Page 17 of Snowed Inn

Chapter 6

Christmas Day

The second my eyes open, I jump out of bed and lurch toward the window like a woman possessed. The snow has got to have stopped. How much more can the sky possibly dump? I yank open the curtains, fully prepared to be greeted by clear paths and blue skies.

But nope. More snow.

I squint, as if glaring at the swirling flurries will somehow make them vanish. “Unbelievable,” I mutter.

I grab my phone, pull up the weather app, and—sure enough—the airports are still shut down.

My dream of miraculously making it to LA for Christmas? Dead on arrival.

In a fit of pique, I delete the weather app.

What does it know, anyway?

I glance around the little apartment bedroom. Christmas is there, purring in her sleep. If I were home right now, I’d be on the couch with coffee, watching my nieces tear into their presents, wrapping paper flying everywhere. It’d be loud, chaotic, and perfect.

A lump rises in my throat.

Nope. No throat lumps!

Before I can fully succumb to self-pity, my phone buzzes. El. Thank God it’s her and not Monica.

I swipe to answer. “Good morning! Merry Christmas!”

It’s a little too chipper, but I refuse to be a sad guest on Christmas. I will make the best of this situation. I’m committed.

“Maria.” It’s less of a greeting, more of a croak.

I frown. “El? You okay?”

“No,” she rasps.

Uh-oh.

I sit up straighter. “You sound terrible.”

“I’m sick.” Ellie coughs. Violently.

A pang of dread shoots through me, and I quickly pull the phone a few inches from my ear.

“Aiden’s sick too,” she moans.

“Oh, no. What can I do?”

“Nothing. Donny’s bringing us soup later. Just . . . don’t come near us unless you want the flu.”

“Got it.” I stand and begin pacing. Ellie and Aiden are at Aiden’s place off Main Street in town. They made it back there last night despite the blizzard. Apparently, Aiden’s truck has some serious snow tires. “But what about the inn?” I ask. “How can I help?”

“Charlotte can handle the inn,” El says. “But the bakery may be an issue. It’s supposed to be open today for breakfast pastries and dessert items. I was going to cover for Sera. She’s visiting her mom.”

“I’ll work at the bakery!”

A few moments of silence pass before I hear it . . . El making a wheezing noise. It might be laughter.

“Maria . . . do you even know how to use a POS system?”