Chapter 3 - Dr. Kristian Krengel
“ T axi.” I lift a hand to the air.
A yellow car with numbers lit on the box atop, slides to a stop in front of me. The snow is really coming down now, which is why I’d elected to leave the hospital and head straight to the hotel, rather than traveling the extra forty minutes across town to home first.
Navigating my way around the deeper spots, I reach for the door, and lower myself inside, happy to find the heated interior. I’m not his first customer.
“Where to, man...” He looks in the rearview to confirm my destination, when his mouth lifts into a wide smile. “...the North Pole?”
Following his stare, I’m reminded I haven’t changed out of the suit. Humiliating? Not in the least. The tiny smiles and laughter were damn well worth it. And although I shouldn’t have to, I confirm the same to this man I don’t even know. “It was for a good cause.”
His smile gets wider, if that’s even possible. “I’m sure it was.”
“Just take me to the Bella Providence Hotel.”
“Sure thing, Santa.” The tires spin and the car fishtails enough for me to grab the “ oh shit ” handle before the driver regains control.
“Looks like you’ll be my last fare tonight.” He states matter-of-factly.
I glance out the window at the sidewalks, normally bustling with Christmas shoppers, now piling up with snow. “Good idea.”
By the end of the week, the parking spaces will be cleared and those in search of the perfect gift will return. Something I normally look forward to myself, this year though the conference and a chance at a new job is limiting my time to visit the small businesses.
My phone buzzes. Retrieving it from my pocket, I tap the screen and place it to my ear. “Mother, how are you?”
“Are we expecting a plus one at Christmas dinner this year?”
On a sigh, I lift my eyes to the rearview making sure I’ve no eavesdropper before responding. “The answer is the same as it is every time you ask, Mom.”
“Sweetheart, being a doctor and all, I’d think you’d know I’ll not be around forever. Is it too much to ask for you to settle down and give me a grandkid or two before I’m too old to lift an average-size infant?”
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes. “My future wife can only hope it’s average-sized.”
This does draw the driver’s attention to the rearview.
“Too much information, dear, and yet still doesn’t answer my question.”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I’ve no intention of encouraging the innuendo she’s just brought to light. “We’re about to pull up at the conference center, Mom. I’ll call you later when I have more time to talk about dinner. Tell Dad I said hi, love you both.”
“Don’t think you’re getting off that easy, Son. You know how your mother is,” Dad calls out from the background, and I know now I’m on speaker. “Ow, what was that for?”
“I’m not that bad,” Mom counters and they’re soon off on their own conversation about me but doesn’t include me.
“Gotta go, Mom.”
“All right, sweetie, call me when you’re settled. Love you too.
Disconnecting the phone, I slip it back in my pocket and retrieve a C-note for the cabbie.
“Cherish them while you still have them, even if they’re a pain in the ass,” he says, taking the money and fishing through his bag for change.
I offer him a knowing nod and push open the door. “Keep it. Have a Merry Christmas.”
“Wow! Thanks, man. Same to you.”
The snow is heavy now, covering the sidewalk as quickly as they clear it. Taking a moment, I stand outside the entrance to the hotel and just enjoy the scene. Strings of lights are strung perfectly on the tall buildings and a few decorated trees can be seen in nearby windows. It’s a beautiful sight.
Despite the inconvenience, a storm of this magnitude does deliver an unusually calm silence over the city. It’s not something that seeps into the hotel though.
Once I push my way in through the revolving door, it’s as if chaos has ensued.
Parents chasing after their kids. Bellhops pushing overflowing luggage carts through the lobby, and businessmen in fancy suits seated on the leather couches having a drink. The majority of whom stop and stare at the man in the Santa suit.
Straightening my back, I stroll confidently toward the check-in counter, and stop a few feet back, awaiting my turn.
Normally, I’m not affected by awkward situations. I’ve seen some gruesome things in my long career, so nothing really fazes me. However, when the decibels lower a notch in my general vicinity, I know every set of eyes is on me.
