Andrew Jackson eased his pickup truck into his usual parking spot in front of the café and turned off the engine. A strong north wind blew the falling snow across the windshield where it immediately began to pile up around the wipers.
“Ugh,” said Rose, who was in the passenger seat next to Andrew. “I don’t want to open the door. The wind is going to hurt my face. Let’s just go back home.”
“I know how you feel, love,” said Andrew. “But Grant and Karen are already here, waving at us through the window, so leaving now would be a tad awkward. Also, I really want some sausage and eggs. And coffee.”
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Are we going to call this meeting to order or what?” Brady Jackson leaned back in his chair and looked…
“Ah yes, coffee,” said Rose. “That’s the motivation I need.” She pulled the hood of her parka around her face and opened her door. “Let’s make a dash for it.”
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” Grant Toews spoke with a grin as Andrew and Rose seated themselves at the table by the window, where Grant and his wife Karen were already well into their first cups of coffee. “Better late than never.”
“That’s what they say,” said Andrew. “Although it depends where you’re going I suppose.”
“Speaking of going,” said Rose, “weren’t the two of you going to be in Las Vegas this weekend? Don’t tell me you stayed here in this frigid wasteland just so you could have breakfast with us? When you could be lounging by a pool in the hot sun of Nevada?”
“Breakfast with you is a definite draw,” said Karen. “Especially when you stack it up against a Celine Dion show.”
“I hear you,” said Andrew. “It’s one of the reasons I hesitate to vacation in Vegas. I’m afraid I might suddenly find myself at Celine’s show. And equally afraid that I might enjoy it. All my street cred would go down the drain.”
“I know, right?” said Grant. “It’s hard to maintain that Canadian disdain for her when you’re faced with the undeniable reality of how she can sing. Best just to stay away.”
“So that’s why you didn’t go to Vegas?” said Rose. “To avoid Celine Dion?”
Karen shook her head. “Full disclosure,” she said, “we were actually planning to see her show. But we weighed the pros and cons and decided that maybe it wasn’t the absolute best time to fly to the U.S.”
“Who needs to go to Vegas when you can watch the whole circus on TV every night on the news?” said Grant.
Andrew picked up the coffee cup that had just appeared on the table in front of him. “Those are very valid points,” he said. “Celine Dion notwithstanding, what you really want to be avoiding in the United States now is the airports.”
“That was our conclusion,” said Grant. He paused for a second. “And who would ever have thought that we’d be cancelling a trip to the U.S. because of political instability, eh? Weird.”
“I would have,” said Andrew. “I’ve always thought the American system was insane and couldn’t possibly sustain itself in the long run and would eventually be corrupted by corporate greed and ideological dogmatism to the point where it would vote itself right out of existence.”
“No you haven’t,” said Rose. “You’ve never thought that.”
“You’re right,” said Andrew. “I haven’t. But it sounds pretty good when I say it now, right?”
“That depends on your definition of good,” said Karen. “I’d say it sounds more accurate than good.”
“Still, it’s a shame to cancel a holiday for any reason,” said Rose. “Are you just going to stay home then?”
“If by home you mean in Canada, then yes,” said Karen. “But not home home. We’re going to Whistler.”
“Oh nice!” said Rose. “I’ve always wanted to go to Whistler!”
“Well, you can’t come,” said Karen. “No offence.”
“What?” said Rose. “Are you afraid I’d kill the romantic vibe?”
“Yes,” said Karen. “Yes I am.”
“I totally would too,” said Rose.
“I know,” said Karen. “And we’ve rented such a nice private chalet, with a hot tub and a sauna and two fireplaces. And a king-size bed.”
“Two fireplaces are so important,” said Andrew. “That way if you have a fight you can each go sulk in front of your own fireplace. It’s doubly romantic.”
“Good thinking,” said Grant. “I hadn’t even thought of that. Ouch,” he added as Karen kicked him under the table. “We’re definitely not going to have any fights though.”
“That’s right,” said Karen.
“I hope it’s not too cold,” said Rose.
“If it’s not nice outside, we’ll stay inside,” said Karen.
“So Canadian, eh?” said Andrew.
“Eh.” said Grant. “Absolutely.”
