Page 28 of The Grumpiest Elf

Dad lets out a relieved breath. “You think you can get yourself turned around without getting stuck?”

I look out the windows again. “Yeah. We haven’t been stopped that long. We’ll go slow and be careful, but we can get back to the place. Even if we have to hike back part of the way, we’ve got the blankets and changes of clothes”—we can always change back into our costumes if we absolutely have to, after all, and I just might change into my pants at least to get out of my wet jeans—“plus the building is heated and there’s a kitchen. We might be able to scrounge up some food.”

“Good. Okay. That’s good. Do that. I’ll keep in touch with the rescue teams and let you know when they get to you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Be safe,” he says before we both hang up.

Dropping my phone in the cup holder in the center console, I look at Lydia. “I guess we get to spend the night at your mom’s work,” I tell her.

She gives me a tight smile, and I appreciate the effort. At least she’s not hysterical or freaking out. “Yay,” she says in a small, faux cheerful voice. “Sleepover.”

That makes me chuckle as I put the car back in gear. “Hang on. This might get a little rough.”

* * *

At least when we arrive at Hudgins House this time, we don’t have to unload the whole truck. I pull the wool blankets Dad makes me keep in the truck from behind the seat, handing one to Lydia. “They’re a little scratchy, but they’re warm,” I tell her, and she gives me a wan smile.

“We might be able to find some other blankets or something inside, too,” she says as she pops open her door. “We can look, at least.”

She has the keys ready when we get to the door we left from not so long ago, though at this point it feels like it’s been ages after white knuckling the drive out and back and the empty parking lot with our earlier tracks almost covered. The snow’s still coming hard and fast. Dad might’ve sounded mildly optimistic about us getting out sometime tonight, but I have a feeling we’ll be here until morning at least.

Once inside, she fumbles around for a light switch and pulls her phone out of her pocket. “I’m going to let my mom know what’s happening, and I’ll go see what she has in her office. You want to look around and see if you find a good spot to spend the night? Then we can look for blankets. Worst case, they should have tablecloths. If nothing else, we can use those as a layer between us and the wool blankets, right?”

“Good thinking.” I watch her disappear down a hallway, her phone pressed to her ear, her shoulders hunched as though to ward off the cold. Or maybe just the stress of the evening.

Once she’s out of sight, I turn and head to the event room we were in. I’m not sure what I expect to find there, but it looks a lot like it did when we left, round tables still set up, but the dishes cleared and table linens stripped and gone. There’s nothing here, but at least it’s a familiar room. We could stay in here if I don’t find somewhere better.

Crossing the room, I push through into the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets as I go to see what’s available.

I meet up with Lydia again in the front lobby. She has her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and she looks a little lost. Her face brightens a bit when she sees me, and that sends a shot of warmth into my chest, spreading and making me feel better. Maybe it’s stupid to care about her feelings toward me at this exact moment, but I like that she’s happy to see me, even if it’s just because I’m the only other person here.

“Mom says we can raid her snack drawer. And she told me there should be some throw pillows and a couple of decorative blankets in one of the decor closets. We should do our best not to get them visibly dirty, but at least they’ll help us be more comfortable.”

“Score.” I offer her the most encouraging smile I can. It seems like Lydia’s trying to make the best of things. I can match that, at the very least. Being stuck all night with someone who can only complain will make us both more miserable. I don’t want to be that person either. “Did she say where those closets were?”

Lydia laughs softly. “She just said in the hall. The problem is, I’ve only been here like one other time, so I don’t really know my way around.”

“Well,” I say, clapping my hands together. “You’re in luck. My sister got married here, so I know my way around pretty well.” I hold out my elbow, offering her my arm like an old fashioned gentleman.

She looks at me, surprised, but then she dissolves into a smile and another soft laugh, hooking her arm through mine. “Lead the way, good sir.”

There’s no rush, after all, so we take our time opening every single door and exploring all the rooms and closets of Hudgins House, finding anything and everything we can to make the night better. Plus, the hunt is a distraction from the fact that we’re trapped here for an unknown amount of time.

About halfway through our explorations, our arms laden with the blankets and pillows Kim had mentioned, Lydia stops and bites her lip, looking at me. “Did your dad say when he thinks they might get the road open again?”

I shake my head and sigh. “No. There’s no way to know, honestly. With the plows and emergency crews already working overtime, it could be a while. Since Dad knows we’re safe here, that’ll bump us lower down the priority list. They’ll be working harder to get to stranded people who are hurt or in danger of hypothermia.”

Blinking hard, she looks away and nods. “Right. That makes sense.” Her exhale is shaky, then she barks out a laugh. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really glad you’re here.”

That makes me laugh too. “Me too. I mean, not that we’re stranded. But if I have to be stranded after a gig, I’d rather it be with you than Nora.”

She bats her eyes at me and lays a hand over her heart. “Awww. So sweet. You really know how to make a girl feel amazing.”

That has me laughing. “Says the girl who qualified her statement with her disbelief that she’d say she’s glad to be stuck with me.”

Grinning, she points at me. “Touché.”

---