Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Christmas Eve arrives two weeks later. The weather in Sequoia Valley has continued to stay bitterly cold. All the forecasters predict a white Christmas, which may sound fantastic, but it also makes getting into and out of town impossible.
All the highways that go through the mountains are closed. Unless you’re traveling between one of the neighboring towns of Grizzly Springs or Lake Wakahanra, you’re stuck wherever you’re going to spend the holiday.
I’d hoped Fernando might be able to make it through before the roads closed, but all my instincts are telling me it isn’t going to happen. Not that I was even supposed to know about it. As disappointed as I am about spending the holidays apart from my boyfriend, at least I still have my family.
I send Fernando a text when I wake up, opting to play along as if I’m in the dark about what his plans are.
Ava: Hola, Fernando! Happy Christmas Eve! I hope your weather is better than ours. You’re missing one big storm.
I part the curtains on my apartment window and send him a photo of the blanket of white snow.
Ava: I bet you’ll be at the beach this morning or somewhere nice and warm. My phone said Santa Luz was going to be a nice 65 degrees. Do you guys do a big celebration? Also, please tell your family I said hello and wish them a happy Christmas Eve from me too.
Setting my phone aside, I see to Max, then pop into the kitchen to take care of some baking. I volunteered to take charge of dessert for the evening, which means I’ll be making apple and mince pies. I crank up the music, pull out my pans, and get to work.
Everything goes pretty smoothly until my power shuts off. “Ugh,” I cry. “I just put my pies in the oven.”
Frustrated, I pick up my phone, ready to text Daphne. As the screen lights up, I see a missed call and text from Fernando. He’s my first priority. The pies can wait.
Fernando: Happy Christmas Eve to you too. Let’s trade. I’ll give you the beach weather for some snow. Especially if it means that when I get home, we can sit in front of a roaring fire, sip on some hot chocolate, and watch some of those cheesy Hallmark movies you were telling me about.
“I wish we could do that right now,” I say to Max. “It’s much better than being here in the dark.” I continue to read his message.
Fernando: We don’t do anything big for Christmas Eve, just Christmas Day.
Right now, I’m planning to pop over to the inn for an hour then help Mamá in the kitchen.
She likes to put together a special dinner for the B&B guests.
I’ll pass your greetings along. Everyone already misses you and can’t wait for you to come back. Are you free to video chat later?
Ava: We can make plans for a chat, but I can’t make any promises you’ll be able to see me. I just lost power and I’m sitting in the dark. Hoping my sister still has hers going. I’ll get back to you soon.
I tap on Daphne’s name and type another message:
Ava: Hey, sis. Hope your morning is going better than mine. Please tell me you still have power.
My phone chimes a few seconds later.
Daphne: *Sad face emoji* Nope. I was about to ask if you did.
Ava: Nope.
Daphne: Well, I guess that means we’re headed to Mom and Dad’s place. I just got off the phone with them. They’re still good to go. I doubt the power will come back on anytime soon. Dad said Mom’s already baking up a storm.
Ava: I hope she doesn’t make pies. I’d just stuck mine in when everything went down.
Daphne: You’re actually baking them? You didn’t pick them up at the store?
Ava: Nope. I wanted to try something new.
Daphne: Look at you! I’m proud! And also happy to take them off your hands.
Ava: Even if they taste like crap?
Daphne: Uh-huh. And they won’t.
Ava: I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Daphne: *Smiling emoji* Anyway, do you have enough emergency supplies on hand—flashlight, candles, water, etc.?
Ava: Remember who you’re talking to. Yes, I have plenty of supplies.
Daphne: Just checking.
Ava: Are the kids doing okay?
Daphne: They’re fine. They’re making some decorations for Santa. I’d better check on them now.
Ava: Sounds good. See you later.
Closing out the message, I retrieve my pies from the oven, place them on a rack, and give Mom a call. She picks up on the second ring.
“Hi, Ava, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you called,” she says in a cheery voice.
“Daphne said you and Dad are unaffected by the power outage. Do you mind if I come over a little early and use your oven?”
“Of course, honey. Whatever you need. I should be done prepping dinner by one. Any time after that is fine.”
“Do you want any help?” I ask.
“No, I have everything under control. I want you to relax.”
