Page 3 of Rebel Without a Claus
The Holly Ridge Christmas festival starts twelve days before Christmas and every day has a different event. I haven’t been here for the full festival in years… and I’ve missed it so damn much. Of course, my job never made it possible to take off a full two weeks for the holidays. And now… unfortunately, my job isn’t exactly well,mineanymore.
“Enough of that, Mike. Come give your only daughter a hug!”
“The festival starts in two days, Loretta!” Dad chides. “You know we need this win.”
I blink, momentarily surprised by the comment. “You do?”
Mom rolls her eyes and waves a hand at Dad. “Oh you know your father. Always fretting.”
As I look around the lobby of the inn I grew up in and call home, I’m not surrounded with guests and children runningamok like in past years. There’s an older couple reading by the fireplace. And… that’s it.
“Um, where are all your guests?” I whisper.
Christmas is our most busy time of year. In the past, we’ve had no vacancy almost every December weekend, especially with the festival about to start.
“Well, um, you know, sweetie, it’s been a little slow,” Mom says, biting her lip and looking around at the quiet lobby.
“Alittleslow?” This place is downright deserted.
Dad comes up behind Mom and gives her shoulders a squeeze. “You might as well tell her, honey.”
“Tell mewhat?”
Mom sighs and rubs a hand over her weary brow. Then, taking my hand she tugs me into the kitchen away from the couple reading. “Business has been slow these last couple of years. The festival gets a lot of business, but with that boom, other inns have opened in Holly Ridge, making our competition steep.”
“What competition?” I hadn’t noticed any other inns in town.
“A big hotel chain built their space right on the outskirts of town,” Dad said. “They undercut our prices because they can. And they even have an indoor pool.”
“And that doesn’t take into account the amount of people with short term rentals now in town.”
“So… so everyone who comes for the festival stays at the big hotel? Even though it’s not even a part of Holly Ridge?”
Dad nods. “Pretty much. Or they get an Airbnb on Main Street.”
“Butthis year’s cash prize is the biggest yet for the festival. And we could really use that year’s worth of free advertising. It’s…” Mom’s words fade briefly, choking in her throat.
Gently, Dad takes her hand, finishing the thought for her. “It’s our last hope for the inn. If we don’t win this year, we’ll probably have to close our doors by June.”
Tears well in my eyes and I launch myself into their arms to hug them. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“We didn’t want you to worry. You have your own life. Your own dreams out there in Hollywood.”
I shake my head. “But Christmas is what Ido. I’ve been producing Christmas movies and tv shows for years. I know what consumers want… I can help you! We have twelve days to win this thing.”
Mom and Dad exchange a look. “I love your passion, sweetheart,” Dad says. “But we also need to be realistic, too.”
“We can be realistic on December 26th,” I snap. “For now? We’re channeling some major Christmas miracle spirit. I’m going to need the full schedule of events for the festival to start planning along with any supplies you’ve already bought.”
Mom chuckles. “Okay, but first thing’s first. Let’s get you and Cringle settled upstairs in your room. Then we can start planning.”
Mom, Dad, and I each take a bag and I follow them upstairs, running my hand over the pine garland lit with small twinkling fairy lights. Dad’s right… it is about half an inch uneven. That might not have mattered before, but now? Now there’s no way in hell we’re going to lose this festival over a half an inch.
I can already feel the warmth of being home sinking into my bones.Thisis what Christmas is about. Family, tradition, festive magic. Not broody cowboys with sharp cheekbones and an attitude problem.
I push all thoughts of Luke Dawson out of my mind.
We have a festival to win, dammit.
