The Christmas Rental

by Hendricks, Savannah

“I’d better get going and help with the tree. I’m already running late.” Tyler lifted the box off the floor and used his back to push open the front door.

  “Did the Norths’ niece make it in?” Sandy asked, wrapping her arms around herself and pulling her sweater closed as the outside air from the open door reached her.

  “Yes, with her daughter.” Tyler stood half in the store, half outside. “I already sent them on their way.”

  “No husband?” Sandy grinned.

  Tyler shook his head no. “Don’t say it, Sandy.”

  “A single mom and a doctor. Wow. She’s a smart and strong woman. I bet she’s cute, too.” Sandy pushed her pointer finger to her lips.

  “Bye, Sandy,” Tyler called as he made his way out the door and toward the Christmas tree.

  Chapter 4

  The directions on the paper were as straightforward as could be for a small town, and it made her heart cozy with delight. A right at the Christmas tree, then a left at the stop sign, and follow the road until the trees clear. The house will be on the left.

  “Mary Ann!” Lorelei eased the sedan down the driveway. “It’s even cuter in person!”

  The tan Craftsman-style home and had a white picket fence surrounding the driveway's front section. It was two stories and featured a lovely, welcoming porch with large windows flanking either side of the front door. A sizeable second-story window appeared to rest on top of the porch’s roof. Wreaths with red ribbons and ornate bows hung from the fence and were covered in a light layer of snow.

  Spruce trees grew randomly throughout the property, as well as bare maples that lost their colorful leaves. Lorelei shut off the sedan and nearly threw the driver’s side door off the hinges opening it with such excitement. She drew her robin’s egg blue gloves to her heart and beamed.

  “It’s like something out of a Norman Rockwell Christmas painting!” She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with country air. Lorelei had seen a few pictures of the place in an old family photo album and had always dreamed of visiting. But since her parents were not ones for celebrating a country-type Christmas, and the Norths were never around in December anyway, it had never happened. “I finally made it.”

  As she made her way to the car’s back door, her boots were like ice skates. “Phew. That’s dangerous.” Using the sedan as a brace, she slid to the back, opened up the hatch, and switched shoes.

  Once on solid footing, she removed Mary Ann, who clutched a teething blanket. Snow began to fall, dusting the top of Lorelei’s cream-colored jacket.

  Sliding the key into the front door, she unlocked it with a click. As it swung open, the scent of warm vanilla and cinnamon hit Lorelei’s nose. She set the key on the entryway table and left the front door open. After she made several trips to and from the sedan, dragging in four suitcases while carrying Mary Ann the entire time, she finally closed the front door. Pulling her cell phone from her pocket, she was alerted to notifications lining the top.

  “I’ll get those in a minute.” She slid the phone back into her pocket. “Let’s get some heat going and find some place to put you down. You're getting heavy.” Lorelei gazed around, standing on the plush emerald green rug.

  To her immediate right, through the craftsman archway, sat a room with a fireplace. A plump green velvet couch with matching wing chairs were arranged facing the hearth and built-in bookcases lined the walls. To her left, a set of stairs led to the upstairs. And in front of her, a short hallway led to the open floor plan kitchen and living room.

  Locating the thermostat on the wall, she clicked it on, setting it to a comfortable temperature. Lorelei removed her gloves and unbuckled Mary Ann from her seat, lifting her to her hip.

  “This is going to be our home for a whole month.” Lorelei carried the baby down the hall and into the kitchen. The expansive living room and kitchen encompassed the entire back of the home. Picture windows with wood trim allowed for a view of the backyard from every angle. Another fireplace was on the left side of the room with an L-shaped charcoal-gray flare-armed couch facing it. To her right, the kitchen boasted pine cabinets and a large butcher-block island separated it from the dining area. A bare wood farmers table, with seating for possibly ten guests, filled the remaining space nicely.

  Lorelei’s entire body slouched as every care and worry left her, melting away into the hardwood floor below. The lingering evening light faded outside as the flakes of snow grew larger.

