by Amy Sparling
“What are we supposed to do?” Keanna says, throwing her hands in the air. Her eyes pool with tears. “Our families are gone. My present for you is there, and I don’t have my clothes.”
I slide my hands down her arms. “It’ll be okay, baby. They’re safe and we’re safe. We’ll just do Christmas when they get back.”
She shakes her head, her jaw tight. “This sucks. Christmas is ruined.”
“Baby, it’ll be okay. We’ll make the most out of it.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to be home on Christmas morning if I can’t see Elijah open his presents. That house will be too lonely.”
“Yeah,” I say, realizing I agree with her. Christmas is a time for family. I don’t want to spend the rest of the week alone without them. Plus, although my plan had been to just go home, the sign on the rental car kiosk reminds me that I’m not 25 years old yet so I can’t rent a car at my age. Getting a four hour Uber drive would be a nightmare.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, flashing Keanna what I hope is a confident smile.
She shrugs and slumps into a nearby chair. I walk a little ways away and call my mom. I tell her about the situation.
“The babies are too young to realize it’s Christmas,” Mom says. “We can just wait until we get back home and do it then.”
“Yeah, that will be fine, but Keanna is really upset.” I glance back at her. She’s staring at the floor. “I don’t know what to do since we’re only a few hours away from home but I can’t get there without a rental car.”
“Don’t go home,” Mom says. “This is supposed to be a fun holiday vacation. Stay in Dallas and give her just that.”
“A vacation in Dallas?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow. “There’s nothing fun to do here.”
She laughs. “It’s still better than being at home. Find a nice hotel and make it work. Honey, you need to make a Christmas happen in any way you can.”
I take a deep breath, realizing my mom is right. Just because we won’t be with family doesn’t mean we won’t have each other. “You’re right. I’ll do something special.”
“I have faith in you, Jett. You’re just like your father, and I know you’ll figure out the perfect Christmas for Keanna.”
I grin. “Thanks, Mom.”
Feeling more confident about things now, I head back to Keanna and drop into the seat next to her. She doesn’t say anything. I lean to the side acting like I’m relaxing, but it’s really so she can’t see my phone as I look up hotels in the area. First, I search for five star resorts, hoping to find something nice with a spa and a good restaurant. We could do a retreat together and try to forget about the world around us. That could be fun.
“What are you doing?” she asks after a while.
I shrug casually. “Just trying to find a cheap hotel that isn’t booked up. You know, just so we have a place to stay tonight and then we can head home tomorrow.”
She nods, totally believing my lie.
I keep up the internet search and then I see something unusual. Something I never would have considered for a situation like this. It’s a five star hotel, but it’s nothing like what I had imagined.
I scroll through the website, taking in how awesome it is. Then I search for the best room they have and book us a reservation to last until the last day of our original vacation.
I chew on my lip to keep from smiling, and so far, Keanna is just staring across the airport, totally oblivious that I’m about to rock her world.
Chapter 5
Keanna
I lift an eyebrow. “What’s that look for?” He’s being sneaky and excited, and it’s written all over his face. “Did you get us a flight out?”
Jett shakes his head. “I’m good, but not that good.”
“So what is it?” He’s been on his phone for a while but I figured he was just playing online or something. This holiday is so totally screwed up, I can’t seem to care anymore right now. I just want to go home.
Jett leans forward, biting on his bottom lip. “I have a plan, and it’s going to save Christmas.”
I give him a disbelieving look. He laughs. “Okay, well, it won’t get us to Colorado, but it’s going to save our Christmas.” He stands and reaches for my hand. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
In the Uber car ride, Jett tells the driver not to say anything about our location because it’s a secret. I’m still pretty bummed out about being stuck in Texas, but his excitement is getting a little contagious. I have been stressed about all the snow and being so close to my family for a week straight, so maybe spending Christmas with just Jett can be a blessing in disguise. After all, he’s my favorite person on earth and there’s no place I’d rather be than with him.
The driver turns into a parking lot that’s so huge it’s all I can see at first. Just long stretches of parking and concrete. Then I see the building looming in the distance. It looks like a hotel, only impossibly huge. Jett squeezes my hand. “This is going to be fun, I promise.”
I look out the window as we pass a sign. Great Bear Lodge. Huh?
“Is this like a ski lodge but for a state where it never snows?” I ask.
Jett chuckles. “Nope. It’s perfect for Texas weather. You’ll see.”
As we drive closer to the hotel, I notice a big colorful tube slide that comes right out of the building and then goes back inside. To the right, it looks like a ten story hotel just like most other hotels, but to the left of the building, there’s big walls and colorful shapes and—realization dawns on me. “It’s a water park.”
Jett nods. “Indoor and outdoor. So now we get to partake in Texas’ snow skiing – which is actually water slides.”
I laugh. I’ve never been to a water park, or even an amusement park for that matter. Our driver pulls up to the entrance and lets us out. I throw my head back and marvel at the gigantic concrete bears that line the entryway to the hotel. They must be thirty feet tall. The front façade of the place looks like a massive log cabin, and nature sounds play from speakers above.
