Chapter 2
Chapter Two
CARTER
Most people hate the airport during the holiday season, but I get off on the buzz of all the travelers. Everyone is headed somewhere with excitement and anticipation on their faces. I can’t help but wonder where every person who walks past me might be going.
As I wait in the ride-share area of the airport in Vermont, I make up stories in my head about the people waiting around me. What they might be here for. Whether they’re returning home or here to visit someone.
By the time my ride pulls up at the curb, the end of my nose feels like the tip of an icicle, and my cheeks tingle from the cold air. The sixty-year-old man gets out of the car to help me with my bags, but I wave him off, placing my bag in the trunk myself.
He shuts his trunk and sticks out his hand. “I’m Rich.”
“Carter.” I shake his hand, and his smile deepens, forming more wrinkles around his eyes.
“Let’s get in. It’s freezing.”
We both settle into the SUV, me blowing into my hands to warm them.
“You’re headed to the Elderberry Motel in Mistletoe Falls?”
“I am.”
He veers the SUV away from the curb. “Beautiful little town. Especially at Christmas. The missus is always asking me to take her there this time of year.”
“They go all out for Christmas?”
“Son, it’s the Christmas capital of Vermont.”
My forehead wrinkles. That’s one fact Steph didn’t inform me about. Though why would she? I could have researched this place before coming, but I’m here because it’s where my friends want to get married. Plus, it’s not like her sister wants to share her town with me.
“Sounds like fun.” I pull my water bottle out of my bag and guzzle half of it. Flying always dehydrates me, short trip or not.
Staring out the window, the scenery changes from city to evergreen forest. The street is covered with a light dust of snow. Whenever the wind blows through the trees, some of the snow on the branches falls to the ground. The mountains rise in the distance as we make our way closer.
We drive on a two-lane highway for a while, seeing only an odd house or gas station dotting the landscape as we grow closer to Mistletoe Falls.
I plan to check in at the motel before heading to Ashley’s B&B to check with Doug and Steph about our morning itinerary. Last time I talked to Doug, he mentioned that they were behind because Steph had been on set so much these past few months.
They’re both in the entertainment industry.
Steph has been pursuing an acting career since we graduated from college, and she finally landed a recurring role on a popular television series a couple of years ago.
Doug spends most of his time managing her career and those of a few other up-and-coming actors.
It’s been something witnessing their dreams coming true, but I wish I didn’t have the feeling that I’m being left behind. Not because of anything they’ve done, but because I feel like I’m missing out on something. I can’t figure out what.
In many ways, my life has just happened to me.
Lately, I’ve been questioning who I am and what I want.
I made all the decisions I thought I was supposed to along the way.
I went to college, earned my degree, completed an internship, and started working in my field right after graduation.
All for what? To be what? Now, I’m… here.
And I don’t feel as fulfilled as I should after doing everything by the book.
I shake the self-analysis that’s been my life the last year when I see the sign on the side of the road reading, “Welcome to Mistletoe Falls.”
Rich wasn’t kidding. Mistletoe Falls puts my small town, Climax Cove, to shame.
Every building on Main Street is lined with Christmas lights, highlighting the building’s shape, its doors, and its windows.
String lights in the shape of snowflakes hang from one side of the street to the other.
Big bundles of mistletoe wrapped in red ribbon are placed in the middle of the lights, and every ornate streetlight is wrapped in greenery with big shiny balls that reflect the lights around them.
“Is this the set of a movie?” I mumble.
My family are huge Christmas movie watchers, and every year we make a list of movies to watch. I’ll miss most of it this year since I’ll be here, but my sister, Brynn, promised she wouldn’t let anyone watch my favorites until I get home.
Rich laughs. “Now you see why the missus loves it so much.”
We pass by the town hall, where a huge evergreen is decorated with lights and Christmas balls. They probably plucked that tree right off one of the nearby mountains.
Everything about this town is welcoming. It may not be New York City, but there’s still a bustle of people moving from shop to shop, packages in hand. Kids trail behind their parents, sucking on the ends of candy canes.
“It feels almost fake.”
Rich meets my eyes in the rearview mirror and chuckles. “Nope.”
We drive for a few more minutes before Rich turns off the main road. The red-and-white sign in the distance reads Elderberry Motel. Rich pulls into the parking lot and parks alongside the small reception room.
