The Christmas Rental

by Hendricks, Savannah

  “Beautiful,” she whispered as though the house might blush to hear the news.

  Tyler nodded. “Yes, you are.”

  Lorelei turned to him, wrapping her hands around the mug. “What? Sorry, did you say something?”

  “The house, yes . . . thanks.” Tyler took a drink of coffee, and tugged on his ear. “Please relax, have a seat.”

  She lowered herself onto the couch and took a sip from the mug as her shoulders raised. “Great coffee. I’m sorry about barging in, but I didn’t know who else I should go to. I know Don can help me, but your house was closer than heading into town.”

  “I’m glad you stopped by. Of course you shouldn’t be out driving in this weather. We don’t have snow plows out here.”

  Lorelei leaned back into the couch. “I didn’t want to venture out in this, but everyone is frozen back at the house. My parents insisted I leave Mary Ann with them. Yet, judging by the fear in their weak smiles when I left, I believe they’re counting the minutes until I return.”

  Tyler sat next to Lorelei, but not close enough that their knees touched. Cider jumped onto the couch and curled up next to him. She leaned forward and set her mug on the end table and picked up a book.

  “You’re reading Main Street?” She rubbed her hand over the cover.

  “Of course, you said it’s your favorite book. I had to find out why.” Tyler shyly smiled. “It’s alright, right? Or is it weird?”

  “Not at all. I picked up A Far Off Place from Sandy the other day but have yet to start reading it. I’ve been rather busy with the Christmas feast and decorating and trying to relax and enjoy time with Mary Ann. Relaxing is hard work.” She smirked.

  He chuckled. “Sorry.” Tyler continued to chuckle. “Sorry.”

  “It’s not funny.” Lorelei set the book down and frowned but started to giggle. “Maybe it’s a little funny.”

  Once the laughter faded, Tyler said, “’Tis the season for celebration.”

  “And memories. Don’t cha know I’ve made a ton with Mary Ann already. I’m forever grateful for everything.” She picked up her mug again. “It’s the best December I can ever remember having.”

  “Even with the continuous lack of heat?” Tyler questioned.

  “The company makes up for it.” She winked.

  “We should probably head into town, see if Don can come over. I have plenty of wood here. I’ll load it up into your sedan. If we put it in the bed of my truck, it will get damp from the snow.”

  Lorelei remained cozied up in the corner of the couch near the wood stove. “Your home is like a classic Christmas card scene.”

  “Thank you.”

  Lorelei brought the mug to her lips.

  “Tell me more about this possible plan to be Jodi’s roommate. She is ecstatic about it.” He wrapped his hand around his mug, warming his fingers.

  “Jodi and I get along. And it would solve a big problem. Not the biggest problem, but one of them.”

  “Plus, she loves Mary Ann.”

  Lorelei pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “She does. I just hope I can stick to my guns with my parents. Of course, I need to speak with my uncle, but overall, everything else seems to be falling perfectly into place.”

  “I would agree, so we should get started.” Tyler retrieved the small box of décor for the reindeer from the kitchen table and set it by the front door. With Cider’s leash in hand, he threaded on his coat. “I don’t mean to feel like I’m kicking you out, but we should get the heat fixed in the house or at least a fire going. I can only imagine how bad this is looking to your parents.”

  “Yes, I fended off several ‘in the city’ stories before I left.” Lorelei set the mug on the coffee table and slowly stood up. “Your house is peaceful. Sorry, I hope this doesn’t make me look like a horrible mother lingering here when my house is freezing. But my parents . . . I’m not sure I can convince them. Everything they’ve said has been incredibly negative, and it’s starting to turn my thoughts in that direction and believe it all. Being around them right now, when they’re grumpy, it’s tiring.”

  Tyler placed his hands on the outsides of each of her arms. “You’re a wonderful mom to Mary Ann. You’re giving her an amazing life. Be it in the city or a small town, what matters is that you're her mom. And her first Christmas will be filled with love. Her life will be the best regardless of what you decide—ER, here, or someplace else. Convincing your parents is only one step on the staircase. It’s not the entire flight.”

