Page 9 of Unexpected Company
“You’ll be isolated up at that cabin. And it is the festive season. No one should be alone.”
We round the corner and the lights of the village of Christmas Falls twinkle in the fading daylight.
“It’s a really kind offer, but I’ll be okay. I like my own company, even at Christmastime.” I don’t tell him I’m prettyused to being alone. Being an orphan raised by an aunt who had a life of her own makes that pretty standard.
“I’ll cook myself something and sleep in and maybe go for a walk.”
He hums before asking, “What’ya making for Christmas dinner?”
I think back to my grocery shopping. “Um…beans on toast?”
Charles laughs. “Are you asking me, or is that what you’re having?”
“How about I tell you when you pick me up at the end of my trip?”
“Okay, son,” he replies. “Once we pass the bakery, there will be no phone signal. If you need to reach anyone, you will need to walk down to the village.”
I press my face to the window as we drive down the high street, decorated to the extremes with all things Christmas. There is no better word than magical, to describe how incredible it looks. Twinkling lights. Decorations in all the windows. Fake snow blasting from the post office doorway. Bunting of candy canes. A giant tree standing centre in the town square. Couples and families, milling around dressed in matching beanies and scarves with cheery faces and hands wrapped around travel mugs. It’s all so wonderful, it leaves me excited about my time here.
My plan for the next few weeks is exactly as the cabin’s listing suggested (plus jerking off, eating biscuits and watching telly).
Go off grid.
Get lost. (Not literally)
Find myself. (Maybe literally?)
Reconnect with nature. (This part of the plan I am still unsure of. Nature is…very naturey and I am not.)
“Got it,” I say in answer, my eyes trailing the storefronts we pass by. “Look at this place! Maybe I’ll never leave. Do you think they have a need for a sexy content creator in Christmas Falls?”
“You could certainly ask,” Charles replies. We drive further, leaving the village behind and heading down a narrow road with woodland on either side. It’s dark out now, save for the headlights on the road ahead. When the car slows down and comes to a stop in front of a cobbled path, leading to the cosy cottage, I’m thankful that it appears the owner left lights on and started a fire for me.
“Here you go.” Charles opens his door and I follow behind him, shivering against the cold as I tighten my scarf around my neck. For the first time since I landed, there’s the telltale sign of panic itching at my skin, making me feel like I’m splintering at the seams. Charles wasn’t wrong about it being isolated. There are no other lights to be seen and presumably no other cabins either.
This was a good idea. This is what you need. You’ll be fine.I have a quick conversation with myself, taking a deep breath to stave off the anxiety snowballing in my chest.
Shaking my shoulders, imbibing confidence into my body, I hitch my backpack onto my shoulder and go about removing my grocery bags from the boot.
“This is a heavy one,” Charles says, handing me the pink canvas bag that holds my trusty weighted blanket. As soon as I’m inside, I’ll blanket burrito myself and brew a cup of tea.
“You need help taking these inside?” He gestures to my bags.
“Thank you for the offer, but you can leave them here on the path. I’ll grab them once I’ve opened up.”
The email I printed out (no phone for me) said there’s a lockbox with a key inside to make checking in easy and convenient.
“If you’re sure.” He helps me place all my belongings on the cobbled path, lit by a row of circular lights, before returning to his car.
“Smells like a storm’s brewing.” Charles tips his face to the cloud heavy sky as he stands near his door. “You stay nice and warm inside and don’t be walking into the village until it passes. Be safe, son, you hear me?”
“Will do. Thank you dear sir,” I bow playfully, wishing I could hug him because I could really do with the reassuring pressure that comes with a hug, but self-aware enough to know asking the guy would be awkward. My hands twitch at my sides and I wrap them around myself instead.
Charles climbs into his car, and I watch as he drives away, his headlights growing smaller with the distance, just as the sky opens, delivering a gentle pitter patter of cold winter rain over my not-so-waterproof coat.
Chapter four
Garrett
