Page 24 of Frozen Play

He hesitated for a moment. “I can go somewhere else. No need to infringe any longer on your holiday. If you want…” He looked away, shoes shifting in the snow. “I could get some tickets to a Blaze game to thank you for getting us out. If you wanted.”

The two utility workers looked more closely at Phin. “You’re Collins. Bongo, right?”

He nodded.

“Won’t say no to some tickets. You sure you’re okay without power?”

“I just came for a short break. Need to get back to the city before long anyway.” He stepped forward and asked for their contact information. They were grinning, fatigue temporarily forgotten. “I’ll talk to the admin people and you should hear from them about dates.”

“We appreciate it. You all good to get out now?”

There was still the issue of our tow truck and Phin’s car.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Oscar said from his place leaning against our big tow truck.

Holiday greetings were exchanged all around and then the work crew left. That left me, my brothers, and Phin.

“So, we’re going to have to tow you home, eh?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes. And Phin’s car.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“I hit a pole when I slid into the ditch,” he said.

Riley tromped over to look at the Honda. “Yeah. That’s not going anywhere. When do you need it done?”

“It’s Christmas Eve. No one is gonna fix it tonight. I’ll rent something or call a ride.”

The daylight had been rapidly disappearing as the power team worked on the downed power lines, and now it was almostdark. No rental places would be open, and who was he going to call for a ride? “He’ll have to come with us.”

All three men turned to stare at me.

“We can’t leave him here, with no vehicle, no power, no water—and on Christmas Eve. Nothing is open. Maybe in Toronto but not up here.”

Oscar and Riley exchanged looks.

“I don’t need to put anyone out,” Phin said. “I’ll take care of myself.”

Oscar sighed. “Skye and I live over the garage. Riley and I shared a room until he moved in with Christine, and there’s still a second bed.”

“He could come to my place,” Riley argued.

“You going to put him on that foldout couch that cripples anyone who sleeps on it? So the team is down another forward? Or were you and Christine going to use it? It’s right by the Christmas tree and Rowan will be up early, running and yelling about Santa.”

“He’s right, Riley. Oscar and I can put him up.”

“But that place isn’t fancy.”

For pity’s sake. It wasn’t a hovel.

Phin interrupted. “I’m happy to be anywhere with heat and lights. And if I could sleep in that stupid cave we found on Snake Point, I can handle whatever kind of bed you have.”

Oscar laughed. “I’d forgotten about that.”

I hadn’t, because they hadn’t let me join them, so I’d snuck out to follow them after Dad went to bed. Quin and I had scared the shit out of the three older boys who’d fallen asleep and thought we were returning bears.

Good times. Before Quin became an asshole.

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