AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do know there are easier ways to go about it than to drag your family here. I mean I haven’t heard from you since you checked on me to make sure I made it home. So why now?”
And this was something I liked about Adilyn. She made me think about what I wanted and why. “I...I am thinking about my future. And... decided not to go to medical school.” There. I said it.
She looked surprised. “You don’t want to be a doctor?” I shook my head. “Okay. That’s your choice. What does that have to do with me?”
When said like that, the answer was clear. It had nothing to do with her. “I guess I just wanted to tell you.”
“Once again, a text message would’ve been a lot easier. So, how did your family take the news?” she asked.
“And here lies the problem. I haven’t told them yet.” I admitted.
“And you felt as though Winterberry was the best place to do that?”
“No. I don’t plan on telling them until we return home. I just want to enjoy this vacation,” I said.Enjoy being here with you.
“Well, I’m glad one of us will be enjoying this. I’m going to be so busy that I don’t think I’ll get any sleep until this week is over.” She picked up the papers that were on the table in front of her and held them out to me. “I’m only one person. How can I do all this?”
I took the papers and didn’t even bother looking at them. Instead, I laid them back on the table and said, “No one expects you to. This is a wish list, not a demand list. Why don’t you pick a couple of things to do each day and let the rest slide?”
“I can’t do that. Do you know what will happen if your family doesn’t think this is an amazing vacation? They could ruin our reputation. My parents are struggling as it is to keep the lodge open. It could sink us,” she stated, her fear showing clearly in her eyes.
“Then let me help you,” I offered.
“You can’t do that. You’re a guest here,” she said sternly.
“As a guest, I believe I can spend my time as I wish.”
“Yes, but not...”
“Helping you is what I want to do,” I replied honestly.
“Mark, you should be on the slopes having fun,” she stated.
I reached out and took her hand in mine. “I’d rather be here with you. I meant it, Adilyn. I suggested Winterberry Lodge because I wanted to be here with you. So let me help.”
“This isn’t right,” she said.
“I’m not taking no for an answer,” I stated firmly.
Adilyn said, “Fine. You can help. How do you feel about glitter and glue?”
“Sounds messy.”
“Exactly. We are going to make traditional Christmas ornaments. If you want to help, we will be starting in an hour,” she said.
That would take away the possibility of finding time for us to have a deep conversation. As much as I wanted to talk about my new career choice with her, I’d rather spend the little time we had talking about us. Yeah. I liked her. I wasn’t sure how a long-distance relationship would work, or even if she was interested in dating me. But hopefully, I’d have that answer by the end of the week.
“Yeah. Glitter and glue. Sounds like fun,” I said sarcastically.
“Oh, the fun will be the clean-up. Because glitter is the worst.”
“And yet you picked this craft to do?” I asked.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the guests. It’s my job to ensure I do everything I can to make them happy. And the girls really want to do it.”
I smiled and said, “I am a guest you know.”
“I know. I reminded you of that a moment ago,” she said.
