Stranded For Christmas

by N Kuhn

  “So, explanation?” I inquire.

  If that is his girlfriend, I’d love to know why he was teasing her with me. She didn’t look to happy about it and if I’m going to be stuck here for a few days, I don’t want to make any enemies. Jarrod unlocks his truck, tossing the bags into the back seat.

  “Shelly has had her eye on me since I came back from Iraq this last time. We dated in high school, but that was so long ago. She’s since been married and divorced twice and is not something I want to get myself involved in again. She’s just looking to be seen with me, and hoping I’ll get her out of Mount Hope.”

  “Oh, ok. So, what’s next?” I feel his tension and that he doesn’t want to talk about it at the moment.

  “Jonesy’s is right over there,” he points towards the end of town. “And the drug store is across the street. So we can see him about your car and then get you necessitates like a toothbrush and whatever else you need.”

  “Sounds good. Hey, where’s my cell phone? I didn’t find it in my purse.”

  “Crap, I’m sorry, I left it in the car. Do you want to get a new one?”

  “No, that’s fine. As you heard, there’s really no one I need to talk to and it’s an unnecessary expense anyway.” I look down, blinking rapidly to try to prevent the tears from falling.

  “Do you want to talk about that?” His voice is filled with pity and that’s the last thing I want right now.

  “I’d rather not at the moment. You heard my part of the conversation, so your curiosity should be quenched enough for now.”

  Pursing my lips, I move ahead of him in the direction of Jonesy’s. The last thing I want to ruin this day is thoughts of Jessa and Keaton or my mother. Talking about my family would only ruin this and I plan to make the most of the day! Baking and dancing, sounds about right to me. Though I want today to be great, I feel my mood dampen at Jarrod’s question. Stomping through the snow is sort of hard when it’s still quite deep in some spots. I take a step and my feet fly out from under me. As I brace myself to land on my ass, I feel Jarrod’s strong arms wrap around me. My back is pressed against his chest and I can feel his heart racing against his chest.

  “Whoa! Seems like I’m always saving you, huh? Are you normally this clumsy?” Laughter edges its way into his voice and I can’t help but giggle. My darkening mood immediately brightens again.

  “Hey, young Carson! Ho there.” An older man waves at us from the sidewalk, snow shovel in his hand. He leans on it as if catching his breath.

  “Jonesy, I see you’re hard at work clearing the sidewalks of our fair town. I’d like you to meet Jemma. You get to play White Knight to her Damsel in Distress.”

  The old man straightens as he puffs his chest out with pride.

  “So, little lady, how can I save your day?” As he smiles, I see he’s missing a few teeth, yet instead of disgust, I feel it’s endearing.

  “I got a flat tire on the mountin last night. Jarrod here saved me, took me to the B and B and now I need your help getting my rental to a shop so I can get a new tire.”

  The smile falls from his face as he shakes his head.

  “Not only is it Christmas Eve, but the county won’t even get out there until maybe tomorrow night to plow the mountain pass so that would be the earliest I can get it in. Then I’d have to order a tire, because I don’t keep a stock of tires here unless someone pre-orders before bringing their truck in. I think you’re going to be here for a few days, honey.” He looks down and shuffles his feet.

  “That’s okay,” I peek from the corner of my eye at Jarrod. He has his hands shoved in his pockets and I can see him staring at me. “I’m in no hurry to go anywhere else.”

  Nodding, Jonesy resumes shoveling the snow and adds,

  “You just send Jarrod here with some keys for me later tonight and I’ll make sure it gets taken care of. I’ll call over to the BB when it’s ready.”

  “Thank you Jonesy. I’m so happy to meet you.” I turn towards Jarrod as his gaze shifts away, trying to pretend he wasn’t staring at me. “Pharmacy?” I ask him and turn on my heel, marching across the street. On the way, I ooh and aah over the floats that line the side of the street. The horse drawn sleigh looks wonderful. I certainly want to try that out tonight. My heart lifts and I feel elated, excited actually, for the first time in years. This is going to be a fantastic holiday!

  Chapter 5

  Jarrod

  Watching the spring in Jemma’s step makes me smile. I was worried how she would react after Shelly practically threw herself at me and showed her fangs, but this woman is amazing. She has a shitty family, has been hurt by those she loves, and almost froze to death last night. Yet here she is like a wide eyed child, taking in the floats and decorations, bouncing through the street. She reaches the drug store and I am there to hold the door for her.

  “Oh wow,” she gasps, taking in the twelve-foot tree they always have in the center of their store.

  “I remember when I was a kid,” I say quietly, leaning into her from behind. Her scent washes over me and I’m sure it’s my shower gel, but she smells amazing with it. Inhaling, I continue, “Every time my mother had to run to town I would beg her to let me come with. I would bring my little letter to Santa and stand in front of this tree. I would close my eyes real tight and make my Christmas wish. Back then it was for special toys.”

  Her giggling pierces my heart, causing feelings I didn’t think I had anymore.

  “Now what do you wish for,” she asks breathlessly.

  “Someone like you in my life,” I whisper into her ear.

