Page 20 of Wild Christmas
“I’m going to head up and clear out the guest rooms for you.”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t mean you should leave right now, not if you don’t want to. There are plenty of spare rooms. I don’t need the penthouse.”
She says it with a smile, and I realize I like Nate’s sister. The way she speaks about him, you can tell there’s a lot of love between the siblings. It wouldn’t be right for me to stay now anyway. He’s got his family here for Christmas. I’d only get in the way.
I’ve got my key to Aunt Maxine’s. She’s away with her son and it will be a quiet Christmas on my own, but it’s more preferable than staying here.
It doesn’t take me long to pack my suitcase. I put the books back on the bookshelf and throw the ones I borrowed from the library into my bag. I guess that’s what I’ll be doing on Christmas Day, reading on my own.
Reading is usually what I do for comfort, but the thought makes me feel hollow.
I peer out the window, but the Tesla isn’t back.
A layer of white dust covers the ground, and I need to leave now before the snow gets any heavier and the roads gets slippery.
I lug my suitcase downstairs and find Sydney sitting on the couch with her stockinged feet propped up on the coffee table and a magazine open on her lap. An open bag of corn chips is next to her, and a trail of crumbs is sprinkled on the floor and sofa. I wonder if Nate will tell her off for the crumbs and feel a dull ache thinking about it.
“I like what you did to the place.” She indicates the decorations. “I assume that was you, because my brother wouldn’t think to do something like this with the girls.”
“Yeah.” I don’t trust myself to say anything more, and I swallow hard thinking of the girls and how much I’ll miss them. Maybe after Christmas once I’ve gotten over my embarrassment, I’ll pop by to say goodbye to them. It’s a downside of the job, getting attached to your charges.
“I’m going to go before the roads get bad.”
Sydney nods. “I’m sure you want to get back to your family. I’ll let Nate know.”
“Thank you.” My voice wobbles at the thought of leaving Nate, and for the first time Sydney looks up sharply from the magazine and peers at me with the same frown as her brother.
She stands up, dropping crumbs to the floor that I’m sure her brother will have something to say about.
Her brow furrows, and she takes a step closer to me. “What did that dumbass do to you?”
She says it kindly, but I can’t speak because I don’t want to break down in front of a stranger. I swallow the tears and put on a fake smile.
“Nothing. I’m just missing my family is all.”
She nods slowly like she doesn’t believe me. But I’m already heading for the door. “Have a good Christmas.”
“You too,” she says softly.
I let myself out and get my bags into the car. I don’t look back as I drive into the snow, and only once I’m onto the mountain road and heading to Aunt Maxine’s do I let the tears fall.
12
NATE
Maisie is lethargic when I pick her up. We stop by the drug store to stock up on kids medicine. I head across the road, carrying Maisie to the local bookstore, but it’s closed for Christmas.
It will have to be flowers and chocolates. When I get to the counter of the local store, Larry’s wearing a Christmas hat and his nose is red like he’s already on the brandy.
“Is Santa coming to visit?” he asks Maisie, but she turns her head into my chest and burrows into my neck.
“Better get home before the snow gets any heavier. You don’t want to be out, especially in that toy car of yours.”
He chuckles like I haven’t heard that joke a hundred times. A Tesla isn’t the usual car for the mountains, but it’s safe for the kids and electric is the future. I have my bike when I want to joy ride.
Maisie lifts her head to beg me for some candy, andI’m so happy to hear her little voice that I get her one, and one for her sister too.
I swing past to get Dora from school. It’s a little early, but I want to get them home and off these roads before the snow gets heavy.
