16. Blitzen Manor/Manners
sixteen
Blitzen Manor/Manners
H is massive truck’s engine is so loud I don’t know why I bother screaming above it with my passenger door open. Maybe I’m hoping he’ll only half hear the additional favor I’m asking.
“Can we make a stop before Blitzen Manor, or maybe you could just drop something by for me when you stop to check on the Phillips?” I slide the large, insulated tote tucked under my arm toward the middle of Kourt’s truck as I hoist myself up and he looks inside.
I watch him scan the easy-open, self-heating trays of mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, and mac & cheese for two labeled “Heat me.”
“There are soup containers in there too. They can freeze them until they want to use them. The bag will keep everything the right temp until you get it in their fridge.”
Kourt looks up from the insulated storage bag and glares at me. It’s not a glare as much as wide eyes that question… everything about me.
My stomach flips as he looks through me. I hope he doesn’t think I’ve offended them. I shift uncomfortably and quirk a smile to lighten the mood. “No can opener required.” I wink up at him.
“You did all of this? You cooked it for Carol and G.W.?”
“Easier than several dozen unwanted Cherry Ice Box cookies.”
Kourt narrows his eyes at me. “You do know that Carol and G.W. have nothing to do with Blitzen’s Christmas festival. I mean, there’s nothing they can help you with or offer.” His eyes remain two hazel slits zeroing in on mine.
That stung.
But I’m used to being misunderstood. I don’t have to defend myself all the time. Frankly, with Kourt, I don’t feel like I have to at all. Who cares what he thinks?
I move on. “Yes, they can. Carol already told me she’ll let me come get them and take them to the festivities on one of the warmer nights. They’re very excited about Christmas coming back to Blitzen. G.W. is really looking forward to it.”
Kourt pauses, his hands tapping on the stirring wheel. “What makes you think I’m going to check on them anytime soon?”
“Umm. Well, I don’t know you that well, but I know you enough to know it’s a safe bet you were planning on heading there after you drop me off tonight. Am I wrong?”
Kourt moves my bag of prepared food to the back seat. “Blitzen Manor it is.”
“So, you’ll drop it off tonight when you visit them?”
“Yes, Erika. Obviously. Only… are the mashed potatoes homemade or instant? Because these people are friends of mine.”
“Homemade. Obviously.” I roll my eyes as Kourt pulls onto the highway with a smile threatening his face. He chuckles to himself and his smile sticks.
“What?” I can’t imagine what he’s thinking right now.
“Nothing.” He plays coy.
“Oh, you’re such a coward.”
“Me? You, Erika with a K, are calling me the coward? I’ll remember this. Payback’s a bitch.” Kourt puts his blinker on.
What he could possibly have in store for me, I don’t know, but I can’t say I’m not intrigued.
“Okay, so help me out here. I’ve slept and coached and—”
“Saved lives?” I can’t help but interject and call out the town hero.
“Shut up. I’m just saying I recognize last night knocked us off track, so let me help you prioritize.
Apart from the why on Earth Blitzen Manor, tell me the overall plan here.
What’s the official start date? Because when we used to do this, Blitzen was open all through December.
This late in the game, I’m not positive we can draw the vendors or the crowd. ”
Kourt stops talking as if he worries he stumped me.
I smile in my seat. This is too easy.
“What?” Kourt peeks over.
“Nothing,” I shrug.
“If you don’t start talking, I’m turning the truck around and you know I’ll do it. You don’t have that kind of time to waste.” Kourt’s voice is firm and bossy in a good way. A way that makes my blood rush and my heart race a little.
My eyes widen at the prospect of just where the hell he thinks he would take me if he turned the truck around, like I was some child who misbehaved.
“Fine. This week everything gets locked down. It’s our only buffer week to prep and solidify all locations, and schedule people, and festivities. The lights alone ordaining all of downtown are almost a call to Christmas announcement, seeing as how Blitzen hasn’t had it in several years.”
“It’s been a good decade,” Kourt informs me.
“Then, the ad at Fisher’s will be at the store and in this week’s sales flyer, and every week in December after that.
It’s mailed to everyone in three counties.
So, we kick things off this weekend, and I’ve been careful to log each vendor as they sign up that can set up every day up until Christmas, as opposed to just the remaining weekends. That brings us to Blitzen Manor—”
A large thud in the back of the truck interrupts my speech.
“What the hell was that?” Kourt scans his rearview mirror trying to see into the bed of the truck.