  I pull away to put a little space between us. This woman has been through so much, and she doesn’t need me pawing all over her. I lead the way down the aisles so she can get bath items and whatever else she needs. At the counter, she pulls her wallet out and attempts to pay. I shoot a look at Mr. Banning and he nods before proceeding to add the products to the B and B account.

  Bags in hand, Jemma and I head back out onto the sidewalk. As we pass Sweet Charity’s, she pauses and sniffs the air.

  “Oh, wow! What is that amazing smell?” Jemma asks me.

  I chuckle as I take her hand and lead her inside the small deli.

  “They make homemade bread here and it always makes the whole town smell phenomenal. They also makes great pastries.”

  Jemma presses her face to the glass display, and I swear I see her drooling as she takes in the eclairs and muffins below the counter.

  “Oh, I can eat,” she snickers.

  “Can I help you, Jarrod?”

  I give Charity a sweet grin. She’s a few years older than me and married to my best friend, so it’s always a pleasure to see her.

  “Charity, this is Jemma. She’s going to be staying with us for a few days. She was driven mad by the smell of this place.”

  Jemma stands up, a wicked grin on her face.

  “I’ll have an éclair, the cranberry muffin, and a large coffee, please? Oh, and whatever Jarrod wants.

  He deserves a treat after taking me shopping this morning.”

  Charity laughs at Jemma, her eyes sparkling.

  “Looks like you have your hands full today Jarrod. Good luck.”

  “Thanks Jemma, you just gave Charity hope that she can set me up with someone. I had her thinking I was a stoic heartless man.” Jemma cocks her head, a questioning look on her face. “It’s a joke honey, she tries to set me up with every single woman she meets. And now you just told her I took you shopping for the day, totally ruined my Grinch effect I was going for.”

  Finally understanding I was teasing her, her lips curl up as she turns back to the counter. Seeing her éclair already waiting for her, she snatches it up and takes a huge bite. The sounds that come from her throat almost push me over the edge.

  “Oh,” she exclaims with her mouth full. White cream drips from her lips. “This, it’s so good, it just melts,” she closes her eyes, continuing to chew.

  I can’t help myself when I reach o
ut and my fingertip brush the cream filling from her lips. Her body goes rigid as she peels open her eyes, those green eyes sparkle like emeralds. Her pink tongue darts out, licking at her lips, lips I want to kiss. Leaning in closer, I smile at her.

  “So you like?” She nods, her eyes still wide.

  “Good.” I can’t help but enjoy her enthusiasm. To me, this is everyday living; but for Jemma, it’s all new. It’s exciting for me to see Mount Hope through the eyes of someone else who’s never experienced all of this before. She grabs her plate as I take the coffees and we pick a table to sit at.

  “So, would you like to tell me now what’s going on now? Are you really moving away? You seem so happy in this little town, it fits you.”

  I stare into my coffee, not sure what to say. She’s right, I do fit here; but something is missing. Excitement? A good job? I don’t know, but it just doesn’t feel right.

  “You like changing the subject huh?” She nods at me, her little grin curling her lips up. “I want something more. I’ve spent my whole life at the B and B and then in the military. I love it, love my parents, enjoy knowing everyone, but I just can’t figure out what’s missing. It’s not the same anymore.”

  “Do a lot of soldiers feel that way after being deployed? Or shot? Wow! You were shot, hang on,” she giggles. “What happened there?”

  “I would rather-“

  “No, I get it.” She shakes a hand at me, and cuts me off.

  “Happy thoughts,” she says, “What’s your favorite part of the holidays? I’ve not had an exciting, happy holiday in a long time, and I want to make this my year. This needs to be the best Christmas for me, before I lose my holiday spirit forever.”

  Sitting there, we spend an hour chatting about holiday favorites and how fun the festival will be.

  We finish eating and head back to the truck. I navigate the roads back to the B and B, and when we arrive, we see that some of the couples are heading out for the day. I help Jemma carry her bags inside.

  “I’m just going to put these upstairs for you. Mom’s in the kitchen if you want to help her out.”

  Jemma nods, rushing away from me. Her hair waves as she moves, her hips sway and my stomach clenches. My cell vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see it’s the office I’m interviewing with next week.

  “Carson,” I answer as I take the steps two at a time.

  “Hey Jarrod. Listen, it’s Bill with ATO. I just wanted to confirm that you’re going to be here for the interview. Heard you had a pretty bad storm down there.”

  “Yeah, we’re buried a little at the moment, but it should be cleared away by then to get out.”

  “Sounds good. We look forward to seeing you. Have a good holiday.”

  He hangs up and I look around. I put Jemma’s bags on the bed and sit down next to them.

  Staring at my phone, I start to second guess moving away. Will my parents be okay? Maybe I could look for something a little closer. ATO is the leading real estate investment firm in New York. I spent a lot of time in Iraq helping some of their company officers, running security for them while trying to help rebuild certain areas. Sighing, I push myself up off of the bed and head back downstairs where I peek into the kitchen. Seeing Jemma smile as she dances around with my mother and sings Christmas Carols, melts my heart. Maybe it’s not the job. Maybe I’m missing something else in my life. A woman who doesn’t just want to be seen with me, a woman who doesn’t want to use me. Jemma had a genuinely good time this morning and I did too; but is it just because she feels she needs to live to the fullest because she almost died or is it really who she is?