  Lorelei gazed into his eyes and nodded. Even with the scent of cinnamon in the air, he could smell the same floral peach scent he first noticed during their lunch at Pizza Pie. Tyler fought the urge to close his eyes and kiss her lips. She leaned toward him. That’s not helping!

  The dog barked, causing them to separate.

  “Cider,” he grunted. “She gets bossy when I have her leash and don’t put it on right away.”

  Was she blushing? Tyler’s hand remained on the edge of her shoulder, and their eyes met again. “I’m beyond happy if you can stay.”

  “Me too,” her voice low and soft.

  Cider barked. Tyler waved his dog off and leaned in. Cider barked again. This time he couldn’t ignore her. They separated, and he sighed. It’s probably for the best.

  “We should go.” Tyler stepped forward and opened the door. She reached for his hand, her fingers grazing his palm. Accepting it, he wrapped his hand around hers, grabbed hold of Cider’s leash in the other, and stepped out into the developing storm.

  Chapter 28

  As Lorelei stood rubbing her hands near the fireplace, all she could think about was how she and Tyler almost kissed. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies, and she found herself staring at him. But she knew better than to daydream. Come the end of December, this Christmas fairy tale would end. Unless . . .

  Closing her eyes, Lorelei counted what still needed to happen, yet again. Convince her parents Oakvale was the perfect town to raise Mary Ann in and get my uncle to retire. Honestly, she was tired of the overthinking. She needed to take the leap.

  Tyler placed another stack of logs on the fireplace hearth and brushed off his hands. Mary Ann napped upstairs with the space heater Jodi had loaned her while her parents sat on the couch, uncomfortable expressions plastered on their faces while bundled up in their jackets. Cider had stretched out on the living room rug just below the fireplace.

  “Hopefully, Don will be here with supplies to fix the heater in a few minutes,” Tyler announced.

  “I’m grateful for the small heater Jodi lent us,” Lorelei commented.

  “This house is far too large to have that heater do any bit of good unless you’re directly in front of it,” Joanne snarked. “We should all go get a nice hotel room in Bone.”

  “Booth,” Lorelei and Tyler said in unison.

  Lorelei had driven them into town and let Don know what was going on. Although there was a storm raging outside, Don needed to grab supplies, close the store up, and carefully head over. They continued on their way after Don refused their offer to wait and give him a ride. He didn’t want to bother them for a lift back to town.

  “I hope the reindeer decorating contest will still be on.” Lorelei glanced at the stove’s clock. “I’m rather excited about it.”

  “How about we focus on not freezing first,” John snapped, rubbing his hands on his arms.

  “Mom, how about we make some cookies or a crisp? Using the oven will help warm up the house.” Lorelei entered the kitchen and preheated the oven. While her mom had not taught her how to cook, Lorelei’s grandma showed her how to bake all sorts of desserts from cookies to apple crisps to her famous Pflaumenkuchen. Thinking of it made her mouth water. The dessert called for special plums that were only in season in August or September for about one week, and not every grocery store carried them. Lorelei remembered standing on a kitchen chair, watching her grandma create the dish, and helping with simple tasks here and there, like stirring or sprinklin
g. There was no recipe card handed down when she passed, but Lorelei didn’t need it if there had been one. Pflaumenkuchen and apple crisp were the only things she could make by memory and the only thing she made from scratch. Soon, her mind wandered to all the things she might try baking if she were not working so much. When Mary Ann got older, they could be baking queens, having fun, and making deliciousness together.

  “Why don’t you bake something,” Joanne replied. “I’m staying here under the blankets. If this happened in the city, a repairman would have been here already to fix it.”

  Lorelei placed her hand on her hip. “Well, Mom, we're in Oakvale, and the slower pace is lovely. Besides, if I was back home, I’d be working and have a stranger in my condo. I know Don, and he is not a stranger. The last time he was here, he locked up when he finished.”

  Tyler gave her a hidden thumb-up and smiled. She smiled back and straightened her posture.

  “We understand the importance of safety, Lor,” John mentioned. He turned his head and glanced over the back of the couch at his daughter.

