Page 23 of The Mistletoe Makeover

She nods at the snow-covered road ahead. “If we follow this farther, we’ll run into it.”

The road is thick with snow, and our short walk takes much longer than it should, especially since Mia’s being careful not to slip again.

But walking this slowly gives me a chance to see the forest blanketed in snow, and a movement in the treetops catches my eye. I tip my chin, watching two eagles slowly circle overhead.

“Look at that.” I point at the birds.

Mia glances up. “Um, what am I supposed to be looking at?”

“Eagles.”

She squints, and then looks back at me, unimpressed. “They’re just birds.”

“Not just any bird. They’re an eagle pair.”

“Are you sure? They could be two random birds who hunt the same area.”

“Not likely. They’re probably a pair. Eagles mate for life. And this is most likely their winter home.”

“Forever?”

“Pretty much. But since a lot of birds migrate, you don’t see many birds that actually stick together through the winter.”

“Maybe they could give us directions before my toes fall off.”

Mia grimaces in pain but continues to hobble along, trying to keep up with me. I slow down so she doesn’t have to push too hard, but I’m also concerned about her getting frostbite. The sooner we can reach the motel, the better.

After what seems like forever, we finally see a shoddy half-lit motel sign up ahead. The rusted metal sign from the seventies is so faded I can barely make out the wordsPine Paradise Motel.

I stop. “This looks like a place where people come to be murdered,” I mutter, noting the faded chipped paint and a neon sign that blinksopenin the lobby. I wonder if there is anywhere else we can wait. Even a gas station would be preferable.

She turns to me.“Do you have a better suggestion?”

“Well, it doesn’t look like much of a paradise.”

“We’re not staying here overnight,” she says, limping toward the lobby. “It’s temporary until we can get a tow truck.” She looks around at the cramped parking lot. “Can it be that bad if all these people are here?”

“Maybe they’re desperate like us.”

The tiny lobby is vacant and boasts a lone metal chair and a broken bell on the counter.

After a long wait, an older lady with teased silver curls makes her way to the desk, wearing a crooked name tag that reads “Edith.”

“Can I help you?” she says in a croaky voice that sounds like she’s a chain smoker.

“Do you mind if we wait here? My vehicle’s in the ditch.” I step forward, waiting for Edith’s eyes to widen when she recognizes me.

“Suit yourself.” Edith nods blandly toward the metal chair.

It shouldn’t surprise me that she doesn’t know who I am. From my guess, she doesn’t look like she’s listened to music in this century.

Even though I’m dying to sit, I offer Mia the chair since her feet are killing her. She plops down onto the metal surface like it’s an overstuffed La-Z-Boy and kicks off her boots.

“I heard there won’t be tow trucks out tonight,” Edith says. “The emergency travel warning is forcing them off the road.”

Mia strips her socks off and rubs her toes. “But we can’t get home without a tow truck.”

Edith shrugs blandly. This isn’t her first snowstorm. “Maybe tomorrow.”

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