I laugh softly to myself. There isn’t too much I’ll be able to do without power. “Okay, I’ll be over at one. Oh, I’m planning to bring Max too.”
“That sounds good. We always love having him around.”
“See you soon,” I say, then end the call.
I glance from the kitchen to Max, sitting in his oversized fleece bed.
“Well, boy, what should we do now? I can read on my tablet, stream a movie on my phone, or we can go for a walk. You tell me, what’s your choice.
” At the word “walk,” he pops out of the bed and sits obediently by the front door.
“You’re too smart for your own good.” I laugh.
“Okay, let’s get your booties and sweater on, then we’ll go out. ”
It’s still snowing when Max and I leave my apartment, but that doesn’t stop my seventy-pound dog from reverting to a puppy.
While we take a nice long walk around the deserted park across the street, he experiences the zoomies and runs around with boundless energy.
My arm gets a good workout as I struggle to control the leash. At least it helps keep me warm.
“Somebody’s going to sleep well,” I joke as he finally begins to slow down. I kneel to give him a good pet and some water. Despite the cold, he greedily laps it all up. Once he’s finished, we cross the street and head back to the complex.
“What do we think, Max? Should I come back out here and build a snowman? Think there’s enough powder for it?”
“If Max won’t do it, I volunteer.”
“Fernando!” I scream, racing toward my doorstep. He’s dressed in a white puffer coat and black pants. There’s a little scruff on his jaw and dark rings under his eyes, but he’s still one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen. He holds out his arms, and I rush into them. “You’re here!”
“I got in last night just before the roads closed. Talk about good timing. I’m your Christmas present. I just didn’t have any time to put a big novelty bow on top of my head.” He brings me in for a kiss.
“I’ve missed you so much.” I bury my face in his chest as we break apart.
He chuckles. “Your sister and I have been working together. The plan was to surprise you at dinner tonight. But when I saw your text, I figured I’d come to your rescue. I still have power at my place.”
“My hero.” I giggle. “I hate stealing you from your family, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“Mamá and the tías told me I needed to be here as soon as I explained I wanted to spend our first Christmas as a couple together.”
“What did you have to promise them?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
“That we’d be back for a longer visit next year.”
“That’s something I think we can definitely manage.”
As we try to separate, I realize that we’re stuck together. I glance down. Max has managed to wrap his leash around our legs.
Fernando laughs.
“Maximillian! What have you done?” I groan.
“That’s a fancy name.”
“Growing up, I used to love A Goofy Movie. Max is the name of Goofy’s son.” I incline my chin toward my chocolate lab. “This guy is full of mischief, so it seemed like the perfect name.”
“Hmm, I haven’t seen A Goofy Movie, that’s one you’ll have to watch with me. Maybe even today.” We start to unwrap ourselves. “Do you guys care to come over to Casa de Alvarez and warm up?”
“Please!” I reach inside my pocket for my keys. “Last time the power was out, it took forty-eight hours to restore.”
“Well, you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you’d like. I have plenty of room in my cabin.”
“Do you think I could use your oven too. I have these pies—”
He holds up his hand. “Of course. Mi casa es tu casa.”
Free of the leash, I enter my apartment to grab my backpack and the bag of presents for my family. Fernando’s gift is also sitting under my little Charlie Brown tree. I’d planned to ask him to come over when he got back, but now that he’s here, I want him to have it. I add it to the top of the bag.
We pull up to Fernando’s cottage. It’s a two-story royal-blue structure with a small porch and a single window trimmed in gold Christmas lights overlooking the front. A white picket fence surrounds the front garden. Although it’s covered in snow, I can see a few pointed red hats peeking out.
“Are those gnomes?” I guess, stepping out of the car.
“Sí, they are. Good eye.” He opens the trunk while I open the door to the back seat.
Max pops out and starts investigating the new territory.
“My friend Tim gifted them to me. He collects Chia pets, but I wasn’t a fan.
So as a gag gift for my birthday last year, he gave me a collection of garden gnomes.
I thought they were funny, so I put them in the front yard. ”
“Are any of them ice skaters?” I tease.
“If you’re asking . . .” He takes his phone from his back pocket and swipes until he finds a photo of the garden in summer. “Three of them are. The other two are sloths.”
“Sloths?” I scrunch my nose.
“Another one of Tim’s quirks. They’re his favorite animal. I’ll fill you in on the full story later.”