  She glanced at Mary Ann and kissed her forehead as her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. “Baby girl, this is the life we are supposed to be living. Your mommy is exhausted from all the sadness and long hours in the ER.” Just as Lorelei was about to check her phone, she shook her head. “Nope. Time to relax.”

  She found the note on the island and clicked on the kitchen lights. The crimson ink only enhanced the exquisite handwriting, and Lorelei bounced Mary Ann to keep her from fussing while she read through the letter. It detailed the hours for the doctor’s office and what to expect as far as workload. But the only phone numbers listed were Tyler’s and the practice’s—no cell number for the Norths and no indication where to reach them. The letter also welcomed her to treat the home as her own, using everything from sheets to books to the sleds in the garage. Not only was the house beautiful, but it was also spotless. Lorelei imagined someone with a magic wand waving it around, perfecting everything. As she finished reading the letter, she noticed the PS at the bottom: Please dress up the home as you see fit for Christmas. You will find all the decorations in the garage.

  She flipped the note over, searching for a cell phone number. Nothing. When her eyes traveled around the kitchen, she spotted an old-school phone attached to the wall. Lorelei stepped over to it and lifted the receiver as though it had cooties. A dial tone hummed in her ear. The only number she had for her aunt and uncle was the house phone.

  The moment she’d reached out to her aunt and uncle, a relief she hadn’t experienced in some time flowed through her veins. Even as she packed up Mary Ann and her items, a chore she was not a fan of, she’d done so while whistling Christmas tunes and dancing around her bedroom. And she didn’t think it would stop anytime soon, not as long as the negative thoughts of her parents stayed out of the way. Their disapproval of her doing anything other than living in Minneapolis and continuing her hospital career was loud and clear. Not to mention they already held Ivy League expectations for their only grandchild. She wouldn’t allow her parent’s judgment and expectation to transfer to her daughter—at least not today.

  “We get to decorate the house, Mary Ann. Your first Christmas will be one to remember.” Warmth filled her. She’d not given any thought to trimming for the season outside of the condo. In fact, she hadn’t packed a single Christmas item, not even her stocking from childhood. The thought of forgetting the stocking hit her right in the stomach, weakening her smile.

  “Oh, baby girl, Mommy forgot her stocking. I can’t believe I didn’t think to bring it.” Lorelei hung her stocking every Christmas, regardless of where she lived. “Maybe I should call Gramps and Grams and have them pick it up from the condo when they come to visit. It wouldn’t be the same without it. I can’t break tradition after all these years.”

  Unsurprisingly, Lorelei hadn’t had time to make or buy Mary Ann a Christmas stocking. Maybe Oakvale had a craft store and she could pick up supplies for one. She used to love to spend her free time crafting.

  Hunger ripped through her stomach in the form of a grumble. “Let’s get you set up, see what we have in the refrigerator, and figure out supper.” She headed to the suitcases, snatched the red one, and wheeled it into the kitchen. Lorelei removed a queen-size quilt she’d purchased from a boutique shop in Minneapolis and laid it out on the floor before setting Mary Ann on it with some toys.

  Next, she located a lighter and crumbled up a few sheets of newspaper to shove under the stacked wood in the living room’s fireplace. The fire came to life and filled the room with a peaceful glow. She observe
d the framed photos on the mantel. There were two of her aunt and uncle together and one of her parents with the Norths. Judging by the sixties-style clothing, it must’ve been taken before she was born.

  Moving into the kitchen while keeping an eye on Mary Ann, she opened the refrigerator. The inside was bare except for condiments shoved into a corner of the shelf. Closing the door, she frowned and turned to the stove where a tea kettle rested. She opened the pantry to find crackers, soup, and some canned veggies. On a higher shelf sat several boxes of tea—Earl Grey, English breakfast, and chamomile.

  Lorelei frowned. No cider. She would need to pick some up. After dropping a chamomile bag into a mug, she turned her focus to the backyard through the windows. The view beyond was breathtaking, and it drew her closer. Outside, dust approached and when she turned to check on Mary Ann, a labeled light switch caught her eye: December Lights

  She tilted her head. Outside of the hospital, she’d never seen a light switch labeled before. December lights? She stared at it for a few more seconds before she finally gave in and flipped the switch.

