Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“I will not,” I hiss. “Now chill out, you’re exhausting.”
I don’t realize I’ve spoken aloud until Kayla glances sharply my way, her brow furrowing. “What?”
“N-nothing,” I stammer, my heart racing. Am I really losing it this time? Are the inside voices about to become outside voices?! Maybe I should have invested in therapy instead of that space heater… “I didn’t sleep well last night. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I just want to be sure you’re okay, C.C. You haven’t been yourself this season.”
I wasn’t myself last season either, but I guess I did a better job of hiding it.
Forcing a smile and a festive wave for the Grangers as they herd their family of six through the lobby toward the restaurant for a late breakfast, I whisper, “I’m okay. I promise. I’ll pull it together. I won’t let you down.”
Kayla’s gaze softens. “Honey, I know you wouldn’t mean to, but I’ve caught you with resting Grinch face three times this week.”
“Three times in an entire week isn’t that bad.”
“It’s Wednesday,” she says bluntly, making my shoulders slump. She smiles and pats my back. “But it’s okay. I have a plan to help you get your Christmas groove back. I called the conference organizers, and they said it was no problem to change the name on the registration.”
I straighten as my jaw drops. “What?”
“And I booked a business class train ticket for you and called The Empire to change the name on the hotel reservation, too,” Kayla adds, looking increasingly pleased with herself. “Everything’s all set for you to take my place. All you have to do is pack your bags and find someone to drop you off at the train station tomorrow. I would offer, but I’ll be covering your shifts.”
I shake my head. “No, Kayla. I can’t. You’ve been looking forward to this trip all year. You were going to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and the Rockette holiday spectacular and ice skate in Central Park.”
She shrugs. “I’m still going to do those things. I’ll just do them on New Year’s Eve instead. That way Harry can come with me, and I won’t have to worry about work stuff. It’ll be all holiday fun and romantic mistletoe kisses with my boyfriend.” She sighs and her giddy grin stretches wider. “And if I’m lucky, he’ll take one of the many hints I’ve been dropping since last Christmas, propose to me by that giant tree, and make all my romantic dreams come true.”
Kayla is a Reindeer Corners true believer. Even after a lifetime of having holiday magic forced down her throat, she still loves this time of year above all others and can’t imagine a better place to say “yes, I’ll be your forever girl,” than under a giant Christmas tree.
She’s also an incredible friend.
“Thank you,” I say, wrapping an arm around her waist and hugging her to my side. “You’re the best.”
“I know,” she says, grinning as she returns the squeeze. “But honestly, I’m happy I won’t have to miss the Tinsel Time festival. I thought I wouldn’t mind, but the more I thought about leaving tomorrow, the sadder I got. I’ve never missed a festival, and I don’t want to start now.” She releases me with a final hug and reaches for the mouse to awaken our ancient desktop computer. “Besides, you’ll do way better at a big hotel conference. I get overwhelmed by crowds.” She glances up at the large clock above our equally massive lobby tree. “Speaking of crowds, the Baxter family reunion called for an early check-in and catered lunch. Could you run check and make sure the kitchen was able to get the banquet room set up for them?”
“On it.” I move out from behind the desk but pause on the other side to tap a finger on the polished wood in front of my bestie. When she looks up from the screen, I say, “Thank you again, babes. I think a trip to the city will be the perfect thing to help me reset and get excited about the rest of the winter season.”
“Me, too,” she agrees with a smile. “And who knows? Maybe you’ll learn some fabulous new innkeeper tricks we can incorporate into the business and the true meaning of Christmas while you’re at it.”
I laugh, too excited about my upcoming escape to my favorite city to listen to the Voice of Doom as it softly assures me that some people—people like me—never learn the true meaning of Christmas.
That isn’t true! I just need a break from all the pressure to perform holiday magic for our guests, a chance to simply experience the good vibes this time of year brings without forcing it. After a few days wandering the city holiday markets and food stalls in between conference lectures, I’ll be feeling festive and fabulous. I’ll be back to my old self, the woman who couldn’t wait to graduate from hotel management school and return home to her sweet, small town.