A Cranberry Inn Christmas Read online

  “Are all the other kids still sleeping?” I asked her.

  She nodded and rubbed her eyes with balled up fists.

  Originally, we’d planned on the kids sleeping in the guest rooms with their parents, but they were having so much fun all cuddled up in the playroom together that we decided to let them stay in there.

  “Emma, what should we do today?” Michelle asked.

  Emma looked over at her and shrugged. “Maybe build a snowman?”

  Michelle’s eyebrows went up. “That sounds fun!”

  “We should build a daddy snowman, an Uncle Viper snowman, and an Uncle Andy snowman to surprise them when they get back,” Emma added excitedly.

  “Ooooh, now that’s a good idea.” I squeezed her thigh gently. “Hop down. I’m gonna make some breakfast and we’ll get started.”

  As I opened the fridge, Dani walked into the kitchen, covering her yawn with the back of her hand. “Good morning, everybody.”

  “Morning!” I called out without turning around. I took a carton of eggs out of the fridge and started cracking them one by one into the pan.

  “Can I help?” Emma asked as she walked up next to me.

  “Of course,” I said. I bent down and lifted her onto the counter. “Don’t touch the metal part of the pan because it’s hot, okay?”

  She nodded.

  Within minutes, hungry kids started filing into the kitchen so Emma and I started scrambling the eggs as fast as we could.

  I scooped eggs onto a plate and passed it to Michelle, who added sausage and blueberries to each plate, and then handed it to Dani who set it in front of one of the kids.

  “This is fun,” Dani giggled. “Kind of like an assembly line or cafeteria or something.”

  I looked over at her with a smile. “Well, if you ever get sick of the whole glamorous sports agent thing, I think Lucy and Piper’s school is looking for a new lunch server. You’d look pretty cute in a white apron full time.”

  “Serving lunch to a bunch of crazy, hormonal middle-school kids?” Darla exclaimed loudly as she walked into the kitchen. “I feel like that might truly be the toughest job on the planet.”

  I smiled at her. “Hey! I didn’t hear you come down the stairs.” You hungry?”

  She pursed her lips together and crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you kidding? Look at me . . . I’m always hungry.”

  I rolled my eyes and a few of the kids giggled as they continued shoveling bites into their mouths.

  “So, kids, what do you think about building snowmen this morning?” I asked as I made up four more plates and carried those to the island, setting them in front of Michelle, Dani, Darla, and an empty stool for me. “After breakfast, we’re all gonna bundle up and go outside. Emma thought it would be fun to make snowmen that look just like your dads!”

  Each of their little faces lit up and they all started yelling out ideas for the snowmen.

  “For Brody’s, we should put a baseball hat on it since he always wears a hat,” Piper said.

  “Yeah,” Lucy blurted. “A Wild one.”

  “My daddy wears a suit,” Becca said before turning to look at Dani. “Can we put a tie on our snowman?”

  The corner of Dani’s mouth pulled up and she looked at Becca sadly. “That’s a great idea, Bec, but I have a feeling any ties he packed are with him on the road.”

  I covered my mouth with my hand as I talked through a big bite of eggs, “Brody has tons, you can use one of his.”

  “I think after breakfast, I’ll let you guys run around and do that while I sleep for a little longer. I’m still pretty beat from working the other day then the long drive up here,” Darla said.

  “Okay,” I said.

  “This is going to be so much fun!” Piper exclaimed.

  “I can’t wait for them to see them when they get home!” Becca clapped excitedly.

  Michelle, Dani, Darla, and I all shot each other the same worried glance, but didn’t say a word.

  Positive thoughts, positive thoughts, positive thoughts.

  It took us almost an entire hour to get the kids all bundled up and out the door. By the time we were done, we were sweaty and so exhausted that we didn’t even feel like going out, but we knew that if we let them wear themselves out for a while, we’d be rewarded with a nice, long, quiet nap time.

