Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“I’ll take another.” Dad smirks as if he’s not supposed to have more, but I serve him one anyway. I plop mine on a plate, then grab the whipped cream from the fridge and add a healthy dollop on both.
“Wanna hear a crazy story?” I join him at the table as my mom comes in and starts a fresh pot of coffee. “Glad you’re in here, Ma. I was just about to tell Dad about my current predicament.”
“Everything okay?” she asks.
“Well, I found a strange woman in my house, more specifically, in my bed the day of the blizzard.”
Dad gives me a look.
“No, I didn’t invite her,” I clarify before he can ask.
“Who is she?” Mom asks.
“Fallon Joy. She’s a journalist from Seattle who’s been assigned to write about the town.”
“That doesn’t explain why she was at your place,” Dad tells me.
“She claims she’d rented it online. But I found that out after she maced me.”
“Oh no, poor thing. I bet she was scared half to death,” my mom says.
“What about me? My eyes burned all night long.”
My dad chuckles. “So where is she now?”
“She’s there watching Dasher for me. I offered her the guest room since the roads were closed, and she had nowhere else to go. But now I have to try to find her a hotel or something.”
“You know that’s not going to happen this time of year,” Mom says.
“Still going to try. But if there’s no luck, I’ll let her stay because I can tell how important this project is to her. She’s very dedicated.”
“That’s lovely, dear!” The excitement in Mom’s voice is unmatched.
I give her a pointed look. “Except for the fact she’s a grinch and hates Christmas. Should’ve seen her trying to survive without power or heat. You’d think her whole world collapsed.”
Mom chuckles.
“What happened to your furnace?” Dad asks.
I explain the problem and remind myself to call about it on the way home.
“She lost her mind when she learned we don’t have any food delivery services.”
Dad smirks as he takes a sip from his mug. “Well, not everyone’s built for this kind of weather and lifestyle, son. She’s probably used to city living.”
“No kidding. I genuinely want her to have a good time, and I’m worried she already hates it here.”
Mom shoos my negativity away. “Don’t stress about it, sweetie. Once she participates in the fun activities we have to offer, she’ll change her mind. Is she going to the festival?”
“I think it’s the main reason she's visiting.”
“Well, I know how passionate you are about the holiday, so you’re the perfect person for the job. Just take her around and allow her to experience the most magical time of year with you. I’m sure she’ll adore it.”
“You say that, but you haven’t met her. I’ll do my best.”
Dad laughs while standing to make a fresh mug of coffee.
“Well, maybe you could bring her over for dinner one night? We’d be happy to chat with her.”
“Maybe. I think I’ll need to warm her up to the idea of meeting my family first. No need to throw her to the vultures right away.”
Mom laughs. “Pfft. She’d be singing ‘Jingle Bells’ by the time she leaves here.”
I nearly choke on my pie. “Highly doubtful. It’s more than obvious she isn’t having a good time.”
“Give the girl a chance. She’s been stuck with you for days,” Mom says with a sly smile.
“I’m not sure if that’s a dig or a compliment,” I say around a mouthful.
“Me either,” Mom tells me.
Once Dad and I finish eating, I carry our plates to the sink and quickly rinse them. “Does Lucy need her driveway cleared?”
“Nah. Bart took care of it already,” Dad explains.
Bart works for the farm and lives on the south side of the property, so he’s closer. “Great, then I can finally go home and shower.” I grab my jacket and put on my gloves. Before I grab my scarf, I turn to my mom.
“Do you happen to have some ground coffee for Fallon?”
“Of course. You know we stock up on that around here,” she singsongs, heading toward the pantry. “Do you need filters too?”
“Yep.”
“A coffee pot?” Mom peeks her head from the doorway and meets my eyes.
“No. I have one tucked away somewhere. I’m sure it still works.”
“If for some reason it doesn’t, let me know because I have an extra.”
“Thanks, Ma.” I give her a kiss on the cheek as she hands over the bag of supplies. Fallon is going to be so excited.
Once in the truck, I make my way across the property to my house. I call Jasper, the owner of the only heating and cooling company around here.
When he answers, I fill him in on the problem with my pilot light.
“I’m pretty backed up at the moment, but I can put you on my waitlist. Might be a couple of days, though.” He sounds just as tired as me.