Page 28 of A Cozy Holiday
We walk around, filling the wall-mounted metal feeders in each pen. “If you’re not keen on social media to raise money, maybe you could offer reindeer adoption. People could pay to adopt a reindeer, and in return, you’d send them a picture of their animal once a year and a little care package.”
“That’s a thing?”
“I’m a proud sponsor of a koala in Australia and an elephant in Thailand.”
“I know zilch about any of this. I don’t think I’ve even updated our website since Winnie went through her web designer phase.”
“Hence the SpongeBob fish where your headshot should be.”
“Sisters.” He shrugs. “Where’d you grow up?”
“Just outside Hartford.” I don’t want to talk about home. About packing a bag every Friday and waiting in the principal’soffice for Dad to pick me up so my parents wouldn’t have to see each other. “You’ve been here your whole life?”
“Don’t say it like it’s a bad thing.” Jamie eyes me, tossing another flake into the last stall.A reindeer with white around its eyes grunts and rips a slice from the feeder. “I like it here. Tessa and I went to Portland for community college, but I always knew I’d take over the farm. When she got pregnant, we came back.”
Tessa.
“Sorry. About your wife.”
“Winnie told you, huh?” There’s no anger in his voice, his tone suggesting that he’d already assumed she would. Maybe they have a sibling agreement that she breaks the news so that he doesn’t have to. “It was a long time ago. Now let me teach you how to put a halter on.”
We sling the harnesses over the reindeer’s heads, the rope straps running over their muzzles and behind their ears. Jamie rattles off each reindeer’s name, and I write it on the board next to their stall: Calcifer, Jiji, Ponyo, Totoro, and Howl.
Clearly, the girls picked all the names.
There are over a hundred reindeer on the property, most roaming freely in the forests behind the house. By the time we finish separating the reindeer into their individual pens, I’m already sore.
“Okay, time for some fun,” Jamie says while he hangs up the pitchforks.
“Fun?” I echo, skeptical.
“This Miriam lady seems to know her stuff, so we’re going to have some fun for the rest of the morning.”
“I have to read up on the pregnancy, though.”
“Your laptop won’t grow legs and run away. I can give you a tour of the property before the girls get up,” Jamie offers.
“I have a feeling I won’t be able to get out of this.”
“Smart lady.”
He smiles and walks toward the back of the barn, and I follow. The morning air is sharp, and I bundle into my jacket.
“No,” I say when I spot the snowmobile.
“Filled her up this morning,” he says, opening the seat to grab two helmets. “You can drive if you want.”
“My thighs are still sore from my ride two days ago.” His eyes drop to my legs, and I flush. “Can’t we walk or something?”
“Thought you learned that lesson yesterday.”
“I’m gonna get your sister back.”
“I’ll help you. But first.” He extends a helmet toward me. I take it.
“Where should I sit?”
“Up front.”