“Uh, well, it’s a statue, I think. But don’t worry, it’s wrapped really well so it won’t scrape your truck bed.”
“Scrape my truck bed? You would’ve been better off telling me you think we hit a deer. What exactly is back there?”
“Does it matter? It’s for the auction. The coaches’ fundraisers.
By the way, you two have to schedule your dates with me so I can put them on the official Blitzen Christmas calendar that goes out tomorrow.
Ellis already claimed his night for the auction.
Do you want to do the big game back-to-back or on the weekend? ”
“Ellis’ auction?”
“Yes.”
“You put something in my truck to serve his cause while I’m driving you all over town?”
“Our cause. All of your causes. Both fundraiser’s serve the cause you’re driving me around for.”
“Unbelievable.” Kourt shakes his head, and he doesn’t appear to be joking. “The game, my charity basketball game was your idea. How could you contribute to my competitor?”
“I didn’t contribute to his idea, only a piece for him to auction off, which the entire town was asked to do. It’s like a great big ole’ white elephant gift you bring to bid on. Get it? You’re supposed to bring something too, Scrooge.”
“Okay. Now I’m offended. All the work I’ve aided and abetted you in, and you call me a Scrooge?”
“Get over yourself, Jack Frost. What are you going to do this time, really turn the car around or start charging me for gas? Just don’t forget I already offered.”
“You’re a real piece of work, Erika with a K. How long does that monstrosity stay back there?”
“So competitive. Maybe more Christmas competitions are what Blitzen needs to make money. Who knew? We’re dropping it by on the way back when we’re done. I already confirmed when he called.”
“He called you?”
I look away from Kourt’s antics when the most gorgeous venue I’ve ever seen surfaces on the hilltop. “This must be Blitzen Manor.”
“In the flesh—well, brick and mortar and obnoxious columns.” Kourt smirks at himself. “Why are we here again?”
“Let me find the picture.” I reach for my phone to show him.
“Not that picture. Don’t tell me we’ve wasted another precious evening.”
“What are you talking about? I made arrangements with the grandson to walk the grounds. They’ve left me a key.”
“Let me guess, Chicago. Some idiot showed you Blitzen’s proverbial Old-Fashioned Christmas claim to fame spelled out in black and white with young couples ice skating on a frozen golden pond with children sledding down the hill of the Blitzen Manor in the background, and you thought that would get you an ice skating rink. ”
“No. I’m not that stupid. I know you can’t count on the weather or the lake freezing over.”
“Well, they certainly could that one day circa 1937.” Kourt continues to mock me.
“Look. It’s a beautiful venue, ice skating or not. It’s only half a mile from town, there are acres for parking on one side, and the vendors’ booths could surround the lake. Select activities will be so picturesque out here.”
“What’s wrong with town square, where we held it for decades after that photo?”
“June.”
He takes a deep breath. “Ah. I see. She said, ‘No’?”
“Not in so many words, but I felt compelled to find an alternative. She acted like parking would be a nightmare.”
“And it will be. But it was every year. This year we’ll get paid for the headache of orchestrating it. June may give you a hard time up front, but she’ll be the first one there when you need her. Just ask her for what you need.”
“Yeah, but look at this place. You don’t think it will draw in a crowd?” I climb out of his truck and take it all in. Kourt slaps his door shut with one hand and squints up at the vintage mansion. “It’ll bring something in.”
I grab the set of keys left in the coded box and open the gate to the grounds. I only got permission to tour outside.
“The thing is—” Kourt extends his hand pushing open the gate I unlocked. “This place isn’t really Blitzen.”
“Are you telling me Blitzen Manor isn’t Blitzen?”
Kourt struggles with his response. He sounds oddly sincere.
Maybe that’s his real struggle. “The original owners were obviously named Blitzen and that’s how we got our start, but they weren’t what made the town.
They were more than well- off and represented old money that wasn’t easily shared.
Let’s just say they weren’t very generous being on the have end of the haves and have-nots. ”
“Oh.” I try not to gasp as we step out onto the grounds that open their arms to the most beautiful private lake I’ve ever seen.
“Look, I know you may have been met with some disillusionment and a few disgruntled old folks—”
“Old?” I raise an eyebrow at Kourt, suggesting he’s included in that bunch.
“Fair enough, but in Blitzen we take care of each other. What matters to us tends to matter a lot, and it’s not over-priced venues that no one in town’s allowed in. I’m guessing Gregg didn’t offer to let you tour the inside.”