“You guys are in for a real treat,” she continues. She’s wringing her hands together, eyes round and voice fast-paced. “We’ve got so many things to do around here. I'm sure you’ll have the perfect stay. We’re here to help you enjoy yourselves every step of the way.”
“I believe it,” I murmur, ruffling Ryan’s hair when he leans against my strong legs.
The kid’s cheeks are pink and he’s still smiling from ear-to-ear. He looks thrilled, and it makes my heart swell. All I’d wanted was to give him the Christmas of his dreams, a Christmas that he’ll cherish forever. After all, the holidays have been rough on him since his mom passed.
It’s been hard for both of us without Jenny. But thank heavens a real-life angel walked into our lives.
As if sensing my love for her, Stacy leans her head against my shoulder and smiles warmly. I loop an arm around her, keeping her close and rubbing her arms just in case she got a little too chilly out there in the snow.
“Alright, let me make sure I have everyone straight!” Chloe Price continues. “Eric and Morgan in one suite. Jake, Stacy, and Ryan in another. Then Donovan and Chloe in the third, right?”
Our own Chloe laughs and nods. “That’s right! It’s so funny that there are two Chloes. Don’t go getting confused now,” she adds playfully to Donovan.
Donovan’s head cocks as though he doesn’t understand the joke.
Chloe Price laughs and shakes her head. “You can just call me Co-Co to make things easier. Now, let’s warm you up with some festive Christmas cocktails!”
Eric King
When everyone starts talking about Christmas drinks, I excuse myself—not because I'm tempted at all by the booze, but because I want to check out more of this incredible lodge.
I wander around the lobby, listening to Co-Co ramble. The poor girl is a bit nervous. She’s talking a mile a minute, just the way I did before playing sold out shows was a daily occurrence.
I get it, we’ve got some big names in our crew of friends, but I'm sure Co-Co will calm down once she realizes we’re not that different from every other guest who comes here looking to unwind.
Near the hostess, Ethan patiently passes out drinks to my friends who’ve gathered in the cozy-looking lobby bar. Most of them get spiked hot cocoas or spiced ciders, while Stacy settles for a cup of hot gingerbread tea.
Meanwhile, I continue to make my way between the Christmas displays, gently running a finger over a railroad track upon which a train is cheerfully chugging along. I look closely at a few vintage-looking ornaments, wondering how old they are. A lot of the décor looks like it’s been passed down from generation to generation. I wonder how it feels to have such a strong sense of family all the time.
There are photos of Co-Co and Ethan and a bunch of other people on the walls; in each one, they’re beaming bright and happy. The sense of family love is almost tangible here. For a little while, we’ll get to share that feeling with them, which makes me see why this place is so special.
Family means the world to me, especially after my mother took off and my dad passed a few years back. I'm so glad I got to bring my own family here. My friends and Morgan, they mean the world to me. They’re my family in every sense of the word. I cherish the time we get to spend together. Even more now that it’s so few and far between.
I look back at my friends who are all laughing and chatting easily in the bar. I think this trip will do us all some good.
“Uncle Eric?” a little voice says abruptly.
I tear my eyes away from the Price family photos to grin down at the seven-year-old boy gazing up at me. In Ryan’s hands is one of the ornaments I’d been looking at a moment ago. Quickly, I bend down to cup my hand around his own tiny ones to make sure he doesn’t drop the irreplaceable glass orb.
“Woah, buddy! I don’t think we should be picking these off the trees. I bet it took Co-Co and Ethan a really long time to decorate. Don’t you think?”
The boy frowns, gazing down at the delicate ornament. However, after a moment, he lets me take it.
“Uncle Eric?” he repeats.
“What’s up, buddy?”
Ryan reaches out to pat the ornament. I can tell he’s trying to be as gentle as possible with it. “Do you think Co-Co might have another tree I can help decorate?”
I glance around, but all of the trees in the lobby are maxed out with thoughtful decorations. I'm sure a whole lot of Christmas wishes are going to come true in Pine Island this weekend, but I'm not so sure about this one. But like hell I'm going to crush this kid’s dream right before Christmas.
“I don’t know if we’d even have time for that! We’re going to be so busy between the sleigh rides and the hot chocolate drinking contests and making snowmen . . .”
“Snowmen?” Ryan echoes, perking up again.
Mission, complete: child distracted!
I nod enthusiastically. “That’s right, pal! Your Aunt Morgan really wants to make one. Do you want to help us?”
“I want to have another snowball fight!” Ryan giggles, loudly. “I defeated you in the first one!”
“What?” I scoff, slapping my hand over my heart as though he’d driven a dagger right into it. “You think you won?”
“I know I won!” he replies, sticking his tongue out.
I set the ornament down and lunge at Ryan, tickling his sides until he’s squealing. When he finally manages to wriggle away, he dashes back toward Jake and Stacy. I watch him go, grinning to myself, my heart warmed by the interaction.
Ryan is such a great kid. I don’t get to be around him enough.
“You’re good at that, you
