Page 1 of Christmas Escape
One
Melody Baker
Running away from home the day before Christmas would probably get me a stocking full of coal this year, but I didn’t care.
My parents had been fighting nonstop for the last month, their marriage falling apart before my eyes, and I just couldn’t watch it any longer.
So, I booked the last cabin available on theHollister’s Adirondack Escapeswebsite, packed my bags, and slipped out in the middle of the night like the Grinch escaping a Who-House.
Thankfully, the weather had been mild for December in New York, and I was able to drive all night without having to white-knuckle my way through icy roads or blowing snow. I’d arrived in Majestic Falls far too early to claim the key to my bungalow, so I’d driven around until I found an open bakery,Christmas Every Day,and sipped on a peppermint-cookie latte until the sleepy little city started to wake. Fully caffeinated, I’d headed to the grocery store down the street and stocked up on supplies to get me through the next few days.
Normally, spending Christmas alone would feel pretty depressing, but this year, I actually looked forward to it. Thepeace and quiet would be just what I needed to regroup and recharge.
I’d known for years my parents were only staying together until I finally moved away from home. Honestly, that should have been years ago. But when the economy hit a rough patch and my entry-level environmental job was downsized, I’d been stuck mooching off them for longer than I’d planned.
It wasn’t as if I didn’t work. I’d spent the summer doing pool maintenance, and now that winter had set in, I was a twenty-five-year-old delivery person.
In the most fiscally responsible move ever, I’d just used the little money I’d managed to save, and I’d run away for the holidays. I never claimed to be brilliant. And it had seemed necessary at the time. Besides, I could use this getaway to reset, recenter, and maybe give a big hint to my parents that something needed to change in the warzone we used to call home.
Every time I’d tried to talk to my mom about the situation, to assure her that I was an adult and I didn’t need my parents to continue the charade on my behalf, she insisted she didn’t know what I was talking about. Then she’d promptly changed the subject—to anything else.
Maybe, my absence would be the kick they both needed, too.
Maybe, this was the kick I needed, too. I wasn’t usually impulsive, but when I’d seenHollister’s Adirondack Escapeslisted on a vacation rentals site, something had tugged at me and not let go.
That same anticipation grew as I parked in front of the main office for the rental cabins on the northern outskirts of greaterMajestic Fall. I was glad to see the lights were on, and someone was moving around inside since it was Christmas Eve and still a little early. Hopefully, they’d let me check in anyway.
I walked into the office and was greeted immediately by an older woman with a wide smile and bright, sparkling blue eyes.
“Merry Christmas!” she said excitedly. “How can I help you?”
“I’m Melody Baker,” I told her, smiling. “I was hoping I could check in to my cabin.”
“Oh, sure, sweetie, that shouldn’t be a problem.” She pushed some buttons on the tablet in front of her, and her smile slipped a little. “Oh…”
Uh-oh. That didn’t sound great.
“I’m so sorry.” Her furrowed brow confirmed my fear. “There’s a problem with the generator for your cabin. I called my son to look at it first thing today, and he’s still over there working on it.”
“That’s okay,” I assured her. “Do you lose power here a lot?”
“No,” she admitted. “But better safe than sorry. I’d hate for you to be alone with no lights on Christmas, dear.”
“Well, I can stay out of his way while he works,” I offered. “I drove all night, and I’d really appreciate it if I could get settled in.”
“Okay,” she agreed. She pushed some more buttons then handed me a key on a moose-shaped keyring. “My name is Bobbi. Call me if you need anything. There’s a list of emergencyphone numbers on the cabin’s refrigerator, and you can call with any issues. Even tomorrow, okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I promised her. “Thank you so much.”
“Enjoy your stay.” She handed me a map of the grounds then gave me directions to my holiday home. The cabin was the very last one, about two miles from where we were now.
I got back into my car and followed the winding roads, checking out the other cabins as I passed. A lot of them had been decorated for Christmas. With giant inflatables on the lawns, twinkling lights around the windows, the area looked magical.
When I reached my cabin, I pulled up next to the huge truck parked in front, but I sat in the car for a minute, staring at the little place in front of me. It looked like a gingerbread house. Honestly, it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. Suddenly, I wanted to go back to the store and rack up charges on my credit card to decorate the place.
That was a terrible idea, though. I wasn’t in the position for unchecked fiscal irresponsibility. I huffed a sigh then grabbed my purse and groceries from the backseat. Juggling several bags, I bumbled into the house, trying not to drop anything because I was too stubborn to make two trips. Which was ridiculous since I’d have to get my small suitcase from the car at some point.
Despite what Bobbi had told me, the lights were on inside. The heat was running, too. Like…a lot. In fact, it had to be at least ninety degrees in the cabin. A window was open on the far side of the living area, but it didn’t seem to help the temperature at all.