  “It’s not only about that, John,” Joanne interjected. She pivoted on the couch toward the kitchen. “Lor, you’re five hours away from us, away from your career. You change lives working at the hospital. What do you possibly do here at the doctor’s office? Treat a runny nose?”

  “Mom, you can’t compare a doctor’s office to a hospital regardless of its location. They’re completely separate work environments. Hopefully, if a doctor does their job well in the office, there will be fewer chances of patients ending up in the hospital.” Lorelei angrily peeled a Granny Smith apple from the bowl sitting on the island.

  “She makes a good point, Joanne,” John agreed.

  “Thank you, Dad.” Lorelei moved on to the next apple, and Tyler took a seat at the bar stool opposite her.

  “We only want you to be happy, Lor, and it sounds to me like you’re trying to convince your mom and me that you want to move here to this tiny town. But let’s not get into this in front of your guest.” John eyed Tyler before he turned back to face the fireplace.

  “Tyler is not a guest.” Lorelei glanced at him as though she wanted permission to go on. “He’s . . . a friend.”

  Joanne let out a not so silent huff.

  “He is a friend, and so is everyone in this town whom I’ve met.” Lorelei swallowed so loud she thought Mary Ann could hear it upstairs. “That’s how it works in Oakvale.”

  The wind continued to howl outside, and the lights over the kitchen flickered as snow flurries floated in the wind.

  “I hope you don’t lose power, too,” Joanne complained. “Although if the heater isn’t fixed, I don’t see why it’ll matter.”

  Lorelei slammed the knife into another apple and chopped it up, allowing her anger simmer. “Because we don’t lose power in the city, Mom. Ever.” She rolled her eyes, and Tyler placed his hand over his mouth to keep from chuckling.

  “I don’t need attitude. This is not high school,” Joanne huffed. “Is something going on at the hospital with your position?”

  “No, Mom.”

  The doorbell chimed, and Tyler jumped up to answer it. Lorelei continued to chop the apples and placed them in the rectangular dish without responding to her mom’s question. Soon, Don’s voice mixed with Tyler’s and traveled down the hall. They must already be inspecting the thermostat on the wall. Wiping her hands on a nearby dish towel, she took it with her as she met up with the men.

  “Hi, Don. What do you think it is this time?” she asked.

  “Not sure. Fixed everything last time.” Don hit some buttons. “But yep, it’s not working again.”

  “Can you fix it, again?” Lorelei asked.

  “Might need a whole new thermostat this time.” Don rubbed his chin.

  The lights danced in the kitchen, threatening to shut off.

  “Have the Norths had this issues in the past?” Tyler asked.

  “I don’t believe so.” Don threaded his thumbs around the buckles of his overalls, underneath his unzipped jacket. “At least, I was never called out to repair it.”

  The three stood in silence, staring at the thermostat, until finally, Lorelei asked, “Don, are you saying you’re not going to be able to fix this one?”

  “Correct, you’ll need a new unit.”

  Lorelei wrapped the dishtowel around her hand. “Do you have one in town?”

  “Nope, it’ll be a while before I can get one in.”

  “What’s ‘a while’?” She dragged her hand through her hair and sighed.

  “A few days.” Don nodded without taking his eyes off the thermostat.

  Lorelei wide-eyed Tyler. “Is there anything you can do to fix it temporarily?”

  “Nope.” Don rocked on the heels of his boots.

  “Maybe Booth will have a thermostat in stock at that big chain store,” Tyler suggested.

  Don nodded his head. “You’re probably right.”

  Right now, Lorelei didn’t have the patience for this meandering back-and-forth. Returning to the kitchen, she finished cutting up the apples and sprinkled them with lemon juice. Next, she got out her frustration by making the crumble topping for dessert using the pastry mixer.

  “Any good news on the thermostat?” John asked from the couch.

  “Sounds like a trip to Booth to find a replacement.” As the words slid from Lorelei’s mouth, regret smacked her in the chest like a poorly caught salmon at Pike Place Market. Only this was not doctors' work conference in Seattle, and no one was laughing.