“Thanks, Rich.” I climb out of his car, and he meets me by the trunk.
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your stay. Maybe I’ll see you having hot chocolate in the gazebo when I bring the missus. She always loves all the festivities they plan.”
I lift my suitcase out of the trunk, and he shuts it. “Sounds good, Rich.”
“Happy holidays.” He smiles and walks to the driver’s side, getting in and shutting the door.
I leave him a tip on the app and slide my phone back into my jacket pocket. I head toward the door that leads into the reception area. Before I can reach for the door handle, it whips open, and I find Santa standing there.
Not the real Santa obviously, but someone dressed as Santa. Several people actually.
I take a step back as they file out the door, one after the other. Some short, some tall, some old, some young. Each one smiles and nods at me or says “Merry Christmas” as they pass.
I’m not sure how many exactly pass me by the time the doorway is empty, but it’s a lot.
A plump woman with white hair pulled back into a low bun, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, stands behind the counter, smiling at me. If she were dressed in a red dress and white apron, she’d be the perfect Mrs. Claus. “Good evening. How can I help you?”
I wheel my bag behind me and walk to the counter. “I’m checking in.”
“Oh?” Her welcoming smile drops.
“Is there a problem?”
“What name was the reservation under?” She reaches for a pile of index cards.
“Russell. Carter Russell.”
She nods and shuffles through the index cards, biting her bottom lip. This doesn’t seem like a good sign. After she goes through the cards a second time, sighing with each card, she looks at me and cringes. Definitely not a good sign. “I’m afraid I don’t see your reservation.”
I stare at her for a beat, unsure what to say. “I know I made it.”
“Maybe it got lost, or I wrote it down for the wrong dates. Whatever happened, I apologize, but I don’t have it.”
I’m not an angry guy who can’t control his temper. No need to panic. I don’t want to make this little old lady feel any worse. She looks on the verge of tears. “Not a big deal. I’d like to take a room then.”
Her expression falls further, and her eyes do fill with wetness. “I don’t have any vacancies.” When I stare at her blankly, she adds, “It’s the Santa Festival this week,” as if that explains it.
I blow out a breath and push a hand through my hair. “Santa Festival?” I quickly wave my hand because it doesn’t matter what the Santa Festival is. “Is there somewhere else in town that might have some vacancies?”
Her lips shake, and I fear that pretty soon her tears are going to fall down her rosy cheeks. “Very unlikely. Any rooms nearby are booked more than a year in advance when the festival is going on.”
“Great.” Shit. What am I going to do? “Have you heard of the Silver Bells B&B?”
“Of course. Ashley is such a sweet girl.” Her smile shines back, so I don’t have the heart to tell her that “sweet” and “Ashley” aren’t two words I’d put together.
“Is there a cab company I could call to take me there? I know Ashley as well.”
“You do?” The tears have dried up, and she’s happy again. “Well, why didn’t you stay there in the first place?”
“Long story.” I’m not telling this woman that I’d fear Ashley might cut my balls off with a butcher knife in the middle of the night.
The woman reaches under the counter and pulls out her purse. “C’mon. I’ll drive you there. I’m Ester by the way.”
“Good to meet you, Ester. I’m Carter. I appreciate the offer of a ride, but should you leave this place unattended?”
She walks past me toward the door. “It’s just a bunch of Santas.”
I chuckle. Her attitude reminds me of Climax Cove. It’s pretty much the opposite of running a business in Manhattan, where everything and everyone is filmed or watched by security from fifty angles.
“Really, I can just get a ride-share or a cab or something.”
She swings the door open, and a burst of cold air assaults me. “There are no cabs or ride-shares in Mistletoe Falls.” Ester laughs as if the idea that there would be is the funniest thing she’s heard all day.
“But I just got dropped off by one.” I follow her and close the door to the reception area.
She glances over her shoulder as she walks through the parking lot. “That’s just because you were coming out of the city. You won’t find one to use in town.” Ester stops beside an older, cherry-red Ford truck with the name of the motel on the side. “Hop in.” She gestures to the other side.
I do as she says, throwing my luggage in the bed of the truck.
The thought hits me when we’re pulling out of the parking lot that I’m about to come face-to-face with Ashley again, and I have to ask her to put me up at her place.
I doubt she’ll see me as a Christmas gift.
At least I’ll have Doug to play my bodyguard and hopefully Steph to convince her sister to give me a room.