KELLY O'GRADY

It was just after two PM when I entered the town of Stowe, Vermont. If I hadn't been so tired, I would have honked my horn and let out a whoop of triumph, but having been on the road since six that morning and fueled only by coffee and graham crackers, all I wanted was to just get home.

Home. What a lovely word. In the past eighteen months I'd survived an ugly divorce (are there any other kind?), sold my half of my beloved beach condo to my veterinarian ex-husband and his pregnant 21-year-old bimbo girlfriend (he met her when she was a waitress at Hooters, no less), quit my teaching job (art instructor at Santa Monica Junior College), bought an old Victorian cottage site unseen from an internet realtor (Century 21) and moved across the country to a place that I'd fallen in love with one evening while watching a show on the Travel Channel. Well meaning friends told me I was brave, adventurous, foolish, impulsive…indeed, I was all of these things.

But in spite of all these wonderful attributes, at that moment I was feeling a major case of frustration as I made my way up the picturesque road. My realtor, Leigh, had e-mailed directions, indicating that my house was located just after the covered bridge on Main Street, which I realized that I had just driven right past. Damn, I'd been driving for almost a week straight and was about at the end of my emotional tether. I wanted a bath, something to eat, and to sleep in my very own house that evening. I didn't even mind that my furniture wouldn't arrive until Wednesday. I'd just lay out my old sleeping bag and crash on the floor. After living in a cramped studio apartment for several months while I waited for the divorce to become final, this new house signified a fresh start and freedom. I had visions of a garden patio, pastel hued walls, shiny polished wood floors, a newly equipped gourmet kitchen (I had no one to cook for other than myself, but I was cautiously optimistic about that matter), a dog or cat (or both) purchased from the local ASPCA and setting up shop. Yes, I was planning to enter the world of a small business owner and becoming an entrepreneur.

I'd done my research. Stowe, Vermont had a booming tourist trade that operated full force 8 months out of the year, with the principle souvenir items falling into the crafts and clothing category. The home I purchased online had previously operated a successful hand knit sweater and quilting shop from the first floor. Some basic renovations were needed, but the plumbing had just been upgraded and with some TLC and a lot of elbow grease and several gallons of paint, I hoped to have things up and running by spring. I would sell what I knew; I had been a ceramics teacher for fifteen years and for the past five had been mastering the art of stained glass. I could sell my creations, allow patrons to glaze and fire their own personal coffee mugs for the kiln I was going to install in the back yard, and I was hoping to pick up some stained glass commissions brought in by all the renovation projects that were fueling the building boom that was sweeping through the town. I had it all graphed and figured down to the penny. What could possibly go wrong?

What did go wrong was that I wasn't paying attention to my driving as I pulled an illegal U-turn. In my haste and carelessness I failed to look in my rear view mirror - if I had, I would have noticed the silver SUV that was edging up on towards me the opposite side of the road. We both hit our brakes and swerved, but not in enough time to prevent impact. The front end of the SUV slammed into my passenger side

The jarring sound of the crash was horrifying but what was even more frightening was the unnatural silence that followed immediately afterward, as if space and time had somehow decided to stand still. The blood pounded in my ears while my heart felt as if it were about to burst from my chest. Daring to look over at the SUV, I watched in a daze as the driver got out of his car - he looked about fifty-ish and seemed to move in slow motion as he went around to the front of his car. All right, here it comes, I thought. He's going to sue my butt for sure. Clearly, the collision was my fault.

He surprised me though. Instead of first assessing the damage, he strode purposefully around to where I was sitting and leaned down to look into my window.

"Are you okay?"

A tinny, ringing sound echoed in my ears as I stared up at him, not quite able to hear and unable to find my voice, however my eyes seemed to be working just fine. He was an attractive man, with silver hair, glasses, lovely blue green eyes…

"Miss, are you okay?"

I realized that his question required an answer. I couldn't even remember my name at that moment but I somehow managed to spit out an answer. "Uh, I think so…"

Concern and relief seemed to be evident as his eyes gave me a quick once over. "I guess we'd better exchange insurance information…my car's a rental, so I'm covered, but your car…"

Oh yes, my car. My car! I shoved him aside none too gently with my door as I unbuckled my seat belt and darted out and around to assess the damage, almost twisting my ankle in my haste. Good Lord … I had a $1,000 collision deductible and the insurance company would probably refuse to pay out and if I'd only been paying attention to my driving … all I could do was stand and stare at the damage with my hand covering my mouth and tears quickly filling my eyes. Welcome to Vermont, Kelly. Only in town ten minutes and already you're screwed up.