  “Good to hear Booth can save the day.” Joanne’s voice wafted into the kitchen. Lorelei could see the smirk on her face without even looking.

  By the time she slid the apple crisp into the oven, Tyler had entered the kitchen. “I’m going to have Don drop me off at my place since I rode here with you. I’ll get my truck and head into Booth to see if I can get ahold of a new thermostat. It’s far too dangerous for you to be driving in these conditions.”

  “You can’t be out driving in it either. It might be worse in Booth.” Lorelei poured herself another cup of coffee.

  “I’ll be careful.” Tyler gathered Cider’s leash.

  “You can leave her here.” Lorelei leaned over the counter, her hands wrapped around the mug.

  “Thank you, I appreciate it. Are you sure she won’t be a bother?”

  “I’m sure Mary Ann would love to wake up from her nap and explore the floor with Cider.” Lorelei warmly smiled.

  “Be safe out there. It sure doesn’t look good,” John perked up.

  Tyler glanced out the kitchen windows and back at John. “Thank you, sir.”

  Lorelei took her coffee mug and walked Tyler to the front door, where Don waited. After their near kiss that morning, she suddenly felt awkward about what to do. Should I hug him? Tyler moved his hands forward and then drew them back toward his sides. He half-waved and reached for the doorknob.

  “See you when I return,” Tyler muttered. “Of course, you’ll see me when I return. I’m not sure why I said that. Sorry, I’m leaving now.” He did another half-wave and walked out into the blowing snow.

  “Be careful!” Lorelei called out as Don and Tyler stepped off the porch. Bringing her hand to her face, she closed the door and spun around to rest her back against it. If she didn’t know better, Tyler appeared just as confused with how to say goodbye.

  She made her way back into the kitchen as the lights danced once more.

  “Lor, if you were home in Minneapolis, people wouldn’t have to be running all over in this storm to get your heater working.” Joanne readjusted the blanket over her shoulders.

  “I know, Mom.” Lorelei swung open cabinet doors looking for another baking dish. “It’s not my house, remember.”

  “You’re upsetting her, Lor. She’s well aware of the challenges in a small town.” John stood up from the couch and brought his coffee mug into the kitchen. “We know small towns seem great from the outside and maybe for a nice
little getaway, but it’s not practical to live here. Especially for a talented ER doctor who’s a single mom moving up the hospital’s career ladder. You have the opportunity to be what I never was able to be—the Dean of Medicine.”

  Frustration spread through Lorelei as she located a dish and set it on the counter. She reached for the bowl of apples and started to peel another. There was no reason why she should respond to her parents. They didn’t want to change their viewpoint.

  “Your dad’s correct on several levels. Everyone who’s important to you lives in Minneapolis and Chicago.” Joanne glanced over the couch. “And you know how much we want you to be so much more than a doctor. The Dean of Medicine, can you imagine how wonderful that will be?”

  Apple peel flew into the sink with each angry swipe Lorelei took. “I can’t even begin to imagine it, Mom.” Because when she did, it made her stomach hurt.

  John poured himself more coffee and returned to the couch. “Maybe now is not the best time. I think once we’re all warmed up, we can calmly discuss this.”

  The sound of wood crackling in the fireplace and the noise of the apple peeler were the only things to be heard outside of the howling wind. As she glared at the back of her parents’ heads, she wanted to give them each an MRI. Find out why they were so strong headed against to what she clearly wanted. She’d never spoken of the way they always overlooked her desires in her life. She just didn’t understand them sometimes.

  As she cut up more apples and mixed another batch of crumble topping, she thought of Tyler. Her eyes closed as the memory lingered.

  “Lor?” John’s voice broke through.

  “Sorry, yes?” Lorelei asked.

  “I hear Mary Ann. She must be awake.” John pointed upstairs as he sat on the couch.

  After sliding the second apple crisp into the oven and removing the first one, Lorelei headed upstairs to her daughter. How dare they be judgmental about her not wanting to raise her baby near them if they didn’t even want to get their granddaughter up from her nap? Courage like she’d never felt before welled up inside of her as she opened the bedroom door. Mary Ann sat in the crib, smiling wide when she saw her mom.