I think.”

Static crackles through the line.

“I’m so sorry for sending you. I should have brought him the pie myself.”

“I volunteered. It’s okay.”

“You... tomorrow?”

Static distorts her voice and the line drops. Shit.

Meghan and I formed a nice friendship while teaching together at the rural Sugar Creek school. Her brother won the pie that’s currently causing me so much distress. She’d begged me to stay until Christmas Eve, so I’d be here for the school’s winter festival. But I’ll be on a plane while the festivities are in full swing.

Bitter guilt coats the back of my mouth. The kids were so disappointed when they learned I wouldn’t be here, and it bothers me that I made them sad. Their little voices pleading with me to stay will haunt me for a while.

The wind parts the flurries again, giving me a quick peek of grayish-black smoke curling around the trees ahead on my left. The road makes a sharp left, which must be the turn Meghan mentioned when she gave me directions to her brother’s cabin. Grateful for the foresight to rent a four-wheel drive SUV, I take the turn and traverse up a slight hill. The road veers left into a driveway that slices through a wall of thick pine trees.

My tires struggle on the slick ground but find enough grip to ease me up another hill.

“Oh, thank goodness.”

My shoulders drop in relief as the trees open into a clearing. The flurries are thinner here and I can just make out a house and billowing smoke. I’ve never been so glad to park in a stranger’s driveway before. Whipping off my stocking cap, I lean against the seat and enjoy the peace of mind of not driving anymore.

I hope this man doesn’t mind if I sit in my Jeep for a while and ride out the storm. I have water, extra blankets, and a full tank of gas so I can let the vehicle run for heat if I need to.

Meghan has five brothers, and I can’t recall which one she said won the pie. She gave me the run down on each of them, but I don’t recall much because I purposely wasn’t listening. Once she said they were all single, I checked out because it was clear what she was trying to play subtle matchmaker. I’d rather pull out my own wisdom teeth than get involved with a man right now.

I run my fingers along my hairline, take a breath, and put the hat back on. I have to get out eventually; might as well get it over with. Gritting my teeth, I hunch my shoulders around my ears as I get out to a blast of icy wind. Snow reaches my calves as I trudge to the front porch and go up the steps. The covered, wrap-around porch partially blocks the snow, but I’m already freezing by the time I get to the door.

A porch light glows above me and softly illuminates the cabin’s smooth, weather-grayed logs. Light glows from the windows bracketing the front door and I catch the flicker of a fireplace from inside. It looks so cozy. And warm.

The back of my neck prickles as I knock. Looking behind me, I feel silly when I find nothing there but snow. Then again, the snow is so thick, I'd never see something coming until it was too late.

I knock faster.

The sense that something is behind me multiplies by a thousand.

My dangling mistletoe earrings are freezing on my earlobes and my head is itching like crazy.

Come on Meghan’s brother, answer the door. “Pie delivery! Hello?”