Jett and I make our way inside and that’s where my mind is totally blown. The lobby is a vast room with a ceiling that arches at least five stories tall. It’s a glass dome that shows the sky above, and all around us is decorated like we’re in a forest. Sure, the massive trees are fake and the branches hanging out everywhere have plastic leaves, but it’s awesome. Nature sounds play in here too, and up ahead is a giant fake bear next to a bench for taking photos. To the left, the wall is glass and it shows the indoor waterpark. I swear it’s the size of a freaking Walmart back there. There are slides and pools and a lazy river.
Jett holds onto my hand as he walks us to the front desk. I’m too busy looking around at how amazing the place is to watch where I’m going. Unlike the airport, this hotel is fairly empty. I only see a few families walking around, and no one is at the front desk.
The woman behind the counter is wearing a Santa hat and a necklace of little Christmas lights. That’s when I remember that it’s almost Christmas. This place isn’t really decorated at all. I guess that’s because the whole fake forest theme is enough of an attraction without needing to add fake snow to it all.
We get checked in and the woman gives us these plastic bracelet things. “They’re waterproof,” she says with a smile as she fastens it to my wrist and then does Jett’s. “They get you into the water park and into your hotel room. You just press the computer chip to the door and it’ll open.”
“Awesome,” I say, admiring my band. It’s silver with the resort’s logo on it.
She beams at us. “Have a wonderful stay. Let me know if you need anything at all.”
“Thanks,” Jett says, throwing an arm around me and nodding at the woman. “You’ve saved our holiday. Otherwise we’d be staying in some stupid hotel.”
“You made the right choice,” she says. “Great Bear Lodge is the best!”
We make our way down the main lobby and toward the elevators. On the way, we pass
two restaurants, a gift shop, and the entrance to the Fun Center, whatever that is.
“This place is totally awesome,” I say, my eyes wide as we take in all the beautiful scenery.
“I’m glad you think so.” Jett punches the up button for the elevator. “I was a little nervous that this would be too childish…”
He sets down our luggage and scratches his elbow. “But it just seemed so much cooler than all of the other hotels in the area, plus there’s an indoor water park.”
“It’s perfect,” I say, leaning up on my toes to kiss him.
The elevator door slides open and we step inside. I press the seven button for the seventh floor and it makes me smile. That’s a lucky number, and maybe this will be a lucky vacation.
Even the elevators are decorated as if we’re in a magical forest. There’s a fake baby bear cub in the corner, and the walls are painted with trees and other forest characters.
“Maybe it is a little childish,” I say with a grin as I pet the top of the fake bear’s head. “But I never got to do stuff like this as a kid. So I like it.”
Jett squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry the weather fucked us over, but we can have our own holiday. Our own vacation.”
I lean against his chest as the elevator rises until it gets to our floor. Jett carries our bags and I take the lead down an impossibly long hallway lined with hotel doors. Finally, I find ours, number 743, and press my wristband up to the lock. A green light blinks and I open our door.
“Holy. Crap.”
I’m blocking the doorway, I know, but I’m so surprised I can’t seem to move forward.
“Is it awesome?” Jett asks over my shoulder. I not dumbly and then step to the side to let him in.
Our room is nothing like a hotel room I’ve ever seen before. The ceiling is painted like the sky. The walls continue the forest theme. There is a king sized bed against the wall, but on the other side of the room, is something amazing.
A fake tree like the one in my brother’s bedroom, only about fifty million times cooler. It’s fat and short, and you can crawl inside of it. The fake trunk has been hallowed out into a bed. There’s a wooden sign nailed to the top of the entrance that says Cub House – No Parents Allowed.
Clearly, it’s a cool little bed for kids on vacation, but I’m still in love with it. I crawl inside and look around at the walls of the fake tree. There’s little twinkly lights and fake fairies hanging from the top. There’s even a little flat screen television on the wall. So very cool.
I crawl back out and check out the rest of the room. We have a balcony that overlooks downtown Dallas. There’s a small kitchenette, a couch, and a large TV on the wall in here. The bathroom is all marble and glass and looks like it belongs at a spa.
I turn to Jett. “This place is amazing.”
He sits on the bed, a grin playing on his lips. “It’s definitely cooler than the photos online. And those were pretty amazing.”
I walk over to him and sit on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Thank you.” I love the way his hands hold onto me like he doesn’t ever want me to leave.
“I love you,” he whispers.
“I love you more.”
I nuzzle against his chest and close my eyes, breathing him in. Leave it to Jett to find the perfect way to fix the holidays that Mother Nature ruined. I love this boy so much it’s insane.
I call my parents and let them know we’re okay, and Jett does the same with his parents. Apparently, the snow storm is so bad, they can’t even go outside right now so they’ve been holed up at the resort drinking hot chocolate and watching TV instead of skiing. I think about all of that snow gear I bought and how I shouldn’t have ripped off the tags. I won’t be using any of it now.
And then something else occurs to me, and I look over at the dresser where Jett dropped both of our carry-on bags.
I have a few books, my phone charger, my laptop, and exactly one change of clothes that I brought in case the airline lost my luggage. My big suitcase with all my clothes in it is in Colorado with my parents.
