Page 9 of A Very Merry Mistake

I nod. “Yes. I’ll take your offer, but I don’t want to inconvenience you during the holiday season. So I’d like to go home at the first opportunity available. Staying here just wasn’t meant to be.”

“I understand.” He backs out of the parking space and heads north. Merryville is all but abandoned at this point, with the storefronts closed and windows dark.

“Are there any mechanics in town?” I ask as we continue forward. I try to scan my memory and am sure there is one, but I don’t recall any information about it.

“My best friend Hank and his family own a shop a few blocks up the way. You got the keys with you?”

I nod.

“Great. We can stop by and see if they’re still there. I’m sure he’ll be happy to take a look at it after the storm passes. We’d better hurry, though. It’s almost closin’ time for them.”

I glance at the clock on the dashboard, and it’s twenty minutes until six. A little spark of hope ignites inside of me. Maybe this is the end of my bad-luck streak.

“He’s the best around,” Jake explains, making small talk as I reach into my purse and dig the key fob from the bottom. We drive to the edge of town, passing a candy store, a soda shop, an old movie theater, and several antique stores. Each one has closed signs on their doors.

When Jake pulls into the large gravel parking lot, I can’t help but notice the row of vehicles behind the tall chain-link fence, and I hope I won’t have to wait weeks for a repair.

As if Jake can read my mind, he immediately speaks up. “Many of those cars aren’t a priority. Also, Hank owes me a few favors, so I’ll make sure you get taken care of quickly.”

“Thanks,” I say, happy to see the lights are on inside. Even though this man shouldn’t be wasting his favors on me, I appreciate the sentiment, especially if it helps me get out of here.

“You wanna come in?” Jake asks as he parks.

“Would it be okay to stay here? I’d love to charge my phone.” But I’m also cold and feel frozen from the inside out.

“Sure thing. I’ll be right back.” He hands me the cord, and I plug it into the bottom of my phone as he gets out of the truck. I watch him walk across the parking lot, waiting for the logo to appear on the screen. It takes a few moments before it sluggishly powers up. As soon as I unlock it, notifications flood me.

Emails, text messages, and meeting reminders…oh my.

They don’t stop coming, which is why my phone died.

My sister is the only person I want to talk to right now. She’s the only person who knows where I am, and I need to check in sooner rather than later. So I take the opportunity to call her before Jake returns. Too much has happened since we chatted this morning before my flight.

“Oh my God! I’ve been worried about you. I was going to file a missing person’s report in the morning if I hadn’t heard from you by then.”

“By morning? That’s too long. If you don’t hear from me within twelve hours—”

“Don’t tell me that unless you mean it,” she warns. “You know I will.”

“I know.”

Emma’s three years younger but always worries about me. I’m not sure anyone else does. My father hasn’t noticed I’ve left the state. He’s too busy. He’s always too busy—and has been since my mother passed away when I was eleven.

“Are you okay? You sound tense,” she says.

“Sorta. It’s been a very strange day, and a major storm is rolling in as we speak.” I look up at the sky, happy Jake was so persistent. I’d still be walking.

“Come home, Claire. You can do this another time. I think you’ve gotten the hint that visiting was a bad idea.”

“I can’t, at least not yet. I wanted to experience Merryville during Christmas. Now I’m not sure that’s going to be possible.”

“You do realize it’s Christmas there every single day out of the year, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I do, but everyone online said it’s different in December.”

“Different doesn’t always mean better.”

“Well aware.” The rain pounds on the roof, and it’s so loud I can barely hear Emma.

---