Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Elaine’s eyelids fluttered open slowly. She smiled when she saw the charming wallpaper of her and Audrey’s Boston hotel room. The light seemed different that morning than it had on the other mornings of their trip—it was paler, and grayish.
I almost don’t want to leave this morning, she thought, rolling over onto her side and gazing at the window for a moment.
The curtains were half-closed, letting in a little light but not much.
It’s been so lovely here. But I absolutely cannot wait to get home to Michelle and The Birchwood House—and to Shep!
She reached for her phone, hoping that Shep had sent her another text. So far on her trip, he’d texted her first thing every morning, and since he woke up early to run the bakery, his text was always waiting for her when she woke up.
As soon as she’d clicked her phone screen to life, however, her eyes widened and a pit formed in her stomach.
“Oh no,” she gasped, reading a text from the airline.
She began to tap her phone screen hurriedly, checking her email and then the weather. She inhaled, feeling a rush of dismay.
Our flight has been cancelled? she thought, hardly able to believe it. I had no idea the weather was going to take such a turn. Brutal cold, and now a snowstorm. Looks like we’re stranded in Boston.
She sat up fully, immediately wanting to tell Shep.
She glanced at Audrey, who was still sleeping soundly.
She didn’t have the heart to wake her just yet, so she grabbed her phone and hurried across the room into the bathroom.
She dialed Shep’s number quickly and held the phone to her ear, inhaling again while she listened to it ring.
It only rang once before Shep answered it. “Hey, Elaine,” he said, his voice as gruff as usual. She could hear in his tone, however, that he was happy to talk to her. “How are you?”
“Not so good.” Despite her best efforts, tears sprang into her eyes. “I just saw that our flight has been cancelled because of the weather.”
There was a long pause on the other end, but Elaine knew that it simply meant that Shep was wondering what to say.
“I know it’s inconvenient, but it’s all right,” he said finally. “After all, you could have been stranded at a random airport with nowhere to go. As it is, you’re still snug in Boston.”
“I know.” She sighed, fighting off the tears again. “I just wanted to come home. I wanted to see Michelle, and our puppy, and—and you.”
“I know,” he said soothingly. “I wanted to see you too. But it won’t be too much longer, I’m sure. Did they say how long the flight will be delayed?”
“At least a day.” Elaine bit her lip. “Probably not much longer than that.”
“There, not so bad at all. You get a bonus day in a fun city! Sounds like an unexpected blessing, if you ask me.”
Elaine smiled, loving the way her grumpy boyfriend was sounding so optimistic. “You’re right.”
“I know I am. The important thing is that both you and Audrey are safe, and that you’re together. You’re going to have a great day together, I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so.” She rolled her shoulders back, trying to stay positive.
“Give me an update as soon as you have one, would you?”
“I will,” she promised. “The airline’s email said that they’ll continue to update us throughout the day.”
“Sounds good. Is it snowing there?”
Elaine went over to the small bathroom window and pulled the curtain to the side. “Only a little. I guess the worst part of the storm is between us and Coral Sands, at least right now. That’s what the radar looked like. Is it snowing there?”
“Yes, but nothing terrible. We’ll be all right, Elaine. Winter won’t knock us down. You’ll be home again before you know it, and then it’ll be Christmas.”
Elaine’s stomach gave a pang as she remembered that she still hadn’t found the perfect gift for Shep, but she pushed the thought from her mind. She could think about that problem later.
“Thank you, Shep. I appreciate you helping me to feel better.”
“Anytime. Talk to you later?”
“Talk to you later.”
They said goodbye and hung up. Elaine stood still for a moment, watching the light snow falling down on the streets of Boston.
“Oh my gosh!”
Elaine startled as she heard Audrey’s muffled squeak of alarm from the other room. She left the bathroom hurriedly and found her daughter sitting up in bed, staring at her phone.
“Mom!” Audrey said, waving her phone at Elaine. “Our flight—”
“I know.” Elaine sat down on the end of Audrey’s bed. “I was just calling Shep about it. Sounds like it’ll be at least another day before we can fly back.”
“Oh wow.” Audrey ran her fingers through her messy auburn curls. “I don’t mind staying in Boston another day, not really, but—well, we should call Michelle right away. I’m sure she was banking on us coming home today to help her woman the fort.”
“You’re right, we should. Can you put her on speaker phone?”
Audrey nodded and dialed Michelle’s number, putting the call on speaker phone. It rang a couple of times before they heard Michelle’s voice saying, “Hey, Mom!”
Elaine winced. Michelle sounded much more cheerful than she had a few days earlier, and Elaine guessed that was because she thought the two of them were coming home that day.
“Hey, honey.” Audrey swallowed. “I have not great news. Grandma’s here with me. She’s on speaker phone.”
“What’s the matter?” Michelle asked, sounding worried. “Are you both okay?”
“We’re fine,” Elaine assured her instantly. “But the weather isn’t—we just found out that we can’t fly home today.”
There were five long beats of silence, and Elaine and Audrey looked at each other and winced.
