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grabbed her bowl and settled in.
    The falling white flakes out the window in front of her caught her attention. She had to admit, there was nothing that put a person in the holiday spirit more than snow.
    It was peaceful.
    Too peaceful. The house, so far removed from the neighbors and the road, was too quiet.
    Maybe that was why she couldn’t work. She was used to her apartment and all the noises that came with it.
    She got up, grabbed the remote control, and turned on the television. Ginny flipped through the channels until she found an old black and white movie. She lowered the volume until it was a soft drone and went back to the desk.
    A little background noise would make her feel more at home. She’d make quick work of the inbox and the soup, then get right back to her book.
    An hour later, Ginny’s soup bowl and inbox were both empty.
    The movie had ended and another began. She heard George Bailey’s familiar voice behind her and smiled. It's a Wonderful Life had come on the movie channel.
    It was a classic. One she made sure to watch every Christmas, but she hadn’t seen it yet this year. Who knew if the station would air it again tonight, and if she was traveling tomorrow she could miss it.
    Flipping the lid of the laptop closed, she stood. The book would still be there when the movie was done.
    Maybe a couple of hours spent away from staring at the screen would rejuvenate her. Moving to the sofa, she flopped onto the cushion and grabbed the throw to pull over her legs just as the station came back from a commercial break.
    One glance at the screen told Ginny it was the colorized version of the classic. She hated that. Black and white movies were meant to remain black and white, in her opinion.
    In silent protest, Ginny reached for the remote and changed the channel. She’d rather miss the movie than watch the bastardized version.
    The people who owned the home had every channel known to man, so she was pretty sure she’d be able to find something good to watch.
    “Today’s topic is how to find a man.” The words of the male host of a show she didn’t normally watch halted Ginny’s channel surfing. “We’re here with relationship expert Ronald Pearl, also known as the Love Doctor.”
    Just what she needed—some expert giving her advice, as if her mother didn’t do that enough.
    She was about to flip again when the guest said, “Single women are alone because subconsciously they choose to be alone.”
    She paused long enough to scowl at the idiot on the television who’d just delivered the ridiculous statement.
    The homeowner’s cat chose that moment to dart into the room. It sent a look of fear in Ginny’s direction and then skidded into the kitchen where the food and water bowls were.
    If Ginny couldn’t even get the damn cat to spend time with her, how was she supposed to do it with a man? She’d love to ask this expert that.
    Remote control still in her hand, she couldn’t bring herself to change the channel quite yet. Not until she’d heard what other bullshit this man had to say.
    The Love Doctor, who she doubted was really a doctor at all, continued, “Think of where you choose to work, to live, to shop, to recreate. Are these places where you are likely to meet the man of your dreams?”
    The doctor of course had spoken to a female audience member, but it seemed as if he addressed Ginny directly.
    She thought over her choices, mostly to try and disprove his theory, but the more she thought, the more she realized he was right.
    Rather than getting an office job, Ginny chose to work from home.
    For the holidays, the busiest time of the year for shopping, parties and just generally being around other people, she traded her city apartment for a house in the country, hours away from her friends and family.
    The only guy she’d be likely to meet while buried away here was the man who delivered the heating oil. She’d barely even caught a glimpse of the mailman since she’d been here because