Page 9 of All I Want for Christmas Eve

“What about Mary?” I ask her. “Maybe she can fly home to help out until I can make it there.”

“Oh, no, please don’t tell her,” my mom says. “I am scared to let your sisters know what’s happening. They have so much going on, and I don’t want to make them worry and disrupt their lives.”

“But if I can’t leave…” My eyes travel toward the bedroom. I wonder if I should tell my mom about Adam, but I’m not sure that I’m ready to be teased about this. Although—I suppose she would probably tease me far less than my sisters would.

I clear my throat.

“Mom, something weird happened right before the storm. I feel like I should tell you, just in case I get murdered.”

“Murdered, honey?”

“I mean, I probably won’t get murdered. But just in case, I kinda want to let you know what’s going on.”

“Just in case you get murdered?” my mother repeats with confusion.

“A man crashed his plane in my backyard,” I explain awkwardly. “He’s a little injured, and staying with me until the storm passes.”

“Staying with you? A man! Oh, that is wonderful news, Evie. Is he single? Please tell me he’s single!”

“Mom! I didn’t tell you anything about him. He could be 80 years old.”

“You wouldn’t sound so awkward and embarrassed if he were 80, now would you? Tell me about him, dear.”

“I don’t really know what there is to tell. His name is Adam, he’s like 6’3”, makes a lot of stupid jokes, and has a nice suit on? Early to mid-thirties?”

“Sounds perfect, dear! Oh, that is the best news I’ve heard in so long. I’m so glad that you’re shacked up with a nice young man.”

“Mom! I am not shacked up with anyone.”

“Sure you are, sweetie. You are both stuck in a shack, correct?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then you are shacked up together! I didn’t say you wereshacking upwith him. Not just yet, anyway. But I’m sure that when you kids are bored enough, after days of endless snow, shacking up won’t seem like such a bad idea.”

“Mom, please! That’s highly unlikely. He’s not my type.”

“So, what is your type, dear?”

“I don’t know. Guys who are too responsible to crash planes?”

“No one’s perfect, sweetie. I always thought your standards were way too high. Give Adam a chance. I thought you would never find someone out there in the middle of Alaska. Gosh! You’ve really cheered me up tonight.”

“There’s nothing to be too excited about, Mom. The only thing that’s going to happen is that I’m going need a bunch of physiotherapy to get rid of massive headaches after sleeping in a chair.”

“Nonsense. You are young and you will be fine! I’m going to be excited if I want to be, because I need something to be excited about. My little girl has met a boy!”

“I didn’tmeet himin the traditional sense. He just sort of fell from the sky and happened to land on my property. So now he’s here.”

“It’s snowing men. Hallelujah!” she says, laughing loudly.

“Mom, please. No.” I rub my head, which is beginning to throb already.

“Oh, sweetie. When men land on your roof and come down your chimney, it means they are bringing you a nice surprise package!”

“Mom!” I nearly shout, amidst her giggles. But I smile, glad that this has cheered her up and distracted her from her troubles. “I’m going to try to get some rest, okay? Take care of Dad for me.”

“I will, sweetie. Goodnight.”

Hanging up, I place my phone on the table beside me. I sigh, tucking the blankets in around my legs as I try to find a comfortable sleeping position. My mom still teased me, after all. I guess it wasn’t that bad. If my sisters find out about this, they will surely torture me with jokes for as long as I live. Especially if they find out that my surprise visitor’s name is Adam. But I definitely don’t need any surprise packages stuffed down my chimney.

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