“Ready?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said, eyeing the four large bags he had in the cart.
“If you two need anything else, let Megan know. Oh, and tell her Patty sent you.” She winked at them. “Drive safe.”
“Thanks again,” Alice said over her shoulder as she followed Eric outside.
She bumped into his back when he stopped after the doors closed.
“We’ll have to carry these.” He motioned to the bags. “I doubt the cart will make it through this.”
There was easily another inch on the ground than when they had walked in. He reached in and handed her the lighter bags and then took the heavier ones and carried them across the parking lot.
When Alice slipped in the snow, he almost dropped a bag when he helped steady her by taking her elbow.
“Easy,” he said, holding onto her while juggling both bags in one arm. “It is really slick out here.”
“How is it that so much snow can fall so fast?” she said when he set the four bags in the trunk alongside their luggage.
Instead of getting back in the car, Alice stood by the passenger door, looking around the small town.
“What a cute town,” she said, getting his attention.
He glanced up and, for the first time in hours, took in the sights. She was right. There were Christmas lights and decorations on every street post going down the main street. The buildings lining the main road were old but very well maintained.
He could make out the town square, where a huge pine tree was covered with colorful lights. The entire square was decorated, in fact.
“Yeah,” he agreed, feeling the chill sneak in through his heavy jacket. “We’d better go. If there isn’t a spare room…”
“There is. I called while you were paying.” She smiled. “It’s not a room, though. We have our very own cabin.” She opened the car door and got in.
He started the car and followed the directions she gave him, heading back the way they had come. The roads were even worse than before and when they finally reached the turnoff to the small road, he was feeling relieved that she’d talked him into turning off.
They passed a couple of larger homes and then came to a massive white two-story place with green shutters. He parked. There was a large sign that read Pride Bed and Breakfast.
“Nice place,” Alice said, leaning forward to look at the house. “I guess the cabins are that way.” She motioned to a pathway, which had been cleared of most of the snow.
“Yeah,” he agreed and thought about carrying all of their bags and groceries down the walkway.
“Here comes someone,” she said, getting his attention. Sure enough, there was a man bundled up in a black wool coat, hat, and gloves heading towards the car.
By the time he stepped out, the man was beside the car.
“You must be the Jenkins,” the man said easily, holding out his hand. “I’m Todd Jordan. My wife and I own the B and B.” From what he could tell, the man was about ten years older than he was.
“Eric.” He shook the man’s hand.
“Ma’am.” Todd turned to Alice, who had also climbed out of the car. “I can help you cart your things down to the cabin if you need a hand.”
“Sure.” Eric walked around and opened the trunk.
The man chuckled. “Just like my wife. She can’t go anywhere without at least three bags,” he said as he took the two larger of Alice’s bags.
He thought about telling the man that they weren’t married, but something told him to hold back. After all, what did it matter? They were probably only going to be there for a night.
“Thanks,” he said after he grabbed his own bag and Alice’s smaller one, then tucked a bag of groceries in his free hand.
“I’ll get the rest.” Alice stepped forward.
“Are you sure. I can make another trip?” Todd asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She shifted the bags until she could get all three of them in her arms.
“Got everything?” Todd asked.
“Yes, thank you.” Alice smiled up at him. “You have a lovely place here.” She motioned to the house.
“You haven’t seen the best part yet.” He nodded to the pathway. “You’ve got the cabin with the best view. Even during a snowstorm, it’s pretty incredible,” he said as they started walking down the path. “You lucked out. We had the place booked, but the couple that was supposed to be here for this week got snowed in and couldn’t make it. The rest of the cabins are booked, so if you get lonely…” He shifted her two bags as they continued down the path. “If you want to go for an outing, we serve dinner from five-thirty until seven-thirty up at the main house. But it looks like you guys stopped in town and stocked up at Patty’s place.”
“Yes,” he answered. “We didn’t know what would be available.”
“Smart thinking. I’ve had people stuck in storms like this without so much as a ketchup packet in their car.” He shook his head as they passed the first cabin. The bright green paint on the door seemed an almost shocking color next to the blinding white of the snow around the quaint little building.
He was sure hoping that their cabin was bigger than that one. They passed two more cabins that they could see from the pathway, each one bigger than the last one.
“Here we are.” Todd slowed down and nodded to a larger cabin with a bright red door. There was a big porch on the front of the place. The lights were on inside, making it appear warm and welcoming.
“I started a fire in there for you after you called. It should be nice and toasty by now,” Todd said, stepping onto the front porch. “There’s that view.” He nodded behind him.
Alice gasped, causing him to turn around. Sure enough, the Pacific Ocean sat just a hundred yards from them. Large waves crashed against the shore and rocks while the snow continued to fall in huge fluffy clumps.
“It’s even better on a sunny day,” Todd said, opening the door and stomping his feet on the doormat.
“Well, this place is yours for as long as you need it.” Todd set the bags down just inside the door.
When Eric stepped in behind Alice, the warmth of the fireplace hit him, removing all of the cold from outside.
“It’s wonderful,” Alice said cheerfully. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing. There are some basics in the fridge and cabinets, but it looks like you two have the rest covered.” He took two of the bags from Alice and set them on the counter in the small kitchen. “If you need anything, just let me know. I’m going to try to keep the path cleared, but from the looks of it, the white stuff is coming down faster than I can shovel.” He chuckled.
“We’re good. Thanks,” Eric answered in reply.
Todd moved towards the door. “The number to the main house is there.” He pointed to the phone. “Enjoy yourselves.”
“Thanks,” he and Alice said at the same time.
When the front door shut behind Todd, the room was silent for a moment, then Alice began moving around the kitchen, putting the cold items in the fridge.
As the silence stretched on, he walked around the cabin and was thankful to find that there were two small bedrooms. Seeing the one bathroom in between had him cringing, but he knew it was better than any hotel they would have gotten.