Instead of dwelling on that fact, I focus my attention on the nervous body language of the man behind the counter, assisting the woman in front of me.
“I’m sorry, Miss Snow. The other couple doubled their offer for the ballroom and the general manager accepted. We do have some availability for the first week in January, and...”
“No!” she shouts. “January is too late. My clients wanted Christmas Day and Andre told me I could see the ballroom and confirm as long as I was here by eleven. It’s now...” With a flick of her wrist, she checks the time on her phone. “...three. I’ve been here for four hours, waiting. If the general manager is the one who made the decision, then let me talk with them.”
He lifts his eyes briefly to mine and offers an apologetic shrug before looking at the line forming behind me. “Ma’am, I apologize, but he has left for the holiday.”
On a dramatic sigh, she runs a hand through her hair. “Well then, let me speak with someone else in charge.”
“As I said before, the storm has us running at minimal staff.” He begins tapping on the keyboard in front of him. “Looks like we have a few rooms left for tonight. I can reserve one for you, complimentary, of course, and you can meet with Andre tomorrow. The snow is expected to taper off by morning.”
She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. After I speak with someone in charge, I’m going home.”
“Take the man’s offer,” I say from behind her, remembering how slick it was on my ride in. “Unless you live around the corner, it’s too dangerous out there to be on the roads.”
Spinning on a heel, she opens her mouth, most likely to curse me, instead her jaw drops. She drags her eyes from my feet to my head, and then crosses her arms over her chest. “Well, Mr. Jingle Bells, no one asked for your opinion.”
It’s really none of my business what this woman does. She’s not mine, but I also can’t stand idly by and let her risk her life by going out in this weather. Taking the few steps between us, I grip her forearm and turn her to face the desk clerk. “She’ll take the room.”
The man behind the counter tucks in his lips between his teeth, and lowers his stare to the computer screen, holding back his smile. “Your first name?”
She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, her eyes dance between the two of us before she glances over my shoulder, either planning her escape or judging if it really is as bad outside as I’d said. I don’t tell her about my experience, I’ve already interfered more than I’d planned. Plus, the chances she’ll believe a man she’s never met in a Santa suit, no less, are slim. But certainly, by now, everyone in the state of Rhode Island has heard about the snowstorm settling in, including her.
On an exasperated sigh, she mutters out her name, “Holly. Holly Snow.”
This time, it’s my turn to bite back a laugh. What are the chances, her parents and mine had some obsession with this time of year. A December baby, for sure.
“Well, Ms. Snow. You’re in luck. We just happen to have a suite available.” He taps a few more keys then hands her a room card. “Your room number is on the inside of the card. It’s a safety precaution, unless... you want someone to know what it is.”
She swipes it from his hand, and mutters an annoyed, “thank you,” before brushing past me without so much as a second glance. My willpower isn’t as strong. I watch as the outline of her ass cheeks flex in her perfectly tailored khakis, wondering what the soft flesh would feel like in the palms of my hands.
“I don’t think she’s your Mrs. Clause, man.”
A mischievous smirk lifts my lips. He doesn’t think I can get her to give me the time of day, let alone anything more. And he may be right. Then again, she didn’t scream or threaten to call the cops when I’d grabbed her arm. It may be small, but it’s something. “We’ll see,” I mutter, still watching as she disappears around a corner in the distance. “We’ll see.”
“Uh, hum.” The clerk's brow is raised when I turn to face him. “Care to put a wager on it, Dr. Krengel?”
Shaking my head, I grab my wallet and slap a black card on the counter. “Maybe next time, Aaron. For now, I’d like to get to my room and change out of this suit before every kid in this lobby asks to sit on my lap.”
His chuckle is loud as he takes my card and goes through the same routine as he did for her. Once he’s done, he hands back my card and a room key. I give him a fist bump, then take the same path she had toward the elevators. Mentally hoping her suite is next to mine.