The gentleman came up beside me and gently took hold of my arm. "Here, you'd better come sit down and get your bearings before there's another accident …" A large tractor trailer had just passed precariously close to where we stood. He led me away from the edge of the median and guided me over to the back passenger side door of his SUV.

"Here, sit." He opened up the door and my eyes locked onto his as I lowered myself onto the seat, unable to look away.

JEFF

Poor girl looked pretty rattled. "Can you tell me your name?" I asked as I ran a hand over her forehead. No bump. Both air bags had deployed at impact so hopefully she wasn't hurt.

"Of course I can tell you my name," she grinned. "Sorry, I'm just so tired. I've been driving since California."

"And you just now stopped?" I teased, looking for the pretty grin again.

"No, no, of course not. I bought a house, um," she looked around then back and pointed. "That house."

"Ah, I see. And your name?"

"Oh, right. Kelly. Kelly O'Grady."

"Well, Miss Kelly O'Grady. I'm Jeff Wigand, nice to meet you, dear." I held her hand long after we shook. Nice, warm, friendly. "Do you think you can drive that far? I'll follow and make sure you get inside safely, okay?"

She climbed into her vehicle and I into mine. The plan of course, was to keep an eye on her for a little while, make sure she was all right. Her energy seemed to heighten when I followed her inside the door. Nice old place, but it looked like it would need a little work, seemed the entire first floor was a shop of sorts. She stood in the middle of the opened space and spun on her toes.

"It's perfect!"

I glanced at the walls and the hardwood floors that needed a good polish and smiled. "Have you seen it before today?"

"Nope," she headed up the stairs. "Come on!"

I followed. Banister was a bit wobbly.

"I'll live up here," she announced, running from room to room then back down the steps and out of the door. When she returned with champagne, I was at the bottom of the steps. She popped the cork and poured two paper cups to the brim.

"Jeff Wigand, you're the only person I know on the entire east coast and I know I hit your car, but will you please celebrate my new life with me?"

"Of course I will." I sipped and watched her pretty face. This girl was very, very Irish. Soft auburn hair, beautiful green eyes. Simply delightful. And her smile? Tired but inviting. But how inviting?

There was a warmth blooming in my chest. Seldom do I come to Vermont without some emotional tug at my heart. Seeing the family, helping with the Inn when they needed me. It's always something special that makes me feel whole. But this trip was different. I'd done it … actually stopped the roller coaster and retired. I had nowhere to be and nothing important to do for the first time in my life. This trip was all mine; to replenish and think and make a few plans for the peaceful future. Life was an empty slate. In many ways, I was in the same position as this pretty young woman. Starting fresh.

But there was more than the similarity in our situations that was pulling me to her. It was Kelly. She had an enchanting energy about her. She was strong and fragile, confident and completely a mess all at once. She was absolutely perfect for me. But …

"Congratulations on your new home, Kelly. I'm just visiting Vermont for a few weeks, but perhaps we can see each other again before I leave?"

"Where are you staying?" The champagne was working fast, her voice was waning and her words were slurring just a little.

"Friends of mine, actually more like family, own an Inn up on the mountain. Maybe you've heard of it, the 1876 Manor at Mount Mansfield?"

"Oh yes, I have! I would love to see that place," she sat on the bottom step. "I hear it's lovely."

"Tell you what. You seem fine after our little encounter on Main Street. Why don't you get some rest and stop at the Inn tomorrow evening. I'll give you a tour of the place and take you to dinner there."

She looked like she was thinking hard. Ah well, maybe I'm just not her type. Kelly might like younger men, the kind with exciting careers, not an old fart like me who'd just retired. But she surprised me.

"I'd love that, Jeff. We can deal with the exchange of information then."

"Forget about that. For all the insurance people know, your smashed passenger door was a hit and run during the night. Let's not let your rates go up. So … about six tomorrow evening? It's very easy to find. Right up Mansfield Road. Watch for the signs. Can't miss it."

She stood and shook my hand again. "I'll be there."

I finished my wine. Stood a few more minutes until I felt like a fool. Say something or leave, Wigand! "Well … uh … better go. They're expecting me … get some rest, Kelly."