Page 27 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Can you please not make jokes right now? I’m trying to figure out whether you’re a psycho or Santa Claus.” Juliet sat on the edge of the bed, hanging her head between her knees.
“Sorry. I wish I was a psycho, if it made this easier to digest. Not a Klaus either, but I can introduce you.”
She scowled at him, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Santa Claus? Is real?”
“Yes, in a way. Sorry – no more jokes, I promise.” He crossed his heart and knelt beside her. “I swear that no harm will come to you here. You weren’t supposed to come here for a few more weeks– not until you already knew about Yule.”
“Who are you? Really?” she begged. She’d felt bad enough finding out that Will had known all along about her dad wanting to set them up, but this felt like a new level of betrayal. How could she trust anything he’d said to her?
“I’m still me. The only part I left out was that I’m a Guardian of Yule. I help those who live in Yule assimilate with the Outside world when they leave. My recruitment company helps them with new identities, colleges, work– whatever my charges need to go to and from Yule with no risk of exposing its existence.”
“So… you’re my guardian?”
“No, but being a guardian gave me access to you. Getting you the Frost chest was a favour for a friend.”
“A favour? For who?” Juliet asked, remembering the letter had mentioned her mom. Her heart began to race. “Was it my mom? Is she from here?”
“I can’t tell you that for now.” Will clenched his jaw. “I was supposed to keep an eye on you while you discovered the truth about Yule and the Frost family, and to make sure you didn’t do anything to put Yule at risk. That night at the hotel bar, I crossed the line.”
He was watching me; that’s how he knew who I was. Oh God, how could I have been so foolish as to trust a stranger?Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little peeved that he sounded like he regretted what had happened between them.
“Too late for regrets, considering we’ve already slept together. Can’t really get more involved than that – or was that just a favour as well?” she demanded, glaring up at him. She felt like a fool.Of course he said all the right things that night. He already knew so much about me.
“I don’t regret that night or meeting you. I regret making this situation more complicated for you,” he said earnestly.“You might not trust me now, but I need to get you out of here. As I mentioned, you aren’t supposed to be here – not yet, anyway. Please get dressed and get some food into you. Eating will help with bell travel. We can get you home before Margot realises you’re gone, and I’m trusting you not to tell her anything about this place.”
She let that sink in. “You aren’t going to keep me here? Not afraid I’ll betray your secret village once I get home?”
Will shook his head, and she wished she could see into his mind. “As I said, I’m trusting you. I believe you’re more interested in finding out the truth. Until you do, you won’t say anything. You never told Margot about the chest, right?”
She was annoyed that he’d guessed right. “No, she doesn’t know anything.”
He smiled, and she realised she’d confirmed he was right about her wanting answers.
“Dressed, breakfast, and then I’ll get you home,” Will ordered, closing the topic. “When you get home, I suggest you go through the chest, and you’ll discover that I’m not lying to you.”
We’ll see about that. I need to see Yule for myself.Seeing was believing, and she definitely needed to see more of the winter wonderland outside the window if she was going to believe him one hundred percent.
“I’m going to take a shower. Try not to run off while I’m gone. Coffee is in the kitchen; I wasn’t sure how you liked it. Eat before it gets cold.” Juliet stared at him, bewildered.He’s just going to leave me alone?“I’ll give you some privacy– everything you need is in the bathroom. My sister keeps the ensuite well stocked in case she comes to stay.” He pointed to a door by the bed.
Juliet nodded, then glanced at the dresser and picked up a wedding picture of one big, happy family. A groom stood next to his bride, who was in a wheelchair. The beaming smiles of the family members around them made Juliet feel safe. Will and a woman who had the same features stood behind the groom, who she guessed was also related to Will.
“My sister was the maid of honour,” he told her as she tried to place everyone. “It was my cousin’s wedding.”
Juliet wondered if she’d get the chance to meet his sister and confirm his story, but he read her mind. “She isn’t here often, so you don’t have to worry about unexpected visitors. She lives with her wife in a cabin up the hill.”
“Good– I wouldn’t want to surprise her if she came home and found me in her room,” Juliet said, putting the frame back.
“Don’t worry, it’s just us,” Will said, putting her at ease. He reached for the door handle, and hesitated. “I know it’s a little late to say this, but I wish we could’ve met under different circumstances. I never wanted to cause you any hurt or confusion.”
With Willin the shower across the hall, Juliet felt better once she’d eaten and washed up in the ensuite. Finding the courage to investigate, she changed before creeping down the narrowstaircase. Pausing by some family photos, she stared at a picture of a smiling Will in his teens with a group wearing ski jackets that read ‘Yule U18 Ski Team’.Yule might exist as a town, but there’s no way we’re really in the North Pole, right?
At the front door, she spotted her clutch on the coat stand. Good, she’d have money for a car to take her home. Grabbing a pair of gloves from the stand, she unlocked the door. The lock clicked loudly and she winced, but hopefully Will wouldn’t hear over the shower. Icy air hit her lungs, nearly changing her mind about venturing out, but her desire to call Will’s bluff and get home won out.
“Where am I even going?” she muttered as she stepped into the street, breathing into the over-sized gloves. Wondering down a series of streets and alleyways, she tried to avoid the hustle and bustle of the early risers in varied coloured overalls and excessive layers. She’d never seen any place so elaborately decorated to look like some kind of Santa’s village. Every door was marked with a wreath, and the shop windows each had a countdown clock to Christmas Eve.
“Sorry, could you tell me where I can catch a taxi?” Juliet asked a man carrying a stack of presents in one arm and a small child in the other.
“There’s a sleigh rank at the end of this street, though it’ll be a bit of a wait because of the morning rush,” he said, tipping his head down the road she’d already come from.
