Page 3 of Maybe This Christmas
She exhaled and rested her head against the window.“That’s a surprise.You love this car.”
They came to a red light and eased to a stop.Davis placed his hand on her knee.“I’m sorry you were laid off, Em, but it works out better this way, doesn’t it?Now you can help plan the next chapter of our lives together.You were going to leave at the end of January anyway.Now you get a severance.”
Davis had never actually asked her.He’d just assumed, which was fair enough, since theywereengaged.Technically.Would he have to ask for the ring back for things to be over, officially?
“Not much of a severance, a month’s pay, then I’ll be on unemployment if I don’t find anything new.”
She’d lived in DC most of her adult life.New York had never been her cup of tea.The hustle and bustle was too much for her.DC was just enough—with its lack of skyscrapers in the city center and eclectic architecture.
The light changed, and Davis tapped on the gas.“Andyou won’t have to work in New York if you don’t want to.You can plan the wedding, then take your time to figure out your next step.Do you want to work?Fine.You want to stay at home, that’s fine too.”
Emma murmured in agreement.Davis was right in one way.She’d never really loved her job as a government affairs associate.It was only her second job after graduating from college twelve years ago.She’d been stuck for years.Too anxious to leave because it was a well-paying and low-effort job.
Still, Davis believed his dreams should be enough for both of them.When she thought about her life after marriage, her mind went blank.Well, except for the occasional pipe dream.She didn’t fit in with the girlfriends of Davis’ friends now, and she couldn’t see that changing after marriage.
Panic crept up when she thought of being Davis’ stay-at-home wife.She knew well enough to knowthatwasn’t her dream life.As long as she was with Davis, her passions would have to take a back seat.
At another stoplight, he brushed knuckles against her cheek.“We’ll figure it out, sweetie.We always do.”
Davis turned on a dull financial podcast, and Emma pulled out her phone.She mindlessly scrolled through her social media feeds until an ad caught her eye.
They didn’t have any Christmas plans this year.Davis’ family lived in Ottawa, Canada.He wasn’t very close with them, so they had no plans to visit over the holidays.And her family—well, she had none to speak of.Christmas could be lonely for Emma.Perhaps a change of scenery was just what she needed.
A treehouse lodge in the Shenandoah Mountains.She scrolled through the ad’s carousel of photos, each more charming than the last.A grand A-frame building was surrounded by rope bridges leading to what they called treehouse villas.The scene was festive without being over-the-top.She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been excited for Christmas of her own making.It was either going to visit Aniyah or Davis’ terrible family.She scrolled down to read more information about the Sky House Lodge.
Part of her even debated bringing it up to him.Maybe she could spend Christmas on her own?Because if they did get married, she’d be stuck doing whatever Davis wanted for the rest of her years.
“Hey, babe?What about going here for Christmas?It’s outside Roanoke.”
He chanced a glance over as they wove through traffic.“Looks cute.Go ahead and book it, Em.I’ll be off after Friday until the end of the year, anyhow.”
Well, there may be a chance.
“You’re awfully agreeable.”
Davis was never ‘off’ from work.He meant he wouldn’t be required to be in the office until after the New Year.
“Well, I’d rather be with you somewhere fun than be stuck in the apartment all Christmas break.So, book it, okay?”
She smiled at her phone.Maybe he pitied her after she had been laid off, but he’d told her to book the trip, so she would do just that.
Perhaps it wasn’t too late to save her engagement, after all.
Even if she wasn’t completely sold on the idea, she had to try at least.
* * * *
Caleb was relieved to find that their destination was Sabrina and Brandon’s home, not their parents’.He’d worried that they’d have pulled up and he’d find cars lined up and down the street.There were none to be found.Sabrina must’ve called the biddies off.
Once a tattered lady—giving ramshackle a run for its money— it stood proud as the prettiest house on Jackson Street.However, he noted that the emerald-green paint on the shutters would need to be touched up come spring.
It began to flurry as they made their way up the stairs and onto the grand porch.Sabrina’s cats, Sarah and Jareth, peered out from between the pink curtains.
Sabrina waved a tag over the door handle, and it popped open.“No key is needed to open the lock, just a fob.We got the idea from the doors at Sky House.”
Brandon owned Sky House Lodge & Villas alongside the Westmore Hotel Group.The place had been a dump when they’d bought it.Caleb had helped his sister renovate the place.They still had a long way to go before the whole resort was finished.But his sister and brother-in-law had put their heart and soul into this place, and it showed.
“Dinner’s almost ready, so get cleaned up, please,” Brandon called from the kitchen.