  “Look at you two lovely ladies.”

  Jemma screeches and my mother turns to me, laughing. Jemma has flour on her cheek and I take a step forward. Using my thumb, I swipe the flour from her face. She blushes and looks more beautiful than any overdone Barbie doll, like Shelly. My mother smirks and I catch it from the corner of my eye. Stepping back from Jemma, I turn towards her.

  “Maybe you won’t move away after all.” Her eyes sparkle and I shouldn’t be surprised. No matter what I’ve tried to hide from her over the years, she always knew. I look at my feet.

  “I get it, son. I do; but maybe you’ll see that everything you need is right here.” She turns to take the cookies out of the stove.

  The smell intensifies and fills the small room. I inhale deeply, cutting my eyes over to Jemma. She continues rolling out the dough, humming along to the holiday tunes.

  Could I be happy staying here? Would Jemma stay?

  My mother laughs as she catches me eyeing Jemma and she gives me a knowing look. Crossing my arms, I watch.

  “Son, you know better. If you’re in here, you better be helping.” Mom doesn’t even need to turn around to know that I wasn’t doing anything.

  “Sure Mom, I’ll help.”

  I grab one of the baked cookies off the cooling rack, shoving it into my mouth. Jemma laughs, tosses flour at me and coats my black tee. Laughter bursts from my mouth, as I cover my hand in flour, then wipe it across her cheek I just cleared off.

  “Oh, really?” Jemma’s smile widens, covering her whole face. I love how it brightens her eyes. There’s a driving urge to show her the best Christmas ever. Fist fulls of flour begin flying around the kitchen and even my mother is laughing like a teenager. She flicks a few spoonfuls at us both.

  “Well ladies,” I say, taking in the flour covered shirt and floor. “As much as I would love to stay and help clean, I have some errands to run before the bake sale. I’ll be back before dinner to help load the truck.”

  I duck out as my mom protests behind me about the mess. In my room, I pull out a light sweater and zip up my black vest. Gloves and hat follow. Heading outside, my father is piling firewood near the door.

  “Hey dad, is there gas in the snowmobile?” He nods, winking at me.

  Yep, my intuitive parents have probably always known what I was going to do before I’d even done it.

  “You should have enough to get from the pass to her car.” He goes back to piling wood from his wheelbarrow.

  Grinning to myself, I grab the ramps and push it up onto the bed of my truck. Pulling away, I feel great. By going through her things, I should be able to find out what she’d like for Christmas and I can also bring her own clothes and items to her. I turn the radio up, blasting Christmas Carols as I drive down the road.

  This will be a great Christmas, now if only I can figure out what to do about the job. To take it and move, or not?

  As I pull up outside the Old Mercer place, I sigh at the sight. The unused pond where the town kids used to skate. The empty farmhouse that I used to help garden and maintain. Then I see something new. A For Sale sign.

  Smiling, I remember days of skating on that pond with friends, trying to catch rabbits, the veggie garden, all of it. I have so many good memories here. It makes me wonder what kind of place, what memories Jemma has, if any, that are happy ones. I park the truck and unload the snowmobile. Pulling my wool hat on, I start it up and head up to the mountain pass making a note to myself to stop in town on my way home.

  Chapter 6

  Jemma

  Seeing Jarrod laugh right alongside his mother and I and how great he is with her, makes me yearn for a family dynamic like that. I’ve never had that, even before the Keaton problem. I stand in a strange kitchen, covered in flour, and I can’t contain the smile spread across my face. This woman, who twenty-four hours ago was a stranger, has opened her home and arms to me, her arms and treated me more like a daughter than my own parents. I feel the tear fall down my face before I can stop it.

  “Oh dear. Are you ok? Silly me, you must need some rest. Here I am working you to the bone.” Beverly slides a chair over to me and then makes herself busy pouring me a cup of coffee.

  “No, Bev, it’s okay, I promise. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I’m sure it’s probably hard right now being without your family for the holidays.�
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  “Trust me, that’s not it at all. I’m actually relieved I don’t have to be there. They aren’t as close as you seem to be with your family. You have an amazing son, a beautiful home. You’re happy and nice to each other.” I laugh. “I feel like a Hallmark movie right now.”

  We both giggle. Standing, I turn to the counter with the cut outs. Arms wrap around me from behind and I allow myself to enjoy the moment as Beverly wraps me in a tight hug. Then I lose it. My tears fall and I just can’t stop them.

  “Okay, let’s get these cookies done so that we can get ready for tonight.” Beverly lets me go and I wipe my face. She begins chuckling and I look at her questioningly.

  “What? What’s so funny?”

  “Look at your face, dear. That flour fight with Jarrod and your crying, you look like a ghost. Oh, my. That will be tough to wash up. You know what? There’s only a few left to frost, I’ll finish them and you go on up and shower, get changed and dress warm.”

  Wiping at my face, I smile.

  “Thank you Beverly, for everything. I’m glad I got stranded here. This is going to be my favorite Christmas in a long time.”