Nina returned to the pickup zone of Rudolph’s. Under the lights illuminating the delivery driver bays, the asphalt shone with morning dew. This marked her second batch of pickups without the rising sun. The cold seeped into her bones, and the coffee she had consumed earlier ceased warming her. Nina rubbed her hands together, trying to generate some heat, but it was no use. The cold was relentless.

She parked her silver Dodge Journey in the designated loading zone and hopped out. The wind whipped around her, making her teeth chatter. Nina rubbed her arms over the long sleeves, wishing she had worn something thicker than an old college sweatshirt. At least the dispensers would soon bring out the deliveries to load.

The early hour, perhaps her sleepiness, made the figure emerging from the loading door seem backlit, angelic.

Nina squinted her eyes at the figure. Her skin was tight and smooth, with long platinum hair pulled back into a ponytail. She had a bright smile on her face, and her eyes sparkled with energy. The figure was Rachel. She was a breath of fresh air, even wearing a yellow safety vest.

“Good morning, Nina!” Rachel called out with a wave, her voice bright and cheerful. “You’re up early!”

Nina smiled, returning the wave. A small spark of warmth ignited in her chest. “Morning, Rachel. I could say the same.”

Rachel laughed, a sound like tinkling bells, her head shaking. “I’ve been up for hours. I love the quiet of mornings. Allows me to catch up on shopping these orders,” Rachel said, gesturing to the dolly stacked with Rudolph’s purple totes behind her. “We are going to need help loading these packages. Liam will be out soon to help us.”

Nina nodded, her eyes scanning the totes. “Looks like a busy day for you.”

Rachel ignored her comment, grinning instead with recognition. Her gaze held Nina’s. “I realized you’re always here in the morning. Are you a morning person too?”

Nina laughed. “You could say that. Though I wouldn’t mind sleeping in now and then,” Nina replied.

Rachel’s grin widened. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Well, you know what they say, ‘The early bird gets the worm.’ In your case, the early delivery driver gets... well, a lot of deliveries.” She winked, and Nina couldn’t help but laugh.

Liam emerged from the loading door, his dark brown hair tousled and his eyes still heavy with sleep. He rubbed his hands together, blowing into them to warm them up. “Morning, Nina. You’re up early,” he said, his voice gruff from sleepiness.

“I already said that, honey.” Rachel said with narrowed eyes as she nudged Liam with her elbow.

Liam grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Well, good to see you anyway, Nina. Ready to tackle this mountain of totes?” He gestured to the full dolly behind Rachel. They were a couple, and their chemistry was palpable. They moved in sync. Their banter flowed with little effort, and Nina experienced a pang of envy at their youthful energy.

Nina nodded. “Sounds good.” She began loading the deliveries into her silver Dodge Journey, her movements slow and deliberate. Her body ached from the cold and the early morning, but the banter between Rachel and Liam was a welcome distraction. The warmth of their relationship chased away the morning chill.

Liam stepped closer, his voice a low rumble. “Here, let me load the heavy items for you ladies first.” He flashed her a grin, his eyes twinkling in the darkness.

Liam lifted the heavy cases of water with ease. His muscles flexed beneath his shirt, and Nina admired the strength in his arms. A strange sensation, a fluttering long absent, was present in her chest. Her gaze flicked away, focusing on the smaller deliveries instead. She was a married woman, after all. Experiencing such a sensation was inappropriate. Nina sighed, pushing the thoughts away. Her work demanded her attention.

An elegant hand caressed her hip. “I just love this color of tights on you, Nina,” Rachel said with a mischievous grin. She ran her fingers down Nina’s thigh, tracing the fullness of the older woman’s curves. “It brings out the blue in your eyes.”

Nina’s eyes widened in surprise. Her curves bounced as she reflexively jumped. “Oh, um, thank you, Rachel,” she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep red. She sought Liam’s attention, but his back was to them as he loaded the last of the items into her Dodge. Nina sensed the heat of Rachel’s gaze on her, and she shifted her weight, wondering if she should respond. She had never been one for compliments, especially from someone so young and vibrant.

“In this light, the fabric sparkles.” Rachel’s fingers lingered on Nina’s thigh, the heat of her touch seeping through the fabric of her yoga pants.

Nina fidgeted. Rachel’s touch wasn’t inappropriate, but it was intimate. Nina was unsure how to react. The young woman’s touch was like a balm, soothing the aches and pains of her weary soul. She leaned into it, just a little, before snapping back to reality.

“Oh, thanks, Rachel. There are metal flakes woven into them. They sparkled more when I was younger... I mean, when they were new.” She replied with a gasp and widened the gap between them.

“Rachel,” Liam said, his wide back still to them as he shut the rear door to Nina’s Dodge, “we should get back inside. It’s getting cold out here.”

Rachel giggled and stepped back, her hands raised in surrender. “You’re right, Liam. We wouldn’t want Nina to catch a cold.” She winked at Nina, a playful glint in her eye. “We’ll see you later, Nina. Safe travels.”

Nina watched as the young couple disappeared back through the loading door, their laughter echoing behind them. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of confusion that had settled over her.

The interaction with Rachel and Liam left her invigorated but unsettled. She climbed into her Dodge Journey, the warmth of the heated seat enveloping her once more. Nina took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. The warmth of Rachel’s touch remained on her thigh. Nina wasn’t a flirt, but there was something about Rachel and Liam, their energy, their youth, that drew her in.

Nina started the engine, the rumble of the old Dodge filling the quiet morning air. The brief smell of gasoline reminded her of a problem with the vehicle that would require an expensive repair she and Gerald hadn’t saved up for.

She glanced at the clock on the dashboard, her eyes widening as she realized how late she was running. The deliveries wouldn’t wait, and she had a long day ahead of her. She shifted her Dodge into gear, exiting the loading zone while the morning events still preoccupied her thoughts. Nina navigated the familiar streets, distracted. The ghost of Rachel’s touch remained on her thigh, and she shifted in her seat. Despite focusing on her task, she could not ignore the memory. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and longing.

The morning had advanced enough that the sun rose, casting a golden hue over the quiet suburban streets. New, pristine houses lined the street, each with manicured lawns and fences with fresh paint. The scene was idyllic, but it seemed remote to her. She could not shake her disconnection from the world around her. The warmth of the heated seat was a stark contrast to the cold reality returning to her life. The smell of exhaust filled the air, and Nina tried to focus on the road ahead. She had to keep moving, but her body grew heavier. The caffeine she had consumed earlier was wearing off, and she sensed the fatigue creeping back in.

Sadly, Liam’s reaction to her look and Rachel’s touch were likely to be the most thrilling moments of her day.