Christmas Camp

by Karen Schaler

  “No! I haven’t, really. I just got it, and here, you can take it back. I don’t need it anymore. You can put it back in the pantry or wherever.”

  When Haley saw Jeff look at her like he was really disappointed, she felt worse. She held out her phone again. “Here, please take it.” This time he took it and, without a word, walked away.

  Chapter 23

  Jeff eyed the drawer in the kitchen that was next to the sink, and ten seconds later, he had taken it out and was putting it on the countertop with five other drawers he’d already removed. He still couldn’t get out of his head the way Haley had looked him in the eye and flat-out lied to him when he’d asked her if she had been talking to anyone. He didn’t know if he was more upset or disappointed, but either way, he didn’t like the feeling. He grabbed another drawer just as his dad walked in.

  Ben did a double take, seeing all the drawers on the counter. “Oh no, what’s wrong?”

  Jeff held another drawer in his hands that he had just taken out. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just fixing your drawers.”

  “But there was nothing wrong with my drawers.”

  “Actually, they were sticking again,” Jeff said as he pulled another drawer out, but this time Ben stopped him before he set it on the counter.

  “The drawers are fine.” Ben took the drawer and put it back where it belonged. He slid it open and slid it shut. It didn’t stick a bit. “What’s going on? The drawers are fine, but you obviously aren’t. So, tell me what’s going on before you take apart the rest of my kitchen.” He sat down at the kitchen table and pulled out another chair for Jeff.

  Jeff reluctantly sat down. Ben picked up a plate of sugar cookies and offered one, but Jeff shook his head. Ben frowned, “Okay, out with it. It has to be pretty bad if you’re passing up cookies.”

  “It’s Haley,” Jeff said. “I found her in her room with her phone. She’d snuck it out of the pantry, and she was making work calls. She lied about it at first, and then she tried to make up a bunch of excuses. Now I have no idea what to believe and what not to believe.”

  “So, you’re upset that she lied to you?”

  “That and that all she cares about is work. When she first showed up for Christmas Camp, it was clear she didn’t want to be here, that she had to come because her boss sent her, but I thought—”

  “That she was starting to come around and find her Christmas spirit?” Ben asked.

  Jeff nodded. “Yes, I really thought she was. I mean we made snow angels, and she took an angel off the Wishing Tree at the community center, and she bought a little girl a doll. She seemed to really be embracing what Christmas Camp is all about, or at least I thought so, but now it just looks like it was just a big act. I don’t want her messing up your last Christmas Camp.”

  Ben looked confused. “What do you mean my last Christmas Camp?”

  Jeff started tightening a screw on one of the drawers. “Dad, we talked about this. We’ve done the books together, twice. The numbers don’t add up. It’s costing you almost twice what you make to keep this place running. I know it’s hard, but it’s time to sell the inn. I’ve found you a great buyer, but they can’t wait much longer for your answer.”

  Ben walked over to his son and looked him in the eye. “I told you I didn’t want to talk about this or any other business until after our Christmas Camp. We’re telling our guests that they need to relax and enjoy the season, but here you are talking about work. It’s sounds like you’re doing the same thing as Haley. So, maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to judge her.”

  Jeff, upset, looked back at his dad. “That’s not fair. You can’t compare me to her.”

  “Is judging Haley fair? She made a mistake. Did she say she was sorry?”

  Jeff didn’t answer right away. “It doesn’t matter . . .”

  “But it does. People come here for all kinds of reasons, and it’s not our place to pass judgment, it’s our place to try and help them as much as we can. So, maybe Haley needs some extra help. What we need to focus on is how to make sure everyone, including Haley, has a special experience here. That’s all I care about right now. Do you understand that?”

  Jeff met his dad’s questioning look. “I understand, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just want what’s best for you.”

  Ben put his arm around him. “I know you do, but right now what’s best for me is having you here and the two of us enjoying this time with our guests.”

  Jeff nodded. “I know, but your rules are for a reason . . .”

  “I’ll talk to her,” Ben said.

  Jeff gave his dad a look, knowing he had a heart as big as the North Pole. “Okay. As long as you’re happy, whatever you want to do. I’ll let you handle it. I have to run into the city anyway. I just got a call that the wharf project I’m working on needs another permit and we have to get it before Christmas. But I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Just call me if you need anything.”

  “I will,” Ben said. “And don’t worry. I have everything under control here. Just drive safe, and we’ll see you first thing in the morning. We have a big day tomorrow, so I wouldn’t want you to miss it.”

  “I promise I won’t.” Jeff gave his dad a quick hug as he headed out the door. “Don’t get into any trouble while I’m gone.”

  “Me, trouble? Never!”

  “Right . . .” Jeff laughed as he left the kitchen. His goal was to drive to the city and get back to the inn as fast as possible. Christmas Camp would be wrapping up soon, and he wanted to be ready to have the tough conversation with his dad about selling the inn. He would respect his dad’s wishes to wait until after Christmas Camp to talk business, but that was only a few days away.