  “Oh!” she gasped.

  Outside the window, a forest of white and multicolored trees burst to life, glistening from every corner of the property.

  “Mary Ann!” Lorelei hurried to her daughter, scooped her up, and without a jacket, hat, or gloves, threw open the French doors and stepped out onto the back patio. “Do you see all the lights?” Pointing across the backyard, Mary Ann followed her mommy’s finger, but quickly returned to her teething blanket.

  “This, Mary Ann, is why we are here on this adventure.” She brought her daughter’s cheek to hers and squeezed her tightly. “Spending time together.” In the distance, three deer made their way from behind a set of trees. “Look, Mary Ann!”

  Her finger pointed into the distance, but her daughter had returned her focused back to her teething blanket.

  “You’re right. The blanket wins today. We have all month to deer watch.”

  Yet, right at that moment, that second, she was reminded that life was far from perfect. This happy little December reprieve would switch back to reality once they were home from Oakvale. No scientific study was required to understand small towns didn’t need two doctors. If only she heard back about the resume she’d sent to Booth’s physician’s office. It wouldn’t be Oakvale, but it wouldn’t be an ER, either. And she still had to figure out a way to show her parents how great it would be to be a small-town doctor. If she could perform operations in emergencies and make authoritative decisions, why couldn’t she stand up to her parents’ overbearing expectations? Maybe because they weren’t strangers like her ER patients? She valued their opinions, and they needed to be a part of Mary Ann’s life. She wanted and needed to make them proud. Maybe because their approval remained as vital as it had been when she’d brought home her first report card.

  The soft glow of light from the trees filled the yard, but the joy in Lorelei’s heart dimmed as the battle of what to do about her parents raged in her mind. Her cell phone vibrated with another notification, and she tended to them, not feeling any less relaxed than when she was in the city.

  Chapter 5

  Tyler stood back to admire the placement of the ornaments on the town’s Christmas tree. Dusk washed over the sky as the storefront’s lights provided a soft glow onto the sidewalks. Closed signs hung in every window as residents assisted with the tree or were still at home bundling up their kids for the celebration.

  The spit and sputter of Jodi Hudson’s car vibrated from the nearby parking spot in front of the doctor’s office, drawing Tyler’s attention. Since high school graduation, Jodi had worked as the receptionist at Dr. North’s office, so seeing her clunker parked in its usual spot brought a nostalgic grin to his face. Just as he made his way over, with a final choke and hiss of black smoke, the engine gave up.

  Jodi climbed from the car and slammed the door as though she wanted to punish it for misbehaving.

  “Is it giving you problems again?” he asked, standing next to his friend from sixth grade.

  “Hey, Tyler.” She pushed long chestnut curls off her shoulder. “It doesn’t matter what I do. This pile of metal hates me.” Jodi lifted her snow boot to it and gave it a slight kick.

  “Well.” Because he knew it made his friend laugh, Tyler rested his arm playfully on her shoulder, accentuating their height difference. “It might be time for a new car.”

  Jodi rolled her eyes. “I can’t give up on old Frank. He made it through the snowstorm of ’08.”

  “1908?” Tyler joked.

  Jodi slid out from under his arm, causing Tyler to lurch before regaining his posture. “I don’t need some shiny new thing. The only driving I do is to run over to Booth to see my boyfriend or for babysitting gigs. I walk everywhere else. Plus, new things are pricey.”

  “Good point. Have you spoken with Dr. North about a raise?” Tyler crossed his arms and gazed up at the doctor’s office, which was nothing more than a semi-converted two-story house. With the practice occupying the first floor, Jodi had been living upstairs since she’d begun working there.

  “A raise? He already pays me well, and I don’t do much. Some days it seems like Dr. North doesn’t even need me there. How about I ask him as soon as you talk to your parents about buying the bookstore?” She shoved her hand at him as though to shake on it.

  He waved her off. “No, that’s not a fair deal. Your parents’ business isn’t at stake.”

  “True.” Jodi sighed and stared in the same direction as Tyler.