“Jett,” I say with a frown. “I just realized I only have this outfit I’m wearing and one more in my bag.”
He laughs. “Yeah, well I only have the clothes I’m wearing. Next time we travel separately, remind me to bring my own suitcase.”
I laugh. “Well, there’s not a snow storm here, so maybe we can get an Uber to take us to the closest mall for some new outfits.”
“I have a better idea,” Jett says, wiggling his eyebrows. “Let’s go raid the gift shop and look like tourists all week.”
I roll my eyes. “My wardrobe is severely lacking in shirts that say DALLAS across the front.”
He grins. “Want to go check out the rest of the resort?”
I plug my phone into the charger and decide to leave it there. These next few days are about me and Jett, so the outside world isn’t necessary. “Yes,” I say, reaching for his hand. “Let’s go enjoy our Christmas vacation.”
Chapter 6
Jett
I’d really been looking forward to the beautiful sights of the snow covered Rocky Mountains. I wanted to try out my new snowboard and feel the air in my face. It’d be a new type of speed, similar but different from motocross.
But as I hold Keanna’s hand and step into the lobby of the Great Bear Lodge, I realize this is pretty good too. We can go skiing another time, and we can bring the family with us on the next trip. Right now, life has thrown us a curve ball and I’m making the best of it.
In the gift shop, Keanna picks out matching pajama sets for both of us. I know I’d joked about wearing this tacky souvenir clothing, but now I’m thinking we should definitely hit up a mall nearby. And soon.
There are only a few people in the gift shop besides the one employee behind the register who looks bored as hell. When my parents first got the idea to take a vacation for Christmas, I thought it was a brilliant thing to do. Apparently, most people only travel on the holidays to visit family in their own homes. It’s like we have the whole place to ourselves.
We pick out some silly souvenirs for our family and then I buy a pair of board shorts and Keanna chooses a pink bikini that sends my mind down the dark valley of dirty thoughts.
Back in our hotel room, we change and then head out to the indoor water park. There’s an expansive outdoor park as well, but it’s entirely too cold to venture out there. Keanna keeps a towel wrapped around her body as we make our way into the park.
Warm air and humidity wait for us on the other side of the glass doors. There are several tall water slides and water jungle gyms everywhere. This place is awesome, even as an adult.
We find an empty table in the sea of empty tables off to the right. There are six people here, and four of them are little kids.
“It’s like we have our own private water park,” I tell Keanna as we hang our towels over the back of a chair. Keanna pulls her hair into a ponytail and I finally get to check her out in that bikini. She’s all curves and faded tan lines from the summer.
“Damn, girl,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows. If little kids weren’t in the vicinity, I’d be all over her.
She rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her perfect hips. “Lazy river?”
“No way.” I shake my head and point at the tallest water slide that has about seven levels of stairs to climb to get to the top. Her eyes widen. “I’m so not doing that. Too scary.”
I pout my bottom lip. “It’s not scary. I promise.”
She gives me a look and I relent. “Why don’t we try the smallest one first?”
She still looks hesitant, but she shrugs. “Okay, but if I puke, I’m aiming it at you.”
“I’ll take that risk,” I say, grabbing two tubes from a stack against the wall. “Let’s go.”
The smallest slide is a yellow tube. It’s the one that goes outside the building temporarily before coming back inside and depositing you into a pool of water. It’s only three flights of stairs up, a
nd the two smallest kids here are riding it repeatedly. “So…” Keanna says, biting her bottom lip as we stand at the mouth of the slide. “What do I do?”
I laugh. Water parks were a regular part of my childhood and I’ve done way scarier rides than this. Sometimes I forget that Keanna never had these luxuries when she was growing up.
“Well,” I say, setting my tube down. “You sit in the tube, hold onto these handles, and then ride.”
“Do I have to like, do anything?” she asks.
I shake my head. “Nope. Want me to go first?”
She nods. I’m a little worried that I’ll take off down the slide and she won’t follow me, but I decide to trust her. I sit at the start of the slide, give her a wink and then kick off the railing.
The yellow tube seems to glow as I slide down ride, water splashing around. It moves quickly, but it’s not too scary and I hope Keanna likes it. Mostly, I hope she’s actually behind me and didn’t chicken out. I love her, but her fear tends to hold her back from having fun.
A minute later, I whoosh out at the end of the slide and splash into the pool. I dunk down in the water and then flip my hair back out of my eyes.
The next tube slides out and I grin when I see Keanna, her eyes wide, hair wet, a smile on her face.
“Was it awesome?” I ask as I wade over and lean on her tube.
She nods. “So awesome. Let’s do it again.”
“Can we go to the big one?”
She shakes her head. “Maybe after another small one.”
I pull her toward me and smack a kiss on her lips. “Deal.”
We ride the yellow slide a few more times and then Keanna wants to try the rest of them. The biggest slide is actually a little bit scary. You climb up a ton of stairs and then you’re dropped into a huge funnel that’s colored pink and yellow and makes you feel like you’re in an Alice in Wonderland movie or something. Keanna and I share one of the figure-8 shaped tubes that are for two people. It goes really fast and Keanna holds onto me, her eyes squeezed shut the whole time.