Chapter Seven
E verett hadn’t even made it past page one before dropping his book on the bedside table and drifting into a deep sleep. He would have slept even longer if not for the sun streaming through his window, shining even brighter with the reflection off the new snow.
Christmas Day.
When he rolled over in his small single bed under the thick felt blanket, he was treated to a postcard perfect vista through the window. The mountains were so close and stately across the lake it felt like he could reach out and touch the craggy peaks. The bonfires were going again in the area between the lodge and the lake, and he could see Duke already down on the ice shovelling the rink, the ice sparkling in the sunlight.
Going back to the city and spending Christmas with his mom’s lowlife boyfriend felt like a punishment now.
A faint knock sounded at his door. “Everett?” he heard Jeannie’s voice call from the hallway.
He swung his legs out of bed and reached over to grab the t-shirt he’d slung on a chair and pulled it over his head. He ran his hands through his hair, then cleared his throat. “Come in,” he said.
The door opened, and Jeannie entered the room with a steaming yellow mug in her hand. “I brought you a coffee. Everyone’s in the kitchen having breakfast. Merry Christmas, by the way.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Merry Christmas.” He met her near the entrance of the room and accepted the mug. Waking up with a view of the Rocky Mountains in the sun? Being hand-delivered a hot coffee by the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen? Was he still in a hazy dream? This was a Christmas morning he could get behind.
Jeannie was back to casual in a pair of blue jeans and a black-and-red checkered sweater. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her glossy lips every bit as inviting as they’d been in the great room before bed when he’d longed to kiss her goodnight.
“Did you sleep?” she asked.
“I did.” He took a sip of the coffee. Heaven. “I can’t get over this view. How much do these young guys pay to live here, anyway? I hope your grandparents are charging a premium.”
Jeannie smiled. “They built the place where there wasn’t a whole lot else in the area. Paid off the mortgage twenty years ago. So, they don’t need to overcharge. They made a good investment.”
“I’ll say,” said Everett.
The sun was out, and the sky was clear and blue. The fresh snow covered everything, but when he looked to the east of the building, he could see that someone had already been out to clear the snow off all the vehicles in the parking lot. The plows had been by too. “Looks like it’ll be smooth sailing back to the city,” he said. He took another sip of his coffee.
“Well, you can’t get on the road without breakfast,” Jeannie said. “See you down there?”
“I’m right behind you.” But the last thing he wanted was to leave.
*
When he emerged from his room, the promise of chocolate chip pancakes wasn’t looking so good. Patty, Kenneth, and Greg had already packed their bags and were waiting for him in the front foyer of the lodge. Sue was passing them cookie tins and bags of leftover sandwiches from the party, so at least there’d be something to eat on the trip home.
“Let’s go, man,” Greg said.
Everett tossed him the keys to the car. “You’re driving this time,” he said. He’d slept well but wanted to spend the first part of the drive gazing out the window.
He had to say goodbye to Jeannie before they left. “I’ll be right back,” he told the guys.
When he entered the kitchen, Jeannie was sitting at the table with her father, and Erik was wiping his face with a napkin.
“I’m going to just call Kristen and let her know I’m on the way,” Erik said. “A bang-up meal as always, Mrs. Carmichael!”
“It’s been seven years, and I still have to tell you to call me Sue! Use the phone in the office. And tell your darling wife Merry Christmas and we apologise for the mountain weather.”
Erik dropped his plate in the dishwasher and disappeared to the back office, while Jeannie’s dad brought his plate to the oven for a second round of bacon.
Jeannie looked up at Everett from her breakfast. “Leaving already?” she asked. “What about breakfast?”
“The guys are ready to go, so…” Disappointment flashed in her eyes. “Maybe I should ditch the band next winter and get a job up—”
Everett stopped when the kitchen door swung open and Erik flew back into the kitchen in a panic. “She’s in labour!” he yelled. “I’ve got to get in the car!”
“Wait, what?” Grandpa said. “She needs to get to the hospital!”
“She’s there now! Her dad answered at the house! He was waiting for me to call. And he called me a downright slouch for not being there with her!” His eyes were wide with panic, his mouth agape.
They followed Erik outside as he all but leapt into his car, mumbling something about thanks and goodbye.
“Now you drive safely,” called Sue. “These babies take longer to come out than you might think. And that baby needs a father in one piece.”
Erik nodded, gave a quick wave, and slammed his door.
They all watched from the porch as the engine of Erik’s car sputtered, then cut out.
“Uh oh,” Gloria said under her breath. “That’s what you get for buying a foreign car.”
“Mom!” Jeannie said, shooting her a look.
The engine chugged a little again, then died. And then a third time. Erik popped the hood of the car, then exited the vehicle, his eyes wild.
“I think it’s the battery,” said Jeannie’s father, Jim.
“I’ll get my jumper cables,” Duke said.
Erik inspected under the hood, but it was clear he had no idea what he was looking for.
Within a few minutes, Grandpa’s truck was connected to Erik’s car and everyone was crossing their fingers that the engine would roar to life. But no luck.
“Not sure what’s wrong with it,” said Duke, “but why don’t you take my truck?”
“I only know how to drive automatic!” cried Erik.
“You what ?” said Grandpa. “Good lord, son, what kind of man doesn’t know how to drive a stick?”
He looked back at the band, who were standing on the porch, bags in hand. “Any chance he can hitch a ride with you guys? Sue and I don’t drive to the city. Haven’t done it in over twenty years.”
“Only if he can fit in the trailer,” said Greg. “We can barely fit the four of us.”
Everett felt for the panicked soon-to-be-dad. Erik had to be there for the birth of his child. “Guys,” he said, and motioned to the group to come closer. “One of us should stay back. Give up a spot in the car. We’ll call CAA and drive his car back to the city once it’s fixed.”
“It’s Christmas Day. They’ll take forever,” said Greg.
“I’m not staying,” said Kenneth. “My mom’ll have my head if I’m not there for Christmas dinner.”
“I’ll stay,” said Everett. He’d pull another something off the shelf of books in the library while he waited for CAA, the roadside assistance company, to arrive. It wasn’t like he was dying to get back to spend Christmas dinner with his mom and Jason anyway, and it only took one look at the distraught expression on Erik’s face for him to make his decision.
“All right, man, let’s roll,” Patty said.
With Erik in the back seat of the Gremlin, Greg navigated the car and trailer down the driveway, and Everett was left standing on the porch of the lodge with someone else’s family.
“I’ll go call CAA,” Sue said, and disappeared to the back office.
“Come on in, son,” Duke said. “We’re going to exchange gifts. I’m sure we can rustle something up for you. Right, Jeannie?”
Jeannie was looking at him with curiosity, a light smile on her pink lips. “You deserve a gift for giving up your ride like that.”
“Oh, no need,” said Everett. The last thing in the world he wanted was to sit and watch as the world’s happiest family made each other even happier. He wasn’t sure he’d survive it. “I didn’t sleep too well, actually. If it’s all the same to you, I might go back to bed for just a few minutes.”
“Suit yourself,” said Duke. “But there’s no missing the Keystone Ridge Christmas Classic.” He looked Everett up and down. “And you look like you can handle a puck! I call you for team Carmichael.”
Everett glanced over at Jeannie again, who was now looking at him with an expression he couldn’t decipher. Satisfaction? Amusement?
“ Brr! It’s as cold as a witch’s teat out here. Get inside,” Duke said, shooing them all in.