Page 7 of Merry on the Mountain
Izzy preens under the praise before dropping down and petting the dog. I set our skis down, leaning them carefully against Willa’s van.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not entirely sure. The van was running just fine when I left the campground this morning, but now when I try to start it, the engine won’t turn over.”
Campground? I’m really curious about that, surely she’s not camping in the snow, right?
“Is it the battery?” I ask.
“It shouldn’t be. I replaced it this summer along with all the other batteries the van runs off of.” She looks over at me and must see the confusion on my face. “I live in it, so there’s a secondary battery that supports the electrical systems.”
“Oh.” I look at the engine, and even though I don’t know a single fucking thing I’m looking at, I tell her to hop in and try to start it. She does and the engine only makes a sad, sputtering noise that sounds pathetically awful.
“Any ideas?” she asks when she comes back to the front of the van.
“Not a clue,” I say after a second. “I’m so sorry I can’t be more help.”
“Fuck,” she mumbles quietly. She runs her hands over her face and groans. “I’ll have to call a tow service I guess.”
“Will you need a ride anywhere afterward? Where will you stay?”
Her face pales. “I didn’t even think of that. I’m going to have to find a place to couch surf.”
“Stay with us.” The offer flies from my mouth before my brain can even catch up.
Her eyes widen in surprise that mirrors my own. Her lips part, but no words come out.
“I mean that in the least weird way possible. We live in a townhouse; the other half I’m currently fixing up as a vacation rental. It’s sparsely furnished, and I’m doing quite a bit of work, but it’s livable. The first floor has been updated, including the primary suite.”
“That’s so kind of you to offer?—”
“Willa is moving in next door?” Izzy pops up between us. “Can Maya come, too? Will you braid my hair like yours?”
My lips lift at the corner as I pat her head. If I don’t quell her excitement now, she’ll keep peppering us with questions. “Let’s let Willa think about it. It’s not every day a stranger offers to let someone stay with them.”
“We’re not strangers,” Izzy sets her hands on her hips, offended by my statement. “You don’t think that, do you?” she asks Willa.
“No, I just…” she trails off. I watch as every refusal she could have flits behind her green eyes.
“We have a big yard for Maya,” Izzy says. “And I promise not to come over a lot. Unless you want me to.”
Willa’s lips lift in a smile. “With an offer like that, how can I refuse?” Her eyes meet mine, and she mouths that she’ll pay me.
I shake my head; there’s not a chance in hell I’m accepting any money for this. “Go ahead and call a tow service. We’ll wait for you.”
“I already called one, but you don’t have to wait with me. I’m sure you have stuff to do.”
“Actually, we don’t.”
“Can I see in your van?” Izzy asks.
“Yeah. I guess I need to pack a bag.” She closes the hood.
“I’m going to go take care of the skis, are you sure you’re okay with her?”
“I am, we’ll be fine together for a few minutes.”
I give her a smile and head off to the Jeep. A smile creeps up my lips as I hear my daughter laughing and talking to her. Offering this is one of the most out of character things I’ve ever done. It’s not that I’m not happy to help whenever and however I can, but after the last couple years, I just value mine and Izzy’s privacy deeply.