  He lifted the keys from his pocket. “Take my truck.”

  Jodi snatched the keys and beamed. “Thanks, I’ll be back after the tree lighting. I can’t believe I’m missing it this year. But Mrs. Keaton needed help with the newborns, and she didn’t want them out in the cold tonight.”

  “Better hurry. You worked today?” he called after her.

  “I was getting everything ready for the new doctor, running errands, and organizing Mr. North’s office,” she yelled back as she popped open his truck door and waved before climbing in.

  Tyler returned the wave then checked the time on his cell phone and glanced around. Lorelei had promised she would be showing up with Mary Ann. Maybe they’d had trouble locating the house or there was an issue at the rental. He’d hoped to introduce her to as many residents in town as possible before she started work. Maybe there was a problem with her sedan, although it hadn’t appeared to be in disrepair. Before his mind could wander more, a voice came up behind him.

  “We’re coming!”

  The sound of boots crunching over the fresh snow grew closer as he spun around.

  “You made it.” Tyler warmly greeted Lorelei and Mary Ann with a smile. “And you wore appropriate boots.”

  Lorelei wore the same cream jacket as earlier but had added a matching wool hat. Mary Ann, resting on her hip, was bundled up like an adorable pig in a blanket with only her tiny nose and eyes exposed. Lorelei held her cell phone in her hand.

  “Yes.” She snorted a laugh, looking at her boots. “I started a fire as soon as we stepped inside the house. Then I was busy on my phone and completely forgot about the tree thing tonight. Do you know how hard it is to put out a fire in a fireplace when it’s just getting started?” Lorelei’s eyes questioned.

  “Fairly hard.” Tyler smirked.

  Lorelei took in a breath, puffed up her cheeks, and exhaled. “The house is absolutely magical. Have you seen the lights on the trees in the backyard?”

  “Yes, they’re spectacular.” Tyler waved at his parents as they made their way over to him. “Lorelei, this my dad, Richard, and my mom, Arlene. Mom, Dad, this is Lorelei and her daughter, Mary Ann.”

  His dad, in a thick jacket, gave a little wave. With her Lucille-Ball-like red hair, his mom reached out, hugged Lorelei, and rubbed Mary Ann’s bundled-up arm.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Your son has been wonderful to work with, setting up the rental.” Lorelei swi
tched her daughter to her other hip.

  “Welcome to Oakvale, and happy to hear Tyler was able to help you. Yay, for the family business." Richard shoved his fists up to the sky. "Plus, we’re grateful to have you pitch in at Dr. North’s office, especially over the holidays.”

  “Does my uncle usually have trouble finding a replacement? I know it’s a tradition for them to be out of town for December.” Lorelei glanced around at the town in front of her. Her mouth hung open slightly as if impressed by every little thing she saw.

  Tyler couldn’t help but stare and wonder what she was thinking. Since he’d lived there so long, he appreciated an outsider’s viewpoint. I wonder how she sees Oakvale …

  “The Norths leave every December 1st and return every December 31st without fail,” Arlene stated, readjusting her plum-colored scarf to cover more of her neck.

  “I hope they make an exception this year. I’d love to see my aunt and uncle and have them meet Mary Ann.” Lorelei returned her attention to Tyler. “Where do they go? All I know is they travel.”

  “You don’t know?” Tyler found himself staring at her as though he could see her soul through her eyes. “They go north.”

  “More north than here?” Lorelei’s forehead creased. “Canada?”

  “I don’t know if they have ever said where they go,” Richard announced. “I guess no one’s ever really asked directly. They’ve been leaving every December since . . . forever.”

  “Wherever it is they travel to, must be pretty special to leave all this behind.” Lorelei gestured to the gathering crowd around the Christmas tree.

  “Come on,” Tyler motioned at Lorelei. “I know the perfect spot for viewing the tree lighting.”

  “Nice meeting you both. I hope to see you around, but not in the doctor’s office.” Lorelei laughed.

  “You’ll see us around indeed,” Arlene stated and took hold of Richard’s hand.

  His parents headed closer to the tree as Tyler directed Lorelei to the left of the crowd.