Chapter Seven
Ragnar
Santa’s Lodge held a butt ton of Christmas items. Granddad had collected them since buying the lodge, and each time I visited, he brought out everything he’d purchased since my last visit and showed them to me.
We would make notes on the plans as to where they would go, and dream of the day when we opened the doors to customers who would ooh and aah over the magic we created. But, that was as far as we ever got.
Before Aspen arrived, I had no intention of doing any decorating because who would be here to appreciate it?
Also, with so much work left to do, it would be like decorating a haunted house.
When I received the notice that Santa’s Lodge was mine, I’d had a dream of opening in time for Christmas, but of course that wasn’t possible.
So I’d shelved the thought of getting out all those items until next year.
All that changed when my omega arrived. My reindeer, an oddly big fan of Christmas for a beast, put up a fuss about the whole thing.
He insisted that our mate get to enjoy everything Granddad had bought, including the items he and I purchased together at yard sales and thrift stores on my visits.
The local town’s vintage vibe extended to what people pulled out of their garages and basements to sell or donate over the summer months.
“I forgot something.” Leaving my omega standing at the foot of the stairs, I dashed into my project-supply slash organizing room and came back with a couple of masks. “Here you go.” I handed him one.
“Gloves aren’t enough?”
“Probably not. The Christmas decorations are all stored in the attic, and I haven’t even been up there since I inherited the place, but dust seems likely.”
Aspen placed the mask over his nose and mouth. “I feel like a bandit.”
“As long as you don’t steal all of the hoard, we’ll be fine. You don’t want to breathe a bunch of dirt into your lungs. If we get up there and it’s miraculously not unhealthy for inhaling, you can always take it off.”
“Are you wearing one?”
“Yes.” I showed him mine. “We can be a pair of bandits come to steal all the Christmas decorations.”
“Why would bandits do that?”
“Because of the treasure hidden among them.”
I couldn’t see his mouth but his cheeks puffed out, and I was sure a smile lurked behind the dust mask.
“Then we’d better get going before a pirate beats us to it,” he said, marching up the staircase.
“I’m just excited to see your attic and everything in it.
People in books and movies stuff all kinds of wild things in their attics.
Maybe your grandfather had something mysterious he tucked away. ”
“Maybe so, but I’ll tell you a secret.” I came up level with him on the first landing and leaned in close. “It’s not only my grandfather’s things up there. The previous owners left a number of items behind and Granddad and I never got around to going through them.”
“Wow. Imagine what there could be.” His excitement made his scent a little spicier. “Not today, of course, because we have to get the Christmas things out, but later, another…”
His trail off told me he’d realized that there might not be a later. “Another day, for sure,” I said. “I’ve always been curious.” Taking a step forward, I flashed him a smile. “The lodge has always been my favorite place. I’m hoping it can be that for others in the future.”
“It’s quickly becoming mine,” he said, following me up the narrower stairs to the attic. “Feels magical, even the parts that need repair.”
“Which would be most of them.” Opening the door at the top, I peeked inside and coughed.
“Put on your mask,” came his voice over my shoulder. “Remember, no breathing dirt.”
“Right.” I donned it and stepped inside and into a cobweb. “I was being conservative when I said there was dust.”
“But wow. Is there a light?”
Flipping the switch by the door, I brought the single swinging bulb to life. “Yes, but it’s not much. I think the Christmas things are over here to the left. Watch your step. I believe the floor is solid, but it’s been a while since I’ve been up here.”
Luckily, the flooring held with only some spooky creaks as we crossed it to the corner under the oval front window.
“Here we are.” Everything was boxed and most had moving blankets over it as well, so while the attic itself was thick with dust and webs and every kind of grit that had made its way through the cracks in the window caulking or any other way, the decorations themselves required only a little cleaning before we set them up.
“Are we just going to decorate your apartment?” Aspen asked.
“I don’t know. What did you have in mind?”
“Well, I noticed you already painted the front of the building, so we could wash the windows real quick and put lights around them, put various things that can be viewed through each of them. If anyone does come along the highway between now and Christmas, they’ll see how beautiful the lodge is and maybe plan to visit when you’re open. ”
“What a perfect idea!” My reindeer more than agreed. “You’re a genius.”
“Not really, but I do love Christmas and all the decorating.” He hefted a box of lights. “I’ll take them down to the main room, shall I?”
“Yes thanks.”
We moved up and down the stairs, dozens of times, carrying boxes of ornaments and more lights, large statues, a few Christmas trees, and so many things, I didn’t know where we’d use them all.
On the last trip, Aspen ducked under a beam in the corner behind where all the other decor had been stored. “Ragnar, what is this?”
“I don’t know. I thought we got it all. Watch out for spiders.”
“Thanks.” He chuckled, reaching far into the corner and sliding a box back toward him. Let’s see.” Aspen swiped a gloved hand over the cover. “I can’t read it here.”
I helped him move it closer to the light bulb—a dangerous lighting choice that would have to be high on my list to replace—and squinted.
“Oh, it’s the village. I’d totally forgotten about it, but we found it at a yard sale the first summer I came to see him.
” My vision blurred as I remembered that very special day.
“It’s Santa’s Workshop with all the elves and reindeer. I can’t believe I didn’t remember.”
“Sounds like it’s very special.” He rested a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go get it set up.”
It was going to be Christmas at Santa’s Lodge after all. At least for those on the outside looking in. And maybe, if the omega would like to stay awhile, even in here.