  When he passed the sitting room and saw Haley talking to Ian, Madison, and Blake, he felt conflicted. When he first met her, he’d thought he had her all figured out, that she was a workaholic who only cared about her job. But over the last few days, he’d actually enjoyed spending time with her. She was smart, funny, stubborn, and caring all at the same time, and there was no denying she was beautiful or that there was just something about her that made him want to know more.

  But after Haley’s phone stunt today, his guard was back up. She had lied to him. Maybe he’d been right about her all along. Honestly, he didn’t know what to think, and the fact that he couldn’t figure her out bothered him. He just knew that right now he needed to concentrate on his dad and getting the inn sold before the end of the year.

  BEN WAS IN the kitchen finishing up a cookie when Haley peeked her head in. She had decided that coming clean was her best bet, and hoping he didn’t react as negatively as Jeff had.

  She knew she shouldn’t have lied to Jeff about taking her phone. She’d just panicked. She realized it was no excuse for her behavior. Now all she wanted to do was own up to her mistake and apologize to Ben, and hopefully, salvage at least their relationship, as she had obviously blown up any friendship she was starting to have with Jeff.

  When Ben saw her, he smiled and waved her in. “Haley, I was just thinking about you.”

  She walked in with a guilty look on her face. “I’m guessing Jeff already told you, but I wanted to tell you myself how truly sorry I am. I respect the rules you have here, I really do. I know you just have them to help your guests with this whole experience, and I’m not going to make excuses for why I did what I did. I just want to apologize and promise that it won’t happen again. I was hoping I could also find Jeff and try to explain better and apologize . . .”

  “Jeff’s actually headed into Boston today. Some work came up. He won’t be back until tomorrow morning,” Ben said.

  Haley was trying to hide her disappointment when Max trotted in with his leash in his mouth. Ben took it from him and smiled up at Haley.

  “Let’s go for a walk.”

  After they got on their winter gear, Haley followed Ben and Max outside. Ben took her around the back of the inn, through a trail in the woods, to a pretty scenic spot she h
adn’t seen before. She looked around, taking in all the snow-covered trees and pristine snow. “I didn’t know this was here.”

  Ben smiled as he pointed to a cedar bench and headed over to it. While everything else was covered in snow, it had been cleared off. “It’s one of my favorite places. This is where I’d always come with Jeff’s mom when we needed a little break. It’s close enough to the inn but still feels like we’re miles away, don’t you think?”

  “I do,” Haley answered. “It’s perfect.”

  When they sat down on the bench, Max lay down at Ben’s feet.

  “Max loves it here, too,” Ben said, petting Max.

  Haley smiled at them both. She then looked around and took in a deep breath, soaking up the peacefulness. “I really am sorry about the whole thing with the phone. I know Jeff is so mad at me.”

  Ben gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. You apologized. He’ll come around. He’s just really worried about me, and he probably overreacted.”

  Haley gave him a concerned look. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is everything okay?”

  Ben nodded. “I’m fine, but Jeff still worries. Ever since his mom died, he has been overprotective. He doesn’t like me being up here running the inn all alone. He wants me to sell. He even has someone lined up to buy this place.”

  Haley looked surprised. “You want to sell the inn?”

  Ben turned to admire the breathtaking mountain range and shook his head. “I can’t even imagine selling all of this. This is my home. I love it here. This is where all my memories are. I know it’s hard for Jeff, because some of those memories make him sad, but for me, it’s different. Those memories make me feel closer to her. It’s like she’s here with me, and it’s comforting.”

  “Well, if you love it here, why does he want you to sell?”

  Ben sighed. “Because I’m losing money. It’s getting more expensive every year to run the inn, and the Christmas Camps have always been a labor of love, not a moneymaker. Jeff’s mom and I didn’t care when we started the Christmas Camps because we loved doing them so much. We were just going to do the one when we started, but one turned into two, and now ten years later, it has turned into ten weeks of Christmas Camps between Halloween and Christmas. Our Christmas Camps have become a tradition for a lot of families.”

  “But if they’re so popular and you’re selling out, doesn’t that bring enough money in?”

  Ben shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid it doesn’t. It’s just not enough to break even anymore. We’d need more rooms, a lot more rooms . . .”

  They sat in silence for several minutes and then all of a sudden Haley jumped up. “I know how to get you more rooms!”

  “I can’t afford to build.”

  “No, you wouldn’t need to build,” she said. “You can franchise your Christmas Camp.”

  “What?” Ben asked, confused. “How would that work?”

  “If you franchised the Christmas Camp concept to other hotels and resorts around the country, and even around the world, the money from that would help pay to keep your inn and Christmas camps running. Anyone who did your Christmas Camp would pay a licensing fee, and you would get a cut of their profits. With all your experience, you would be like a Christmas Camp expert, a consultant who could help other properties put together their own Christmas Camps. Does that make sense?”

  Ben’s eyes lit up. “So I would have more rooms by partnering with other hotels and resorts, and I would get a percentage of anyone who came for their Christmas Camps?”

  “Exactly!” Haley was pacing back and forth in front of Ben and Max, getting more excited by the second. “And since you do this every year, I’m sure other inns and resorts would also want to do their Christmas Camp’s every year and have it be part of their tradition for their guests. So you would have a built-in revenue stream coming in year after year that would only continue to grow as more Christmas Camps were held.”