  “Your mom is a saint, you know that?” Michelle said from behind me. I started to shovel a small path for us to follow through six inches of thick snow out into the yard, but she plucked the shovel from my hands and took over.

  “Well, she’s put up with me and all of my craziness for thirty years, so I do know that, but why do you think so?” I replied.

  “She’s in there watching Michael for me so I can be out here with you girls and the kids. She doesn’t have to do that.”

  We got to the middle of the yard and the kids fell back and started making snow angels, blinking quickly as fresh flakes fell on their faces. Maura marched through the snow, lifting her little knees as high as she could until she found a comfortable place to plop her butt down, giggling wildly.

  “Awww. I know she doesn’t have to, but who are we kidding? She loves babies more than adults. Playing with him for a few days will tide her over until our little one gets here.” I bent down and pulled Grace’s hat further onto her head. She hated hats and I knew I’d be pulling it down five hundred times before we went back inside, but if it kept her little ears from getting frostbite, I didn’t mind.

  “Are you guys going to find out what you’re having?” Dani asked.

  “Probably,” I said with a quick laugh. “Brody usually gets so excited when the ultrasound tech asks if we want to know, he blurts out yes before he even asks me.”

  “Does he really?” Dani asked incredulously, her dark eyes widening under the edge of her hot pink winter hat.

  I nodded. “Yep, both times so far. And then on the way to the car, he high fives every single person we pass.”

  “He does not!” Dani blurted out.

  “He sure does. This weird, euphoric, proud high takes over him and he has no control for a while.” I took a few steps forward and fixed Grace’s hat again. “Not gonna lie . . . it’s adorable to watch.”

  “Can you imagine what’s going to happen if this one is a boy?!” Michelle exclaimed.

  “If we find out this one is a boy, it’ll be a good thing my OB’s office is right near the hospital because he’ll probably have a heart attack.” I bent down and picked up a wad of snow then packed it into a perfect ball in my hands. “Here, Lucy! Start a snowman with this.” I tossed the ball to her.

  “Do you have a feeling about it either way?” Michelle asked.

  I shrugged, “Not really. I mean, I don’t feel any different, but it’s still pretty early.”

  “Wait.” Dani looked back and forth from me to Michelle. “I don’t get it. You feel different if it’s a boy or a girl?”

  “Some people think so, but I have no idea. I’ve only ever had girls.” I answered.

  Michelle chimed in, “I definitely carried my boys lower than Maura, but not until at least halfway through the pregnancy.”

  Dani took a deep breath, looking a little dazed as she stared off into the trees. “Wow.”

  I narrowed my eyes, searching her face. “Are you pregnant?”

  Her head snapped over to me and she shook it quickly. “God, no!”

  “Do you want to have more kids?” I asked.

  She pinched her lips together and thought for a second about her answer. “Originally, I didn’t think I wanted to have my own and Andy was fine with that, but when I see him playing in the backyard with Logan, or reading to Becca, or hear him laughing with them in the other room . . .” her voice cracked and she paused for a quick second, “In those moments, something twitches inside of me and I want to have one with him too. Maybe even twenty.”

  Michelle and I laughed out loud . . . hard. We both knew all too well the power of a man and a baby together a
nd the impact it could have on blowing your ovaries to smithereens.

  “Listen, let’s pause this conversation and save it for later tonight because it sounds to me like it might be one of those longs ones—” I looked down at my feet and back up at them, “—and my toes are turning into little frozen sausages. Let’s build these snow-husbands and go warm up by the fire.”

  “And keep an eye on that weather report,” Michelle added in an uneasy tone. I specifically didn’t look over at her because the worry that would be plastered all over her face would hop to my face and that would make my stomach start clenching all over again. I needed a break, and I needed to make a snowman.

  “What now?” I asked the kids a few minutes later, as we all stood and stared at the three naked snowmen in the yard.

