Page 5 of Maybe This Christmas
“It’s not so bad.It’s basically acting as a concierge for the guests, arranging their excursions, and keeping up the fun atmosphere at the resort,” Sabrina said.
When all Caleb did was stare at her, open-mouthed, in response, she carried on.“Leading the odd tour, running events.You’re good at all that stuff.”
Oh, wait.They’re serious, aren’t they?
“I don’t know, shivering my ass off in a threadbare Santa suit is looking better and better.”
Brandon exhaled.“Look, we both know that the biddies will work you to the bone.This job is pretty cushy.Almost everything is planned out already.You only have to follow the schedule.”
“The uniform is far more flattering than hobo Santa,” Sabrina added.
He groaned.“I guess deciding to do neither is off the table?”
Sabrina raised her hands.“You know how mom and the biddies are.”
He groaned.“Did they offer you membership yet?”
Sabrina’s response came in a middle-fingered salute.
They weren’t going to let up, he knew that for sure.“Can I sleep on it, at least?”
“Sure.I’ll let Mom know you’re weighing your options and to leave you alone until she hears otherwise.”
“Isn’t that a cheery thought?”
Caleb helped them clean up after dinner then made his way home.On his walk home, he wondered again why he’d returned to Falling Leaves.If he’d stayed in North Carolina, he’d probably have landed a permanent teaching job at one of the universities by now.And even if he hadn’t, he’d be allowed to wallow in peace.
* * * *
It was well after noon when Emma managed to crawl out of bed.She’d allowed herself one day to grieve her former life.Today was it.Tomorrow, she’d start considering her next steps.
She meandered into the kitchen, finding that Davis had left her one of his infamous sticky notes on the counter.The man’s office was a rainbow of sticky notes, coded and placed in a way only he could understand.Emma never went in there for fear of disturbing one.
She peeled the note.
Hey, could you get some boxes from the hardware store?We should start packing for New York.
She placed the note back on the counter and rubbed her thumb over the adhesive to ensure it stayed in place on the quartz countertop.Pulling a container of no-fat, high-protein yogurt from the fridge, she sat in the kitchen nook overlooking the city.After a bite, she pulled a face and added something from the forbidden cabinet.
She kept her store of junk food under the sink with all the cleaning supplies.The last place Davis would look.
After sprinkling chocolate candy on top of the yogurt, she turned back to the window.
It was another gray December day in the nation’s capital.Her phone buzzed with a notification.After tapping through the screens, she realized the inquiry she’d sent about booking a cabin at Sky House Lodge & Villas had been responded to.
Hello!Our deluxe tree-line cabin unexpectedly opened from this Thursday, the 13th,to New Year’s Eve.I can email you the booking information.Just let us know your preferred dates.
Sabrina Ellis-Blake
Part of her wanted to dismiss the message.She could stay in over Christmas and enjoy the delights that the nation’s capital had to offer.She could give herself time to decide if she wanted to accompany Davis to New York or not.Movie marathons, perhaps a solo museum trip—it sounded fun.
Also, so typically…Emma.After a day or two, Davis would begin nagging her about the little piles she left in her wake.Books, snack wrappers, a journal, one of the hundred or so pens she had in constant rotation.
If she moved to New York with Davis, her life would be completely different.She’d have to start wedding planning, for one.It should’ve filled her heart with excitement, finally marrying someone she could rely on.
There should be more to a relationship than that, though?He was reliable, most of the time.But there were no butterflies when she looked at him, not anymore.Probably because half the time he scowled whenever she spoke.
Flashing lights and a stream of police cars and black sedans swept through the street below.A motorcade.She stood at the window until all the vehicles had passed.
