Page 13 of Christmas in July

CHAPTER 7

LEILANI

Well, I’m not sure what I was expecting. But I wasn’t expecting this.

When we drive through Snowflake Creek, the whole town is bustling with people, like a giant daytime party. A street festival, with food vendors everywhere, and most of the roads blocked off for cute little events. Like a Santa dunk tank. There are giant, white, fake Christmas trees throughout the center of Main Street, glittering with blue and silver decorations. And there is snow.

Fake snow from snow machines blasts from the rooftops of many of the stores in town, creating the effect of snowfall in July. And there’s fake snow piling up everywhere on the ground, as little kids run around with their faces painting, wearing cute little costumes, and holding the cutest looking ice cream cones.

I can’t help laughing out loud. “What is this place?” I say to Teddy.

He scratches his face sheepishly. “I mean, I expected some Christmassy stuff, but they really go all out. It actually looks like winter.”

People of all ages also keep coming up to the car, their eyes aglow with amazement like it’s Christmas morning. Their mouths dropped half open. We have to stop frequently so that townsfolk can ask questions about the car, and touch it to make sure it’s real. We roll down the windows to chat with them and explain what it is. Some little kids have evenhuggedthe car and told us that it reminds them of their Hot Wheels.

My heart literally melted.

I was grumpy and tired and falling asleep a few minutes ago, worn out from the flight and the jet lag, just dying to get a shower and collapse facedown on the nearest bed. But once we hit the town, the cuteness overload just hit me with full force, like an injection of adrenaline. Everything looks like a living holiday postcard, and everyone is so happy and excited that it perks me right up.

Even if I tried, it’s difficult to be grumpy when faced with all this adorable festive spirit. But I’m going to try my best, anyway, as the car pulls away from the crowds.

“It’s a great marketing ploy,” I comment. “A nice little commercialized cash grab for all the businesses. To extend their busiest time of year, the Christmas season, to July, or beyond.”

“Or maybe it’s just a great way for people to get a chance to spend more time with their families, and make more happy memories with their kids while they still believe in Santa Claus,” Teddy says softly. “Because if they’re young enough, this probably all seems magical to them. And childhood goes by so quickly, and the parents spend most of their lives working and away from their home—maybe having Christmas once a year just isn’t enough. This creates just a little extra, precious time that they get to have together, to bond and laugh together and play in the fake snow, eat some funnel cake or Christmas tacos. Build a strong family relationship that will last a lifetime. I didn’t get to have any of that with my mother.”

I feel like shit now. I’m definitely the grumpiest, grinchiest Grinch around. “Sorry, Teddy. Wow, that all sounded really good, though—you should put it in your article. I promise that I will be in a better mood once I get a good nap. Do you know where the hotel is?”

“Just up ahead,” he says as he drives into the parking lot. It takes us a minute to find a parking spot, as everything is bustling and super packed with cars. We retrieve our suitcases from the tiny trunk in the front of the car and head into the hotel.

When I get to the front desk, I have a bit of a sensation of déjà vu.

“Welcome to Snowflake Creek! Your reservation, ma'am?"

I see on her name tag that her name is Sally.

"Well, I don't have a reservation,” I say with a grimace.

"You don't have a reservation?" the woman asks in surprise. "Well, I'm sorry, dear. There aren't any rooms available for the next week. It's Christmas in July. It's literally our busiest time of year other than Christmas in December! Unless you would consider our presidential suite…”

Not this again.

I don’t even want to ask the price. “It’s really totally booked?” I ask.

“Of course! Where else in America can you go for fake snow machines all the way down Main Street? You know, this is where we film a ton of Christmas movies, and all the actors and producers are in town. How else would you have Christmas movies available to watch during Christmas if you didn’t film them in July—did you ever think of that?"

"No," I answer. "I actually did not ever think of that."

Teddy moves up to stand beside me with a bit of a smile. "You know, Sally, my friend here has flown all the way from Hawaii, and she's very tired, she could really use a place to stay. Let's be reasonable here, I'm sure there's something available on short notice."

"Sir, I regret to inform you that there is absolutely nothing available for the next week."

“Are there any other hotels nearby?” Teddy asks.

“Not for about an hour,” Sally explains. “You might just have to consider staying with some friends or family in town.”

"I don't have any friends or family in town. I mean... technically I dated someone from this town... very briefly. And he's now engaged to my sister. So, I guess I could ask my sister if she could ask her fiance if he could ask his sister if there's possibly a place for me to stay..."

"Why don't you just stay with me?" asks Teddy. “I have a reservation.”

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