“When can you come home?” Michelle asked slowly.
“We’re not sure yet,” Audrey said. “There’s a snowstorm, and I guess the severe cold is affecting some regions too. It’s all a mess. But we’ll come home as soon as we can.”
“Okay.” Michelle’s voice, which a few moments earlier had sounded chipper and energetic, now sounded close to tears.
“How are things going there?” Elaine asked. “Is everything okay?”
“It is,” Michelle said slowly. “There are just a bunch of guest changeovers today. I was thinking I would have help cleaning all the rooms. I don’t know how I’m going to man the desk and do all the cleaning.
But I will,” she added hurriedly. “I’ll figure it out, for sure.
I’ll put a sign on the front desk asking people to call my cell phone if they arrive and I’m not there. It’ll be okay.”
“Oh, honey.” Audrey bit her lip. “I think we shouldn’t have come to this conference and left you there by yourself. That’s all too much for one person to handle.”
“No, it’s okay. You absolutely should have gone.
The knowledge that you’re bringing back to help improve The Birchwood House is well worth any stress that came my way.
Most of the time it’s all been good, even fun.
The other day—well, it’s been fun sometimes.
I can hang in here until you can come back. ”
“I can agree that the knowledge is useful,” Elaine said, “but that doesn’t mean you needed to feel all this stress. We should have asked someone to come help run the hotel with you, or maybe just Audrey should have gone to the conference and I should have stayed home with you—”
“Hush.” Michelle laughed. “I wanted you both to go and I liked proving I’m capable of running this place by myself—at least for a few days.
Besides, there’s no way you could have predicted this storm.
It came out of nowhere. I promise I’ll be okay, don’t worry.
I’ll hold down the fort here until you can get a flight.
No fretting, okay? Promise? I can see the worried looks on your faces from here. ”
Audrey and Elaine laughed.
“Oh, fine,” Audrey said. “But call Harper and Penelope if you end up needing backup. Or any of our friends. Don’t feel like you have to handle everything totally alone.”
“Sounds good, but I’m sure I’ve got it. Love you guys. Have fun on your bonus vacation day!”
The three women said affectionate goodbyes and Audrey hung up.
“Oh, I feel so bad for her,” Audrey said, lying back down on her bed and staring at the ceiling. “I can’t imagine trying to change over all those rooms by myself. How many people are checking out today? Do you remember?”
“Don’t fret,” Elaine said, patting her knee. “That was a good suggestion about Harper and Penelope. Michelle will be okay. She’s a smart girl.”
“I know.” Audrey smiled.
“Come on,” Elaine said, grabbing Audrey’s hand and pulling her up to a sitting position.
“Cheer up. Shep suggested that we make the best of it by exploring Boston and enjoying the sights on our bonus day here. What do you say? Should we venture out after breakfast and go for a winter walk? Then we could get a coffee and a pastry. What do you think about that?”
“Sounds great.” Audrey nodded. “You’re right. We’re here. We might as well bundle up, face the cold, and enjoy Boston.”
“That’s the spirit! I’ll get a head start on picking out my outfit while you take a shower, okay?”
“Sure. A hot shower sounds lovely even though I’m not really cold. Just knowing how cold it is outside makes me want to be warm.”
Elaine chuckled. “It’s not too cold, it’s snowing a little. But I know what you mean. I think I’m going to wear all my warmest clothes today. And hot coffee sounds wonderful.”
Audrey went into the bathroom to take a shower and Elaine got dressed into a warm pair of corduroy pants and a thick white sweater. She combed her hair carefully and then put on a cozy red hat.
There, she thought, turning back and forth in front of the full-length mirror in their room. I look like I’m ready for a fun day as a tourist.
Once Audrey was also dressed in warm clothes, the two of them went downstairs for a hearty breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, fried eggs, and sausages. Then they bundled up in their coats, scarves, and mittens and set out along the streets of Boston.
Snowflakes were falling like miniature ballerinas wearing white tutus. Elaine lifted her face to the sky as they walked, enjoying the feeling of the cold on her face. It was biting but not unpleasant, since the rest of her was so warm.
“Boston is rather thrilling,” Audrey said, looking around eagerly. “I did want to tour more of the museums and historical sites. Now we get a chance.”
They enjoyed viewing the old buildings as they strolled. Before long they ducked inside a coffee shop for a couple of piping hot peppermint mochas and some raspberry Danishes.
It really is going to be a lovely day, Elaine thought as they sipped their coffees and paused outside a graveyard that held famous headstones.
Audrey and I are here together, we’re safe and warm, and we get to explore Boston.
I do miss Shep and Michelle terribly, but waiting one more day won’t be so bad.
“Cheers, Mom,” Audrey said, lifting her cup toward her mother. “To having a good day.”
Elaine touched her coffee mug to Audrey’s with a grin. “To adventure.”
She felt a ripple of happiness. She could still feel Christmas spirit in the air everywhere she looked, and now she got to experience it somewhere new and exciting.