  Ben stood up. His face was full of hope. “And I could still stay up here at the inn and do our Christmas Camps like always?”

  “Absolutely! You’d be the flagship.”

  Ben shook his head in amazement. “You actually think this could work?”

  Haley took his hand and looked into his eyes. “I don’t think, I know. This is what I do for a living, remember? I help companies build their brands.”

  “But I don’t have a brand,” Ben said.

  Haley laughed. “Actually, you do. Your Christmas Camps help people celebrate Christmas, honoring old traditions and creating new memories; that’s your brand. That’s who you are. A brand is something that makes your business unique and special, and successful brands answer a need and you’re doing that with your Christmas Camps. You’re helping people who need it to slow down and appreciate what really matters most at Christmas. Isn’t that what your brochure says? I know it’s why my boss sent me here. There are a lot of people who need your Christmas Camp, Ben, and this way you can help even more people.”

  Max barked and looked up at Haley as he wagged his tail.

  Haley laughed. “See, even Max agrees!” When she petted Max, he wagged his tail even more.

  “And you know how to do this?” Ben asked, his voice filled with hope.

  Haley nodded. “I do. I just helped another resort client do it with a yoga retreat, and now they’re cashing in. So, I know we could do the same thing with your Christmas Camps. What do you say?”

  Ben looked nervous but excited. “Well, we’d have to move fast. Jeff needs to give the buyer he found an answer before the end of the year.”

  “I can put together a quick proposal for you to check out and see what you think,” Haley said. “It’ll be easier to understand when you see everything written down on paper.”

  Ben looked around at his property then back at Haley. “Okay. Show me what you can do.”

  LATER THAT NIGHT, as a soft snow fell, the outside of the inn looked magical. There was only one light still on, and through the window you could see the shadow of two people in the library.

  Inside, Haley and Ben were huddled over Haley’s laptop. The clock on the wall showed it was almost eleven o’clock.

  “Okay, there you go,” Haley said. “I just sent you an email with the Christmas Camp proposal I’ve been showing you, outlining potential profits and a timeline to make everything happen for next year, so now you’ll have a copy.”

  “And you think we can be ready by next October?” Ben asked. “Because that’s when we usually start the Christmas Camps.”

  “Absolutely. You already have the concept and a proven track record. Let me show you some ideas I have for the website we could set up.”

  But when Haley opened another file and turned her computer around so Ben could get a better look, he saw the time on the computer and gently shut her laptop.

  “Hey, what are you doing? We aren’t done yet.” She tried to open her laptop again but he stopped her.

  “But we are done,” Ben said as he looked into her eyes. “Did you see how late it is? I’m sorry. I completely lost track of the time. I guess I’m just so excited about this all possibly working. You’ve used all your free time to work on it with me.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten carried away. You’re not here to work.”

  “But I love doing this, and it didn’t interfere with any of our activities.”

  Ben smiled at Haley. “I know, and I really do appreciate it, but we can do this later, after the Christmas Camp. You shouldn’t be working while you’re here.”

  Haley frowned. “But I love this idea, and you know I love working . . .”

  Ben chuckled. “Yes, I do know that, but, Haley, if you want to help me pitch my Christmas Camp to other people, how are you going to do it if you haven’t really experienced it for yourself?”

  Haley opened her mouth to say something but then closed it. She gave Ben a shrewd look. “Oh, you’re good. You’re really good.”

  B
en laughed. “I have to be to keep up with you. I thought you were only going to show me one quick idea tonight, and we’ve been working for several hours. So, we need to put this all away for now. I’ll look over everything you just sent me. I promise. But for now, I want you to enjoy the little time you have left here. That’s really important to me, okay? So, do we have a deal?” He held out his hand.

  Haley took it, and they shook. “Deal.”

  “And for now, let’s just keep this between us,” Ben said.

  “You don’t want to tell Jeff?” Haley asked.

  “Not until I know if it’s something I can really do. He and I also agreed not to talk business until Christmas Camp wraps up.”

  “Got it. Whatever you say,” Haley said. “I’m just excited that this is a way for you to keep your inn and the Christmas Camp legacy.”

  “Me too,” Ben said. His voice was full of gratitude. “And then you would be making my Christmas wish come true.”

  Haley touched her heart as she smiled back at him. Helping him reminded her of how she had helped small businesses when she had started working at the agency. That feeling she got when she knew she was really making a difference in someone’s life.

  Ben picked up her laptop and gave it to her. “So let’s turn in. We have a big day tomorrow. Thank you again, Haley, for all your work.”

  “I’m happy to do more—”

  “After Christmas Camp.” He gave her a gentle push toward the door.

  Haley smiled back at him. “Okay, you win. After Christmas Camp, but you know that’s just a few days away . . .”

  Ben laughed. “I know.”

  Haley smiled as she left the room. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Chapter 24

  The next morning as the sun peeked over the mountains, Haley was already up and dressed. She hummed her Christmas song, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” as she opened her door. She looked around and was surprised not to see Max waiting for her. As she headed down the hall, she continued looking around for him.