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It was slightly unsettling. He’d wanted something less pretentious. Something understated, slightly beaten-up and neglected. The new siding, roof, windows, and decks off the bedrooms made the B&B almost unrecognizable, and the hundreds of white Christmas lights along the trim of the exterior and the decorated evergreen on the front yard were warm and inviting. His gut twisted.
Did he deserve warm and inviting?
Any other time of year, he’d camp out on the beach with a tent and sleeping bag, but the temperature drop on the coast that month along with the unpredictable winter storms would have local beach security forcing him to pack up and move indoors.
Mitch reluctantly climbed out of the car and walked on heavy, lead-like legs to the large double front doors. The thick evergreen holiday wreath was decorated with seashells and surfboards, and it served as a reminder that Blue Moon Bay Christmases were a lot different from the ones he’d celebrated overseas the last four years. Here, life was quiet, simple…easy. No worries or cares.
The contrast between his hometown and the war-ravaged, poverty-stricken countries he’d spent the last few years in almost made him nauseous.
What right did he have to get the luxury of escaping when so many others couldn’t?
He opened the door and entered the large, impressive foyer of the inn. Despite the upgrades and renovations, he was happy to see not much of the esthetic had been changed inside the main common areas. The double spiral staircases had been refurbished, but they were still the focal point of the foyer. One leading to the guestrooms on the second and third floors, the other to the living quarters of the house. As kids, they’d sneak in and slide down the rails whenever Dove was working in the yards outside.
From where he stood he could see the big ballroom and a dining area to his right. A fresh coat of paint and new lighting fixtures really brightened up the space. The library and front sitting room to the left had been almost untouched except for some cosmetic improvements and new furniture.
Right in the middle of the foyer stood a twenty-foot artificial tree, with boxes of decorations next to it on the floor. Looked like Sarah was planning to continue Dove’s holiday tradition of inviting the community to decorate the tree together.
As a kid, his family had participated every year. Each family brought a special ornament to add to the collection, and Dove served cookies and hot chocolate. The tree always looked like two-year-olds had decorated it—no theme, hundreds of homemade items mixed with elegant glass bulbs, garland, and strands of cranberries and popcorn—but it had reflected the various family traditions in Blue Moon Bay.
His gaze was still locked on the tree when the sound of retching in the bathroom down the hall caught his attention. Doctor instincts immediately kicked in as he moved toward the door. He tapped once. “Hey, you okay in there?”
More retching, then, “Sorry! Be right out.”
He stood back and, a moment later, heard the toilet flush and the faucet running. Then the door opened and a young woman who looked about mid-twenties exited. She smiled politely at him. “Hello…sorry to keep you waiting.”
She quickly led the way toward the check-in desk, so he kept pace with her at her side.
“No problem,” he said. “You okay?”
She nodded, but pressed a hand to her stomach. “Totally fine. Just a random burst of nausea.” She picked up several holiday-scented candles from the desk and blew them out, her face momentarily disappearing behind a thin cloud of smoke. “I guess the combined scent of pine and cinnamon spice was a little too much.”
Mitch sniffed the air. “Maybe not the best combination. Try one at a time?”
“Or just let the actual scents do the work,” she said with a small laugh. “Anyway… Welcome to Dove’s Nest. Do you have a reservation?” she asked.
He scanned her face for any sign of recognition. He hadn’t been home in six years, so he didn’t expect her to know him.
“Yes, Mitch Jameson,” he said, laying his bags down on the floor. His arms ached from carrying the weight of them so long.
A wide, genuine smile lit up her face. “You’re Lia’s brother!”
He nodded. “Sarah?” Seemed like a safe guess.
“Yes. Nice to see you again. How was your flight?”
“Long.”
She sent him a sympathetic look. “You look exhausted. Let’s get you checked in and I’ll show you to your room. You’re here until…December twenty-fifth?” She frowned as her gaze returned to his, a puzzled look in her dark brown eyes. “You’re leaving on Christmas Day?”
No doubt she found that odd, but he hoped to get his new assignment by the twenty-third, when the next postings were scheduled to be announced. He was already feeling the itch to go again. Staying in Blue Moon Bay for twenty-two days would already be difficult. He hadn’t spent that much time in his small hometown since he’d left for college and med school.
Living in L.A., with a successful private practice, he’d liked the fast pace and noise that drowned out the silence he’d been trying to escape for years. Then traveling the world with Doctors Without Borders had given him the lifestyle he wanted. Seeing the world—therealworld, not just touristy, pretty places.
Staying in one place for too long, a peaceful, picturesque place at that, made his privilege guilt become unmanageable.
Following Sarah up the staircase, it took all his remaining energy to propel his legs forward. “So many upgrades and no elevator?”
She laughed. “Don’t let your sister hear you say that.”
