Page 58 of The Holidays with Dr. Mitchell
We all took our lazy afternoon butts into the kitchen, and when the fragrance of the fondue foods being prepared for usto enjoy for dinner filled my senses, I practically drooled. From the look and smell of the various breads, vegetables, meats, and seafood being arranged on platters, I was going to be so full that I wouldn’t be able to move by the time I devoured this delicious meal.
CHAPTER 31
Jake
“So, what’s the backup plan?” I looked back at my brother, who sat huddled with Mark and Spence in the lopsided sled, trying to stay warm.
“You’re honestly asking me that question?” Jim asked through gritted teeth.
“Yeah. You always have something in the back of your head to bail us out of any silly situation I might get us into.”
“Silly?” Spencer grumbled. “You see this assilly?”
“Yeah, we’re in a pretty fucked-up predicament right now,” Collin acknowledged with a cringe.
“And Jim always pulls through with shit like this. There’s no way you don’t have a fucking backup phone on you.”
“Guess again, fucker,” Jim said. “No, I don’t, or else I would’ve used it an hour ago to bail your delightful and full-of-Christmas-spirit ass out of this situation.”
“I would’ve insisted Jake stays here while we warm up in the Asters’ steam room,” Mark said.
Now, I’d done it. I’d officially let down my once proud father-in-law.
Well, shit.
“We need to conjure an idea,” Spencer said.
“I imagine the ladies will send someone to find us,” Mark said. “Ash tends to worry more than Carmen, so I know she’s got to be concerned now that the sun is setting.”
“You’d think,” Jim said. “However, don’t forget the two nutcrackers who have created this entire festive week for everyone to marvel at. The ladies aren’t worried at all. They know that Jake and Collin have been catering to them, making all their Christmas dreams come true while putting us through hell.”
“No shit,” I admitted. “They probably think we’re keeping you out here purposefully.”
“Since you created this madness, and Jimbo doesn’t have your bailout backup plan,” Spencer snapped, “what the fuck do you plan on doing to get us out of this situation?”
“Well,” Collin said, eyeing me in a way to remind me that we never gave up and never surrendered, “we reach down, grab our balls, strap on the snowshoes, and lead the reindeer out of here in the direction we came.”
“Brilliant!” I cheered, then looked at Jim. “You see, we don’t just save lives through surgery; we save lives by thinking.”
“Thinking?” Jim answered. “It would’ve been nice if that was something you were doingbeforewe rode a damn sleigh who knows how many miles into a forest.”
“Yeah, well, I’mthinkingnow, and that’s what’s saving lives. So, while I’m thinking,” I said, scrambling out of this situation I’d fucked us into, “let’s get a move on it before we get any colder and before it gets any darker.”
“Just so I’m clear,” Jim said, “in all yourthinking,have you thought of how we’re supposed to see out here while we walk through a dark forestafterthe sun sets?”
“The light of the moon, of course,” Collin said cheerfully and back in action.
“You two aren’t the geniuses you believe yourselves to be. You know that, right? I have no clue how you two ended up at the top of your fields,” Spencer questioned with irritation.
“Keep your smug businessman insults to yourself, and let usbrilliant, life-saving doctorssave your asses, eh?” I answered, feeling confident we’d return in time for Christmas Eve.
Hopefully, we’d get there before our lovebugs went to bed, but at this point, the important part was making it back without frostbite.
“And what if Mark’s heart gives out?” Jim smarted off.
“Fat chance,” I said, looking at Mark. “I fixed that ticker so well that it probably works better than ours. Don’t let my brother put that nonsense in your head.”
“True that,” Collin said, eyeing Jim. “It’syouwho should worry about heart failure after growing so comfortable accommodating Addy’s every McDonald’s whim.”
