Chapter 7
Allison
I know Luke is not happy with our situation, and I’m doing everything I can to try to make it a little bit more palatable for him. I really appreciate him sharing his room, and my heart has gone out to Judy. Her life must be so difficult and dreary. If we can spread a little bit of Christmas cheer, I definitely want to do it. I feel bad that I’ve kind of dragged Luke into this though.
He uses the key and opens the door, and to my surprise, the room doesn’t smell as musty as I expected. I figured it would be drab and dreary as well, but it seems like this is the room that they fixed up.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” I say, knowing that my voice sounds relieved and happy.
“I thought we would be sleeping in a dump,” Luke says, and I think there’s a bit of humor in his voice.
“Yes. Bedbugs had gone through my mind more than once.”
He laughs outright. “Mine too.”
He flips the lights on, and we see the room has been decorated in a soft blue color. It feels relaxing and inviting. The beds are made, and soft, fluffy pillows line the headboards. A gauzy white curtain covers the window, and as I peek in the bathroom, I see a tile shower and a modern-looking vanity. The floor is spotless, I find, as I flip the light on.
“Wow. This is...amazing,” I say, really shocked.
“I feel bad. I wasn’t exactly thinking terrible thoughts about Judy, but I really had zero expectations that the room would be the slightest bit comfortable.”
“Same. And I had resigned myself to sleeping in a bed that I wasn’t sure was clean and disinfecting everything I own when I get home.”
“Yeah. I was for sure having thoughts of disinfectant,” Luke says, and then our eyes meet and we’re grinning at each other.
This was such a happy surprise that I think we both are having trouble containing our happiness.
“Okay, which bed would you like?” I ask, looking at the beds. Even though this is technically an inn, the beds are situated like a normal hotel room. Both of them against the wall, one closer to the window, one closer to the door and the bathroom.
“I’ll take the closer bed, unless you want it.”
I assume it truly doesn’t matter to Luke, so I nod. “That’s fine. I always like the bed closer to the window.”
“Then that’s perfect, because I like the one closest to the bathroom.”
I give him an odd look, because I think it’s pretty much the first thing that the two of us have agreed on easily. He seems like he’s the total opposite of me. I don’t mind being around people who are the opposite of me. You learn things from people who aren’t the same as you, and they can bolster your weaknesses.
“You know, I don’t think I introduced myself to you,” Luke says. “And our previous interactions feel like they might have been on the wrong foot a bit.” To my surprise, he holds out a hand. “I’m Luke Jolley, and I’m pleased to meet you.”
“I’m Allison, and I’m pleased to meet you as well,” I say, taking his hand and feeling a little bemused as we shake.
“I mean, you’ve talked to my mom, so you know me a little better than I know you.”
“I’ll be calling my mom later, and you’re welcome to talk to her if you’d like. But I think for now, I’d really like to set my stuff down, use the restroom, and see what I can do to help Miss Judy. I feel like she could really use a little bit of encouragement, and decorating for Christmas is probably the way to go.”
“You know all the decorations have to be taken down.”
“That’s a great point. I’ll offer to come back after Christmas and take them down. I hadn’t even thought about that. Thanks,” I say, thinking again to myself that opposite personalities are often mutually beneficial. After all, I don’t think I’d have given a thought to taking the decorations down if he hadn’t mentioned it.
Of course, from the look on his face, he wasn’t thinking for one second about coming back and taking the decorations down. Once I said I was, I see the flash of guilt, and he closes his eyes for just a moment as though he’s resigned to doing what he has to do.
I manage not to laugh.
Then, like I thought was going to happen, he says, “We’ll have to make it a day. I’ll come back and help as well.”
I nod and say, “I bet Miss Judy will appreciate that.” I walk to the end of the room and set my things on the other side of my bed. There is a small lamp there, and I turn it on so there will be some light in the room when we get back.
“Were you traveling for business?” Luke says as he adjusts his traveling bag as well.
“Kind of. My family is originally from Christmas Tree, which is a town not far from here.”
“That’s where I was heading. But I don’t live there.”
“Neat.” I wonder what he’s going there for, but he doesn’t say anything else, and so I continue. “My family owns a business in Baltimore, and we kind of migrated up there over the last dozen or so years, but my brother bought a house in Christmas Tree, and my other brother has started using it as his business base, and then my parents bought a lodge. And... I guess I’d rather be in Christmas Tree with my family than in Baltimore by myself, although I definitely prefer the small-town atmosphere. Believe it or not, I have more friends in Christmas Tree than I do in the city.”
“I can believe that. I grew up in Philly, and sometimes you can feel alone in the middle of a whole lot of people.”