Page 15 of Stuck With My Christmas Crush

“He’s not going to eat you. He might lick you to death.” I take the rain jacket from her and shake it outside before hanging it up. “It might be different if you were trying to break in. Uninvited. But he knows you’re my guest, so you’re safe.”

Charlie unties the oversized hiking boots and kicks them off. I peel out of my rain jacket, shake it, then hang it on the coat rack too. I take off my boots. The storm rages outside furiously rattling the doors and windows.

“I had no idea the storm would come in so fast and fierce,” says Charlie heading for the wood stove to warm her hands.

“It’s frightening, alright. But we’re safe now.” I bend down to open the stove door and place a large log inside.

“Yeah, we’re safe until the roof blows off,” Charlie says rubbing her hands together and stamping her feet.

“You’re right but this little house is solid, and we’re sheltered behind the wall. So, unless a tree falls on us, we’ll be okay.”

“Ha! You’re so casual about it.”

“I don’t think it’s something to worry about. Think about it. How many storms have blown through here sincethis place was built around one hundred and fifty years ago? It’s still standing. We’ll be okay.” It’s important to keep calm. I hope I have reassured my guest of our safety as I close the door and straighten up. “We have enough dry wood, I think, and electric heaters.” I stand beside Charlie and warm my hands too. “I’m pretty sure I bought candles and new batteries for the flashlights. I’ll go check.”

I leave Charlie at the fireside and find batteries, three flashlights, and box of candles, a lighter, and a box of matches in one of the kitchen cupboards. I leave them on the kitchen countertop, then I come back to the living room.

“How are you? Not too wet?” I ask Charlie whose cheeks are glowing pink. “Are you cold?”

“No. I’m okay although I could change the track pants, if you have another pair?” she says holding the wet fabric out from her legs on either side. They look like elephant ears. “The rest of me is dry as a bone. That’s a good rain jacket you have there.”

“Thanks, I know.”

“Better than fake fur any day.” Charlie laughs as I walk past her to my room to find another pair of track pants. When I come back, she takes the folded dry pants from me as if they are sacred and says, “Thanks for lending me the clothes. I’ll return them when I check in to one of therooms. I guess there will be a robe for me or something warm I can put on.”

“Sorry. What?”

“The hotel.” Charlie looks at me, puzzled. “That is what the sign says.” She points out of the window toward the big old house. “I’ll stay at the hotel tonight. One of the rooms? I hope they have a vacancy for me. I didn’t see any other cars so, maybe they’re not booked out.” She smiles at me with hopeful naivety. It takes me a beat to process what she is talking about.

“Oh, yes. Well, it was a hotel. And it probably will be again. But right now, it’s closed.”

“What? Oh, no. It’s closed? I was hoping for a place to stay.” Charlie’s face is panicked. “This is terrible.” She starts pacing. “Where am I going to sleep?”

“Don’t worry. Um. Look. It’s not ideal, I know,” I say keeping my voice calm and even. “But you can stay here tonight.”

Charlie looks straight at me, breathing heavily. “Are you sure? I mean…” She begins pacing again. “Maybe there’s someone at the hotel who could let me in and…”

“There’s no one there.”

“But you’re the caretaker? Security guard? Gardener?”

“Charlie. I own this place.”

“Oh.” Charlie laughs and shakes her head. “There I was thinking you were the gatekeeper or whatever. Ha. Funny me.” She flops down on the couch still laughing and shaking her head, forgetting about her wet track pants, but clutching the dry ones to her chest. “I could have been in serious trouble there. If you hadn’t come to my rescue, I would be dead. Frozen solid in my car for Christmas. Oh my. That’s awful.”

“Charlie. It’s fine. You’re safe here. Don’t worry about anything. If you need something, just say. Um, otherwise, you should put on those dry pants.”

Charlie doesn’t seem to be listening. “Jason.”

“Yup.”

“You saved my life.”

“All in a day’s work ma’am.” I head out to my room and shout back, “I’m going to take a shower. But please... make yourself at home.” I grab a change of clothes and a fresh towel from the closet. “I don’t have much but, you know, it’s for sharing.”

“Jason.” Charlie’s voice is small and timid. I see her from my room standing in the middle of the lounge, looking tiny in the multiple layers of my clothes. I pause in the doorway. “I don’t know what I would have done, if you weren’t here. It’s kind of hit me…” Her eyes are wide. “It could have been very very bad.”

“Yes. But it’snot.” I lean against the doorframe with the towel around my neck. “Charlie. You are fine. I am fine. The storm is going to blow through and then…” I try to assure my accidental guest. “Well, we’ll figure it out.”

---