  “Time to decorate!” Piper cheered.

  “I’ll go to our house and grab a few things to dress up our boys while you guys get sticks, rocks, and whatever else for their faces and arms, okay?” I said to Michelle, Dani, and the kids.

  They nodded, and I started walking toward the small patch of trees that separated the inn from my house. Once inside, I made a quick pit stop in the bathroom, thanks to the little brussel sprout using my bladder as a trampoline, and then zipped around the house grabbing anything I thought would fit the boys’ snowmen perfectly.

  As I walked through the family room, I noticed the television had been left on. I carefully bent down and tried not to drop anything as I grabbed the remote to turn it off, but the sudden beeping coming from the screen caught my attention. Cliff Wilhelm, the local weatherman, appeared on the screen with a map of the Midwest behind him. Large portions of Iowa and Minnesota were covered in pink and he pointed at them as he talked about how many inches, or feet, of snow had already fallen in some places.

  My stomach dropped. The boys were due back late the following night, but when Cliff said that several counties were under a blizzard watch already, I knew it wasn’t looking good. The storm appeared to be getting stronger, not weaker. No way would they be able to fly into Minneapolis with that kind of snow. A lump the size of a walnut formed in my throat and it actually hurt to swallow. I finally cleared my throat and vowed to put a smile on my face as I walked back over to the inn. The snow might ruin my perfect Christmas, but no way would I let it ruin my daughters, too.

  “Anything changed?” Andy asked as he walked out of the bathroom after his shower.

  “Nope,” I said with a sigh, staring at the weather report on the TV.

  He sat on the edge of his bed and crossed his arms. “Well, we might want to start thinking about the inevitable.”

  “No,” I said sternly. “That’s not an option. We have to be home for Christmas.”

  “I get it, Brody. I do. I hate the thought of not being with my kids and Dani, too, but you know that I’m a realist and this doesn’t look—”

  “Just stop,” I snapped as I stood quickly. “No flights have been canceled and no decisions have been made, so can we not go there yet.” It was more of a statement than a question. “I’m taking a shower.” I closed the bathroom door and leaned my back against it. I’d worked so hard for a month to pull everyone together and surprise Kacie with the perfect Christmas at the inn, no way could I not be there. I turned the shower on and welcomed the hot water that rolled over my skin, hopefully taking my shitty mood down the drain with it.

  After I got out and dried myself off, I threw on my lucky sweats and Wild t-shirt and walked back out to the hotel room. Viper, who was sitting on the chair in the corner, stopped talking when he saw me. “Morning,” I said to him with a nod.

  He looked down at his phone and back up at me, “It’s actually afternoon now.”

  I walked by Andy and gently smacked his shoulder. “Sorry about before.”

  “Don’t mention it,” he shook his head. “I know you’re stressed. I am too.”

  “Lovers quarrel?” Viper teased.

  I picked up a pillow off the bed and whipped it at his head. “No, asshole! We were talking about the weather and I got pissy.”

  “Eh, it’ll be fine,” Viper dismissed.

  “I’m glad you’re so confident. Wish I was.” I plopped down on the bed and picked my phone up.

  “I’m telling you, it’ll work out. Leave it up to Viper Claus.” He tapped his own chest arrogantly. “If I have to single handedly save Christmas—”

  “Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute . . .” I laughed. “Did you just say Viper Claus?”

  His mouth curled into a wicked grin. “Ho, ho, ho motherfuckers!”

  We stopped and grabbed a quick lunch together at a greasy spoon type of place on the way to the arena. I usually didn’t like eating shitty food on game days, but my stomach had been in a knot for so long, I didn’t think it mattered anymore.

  “What can I get for you guys?” an older woman in a light blue polo, who looked and sounded like she’d worked there for at least thirty years, asked with a smile.

  “Uh . . . what’s good here?” I answered her question with a question.

  “The fish and chips is excellent but we don’t serve that until dinner, so I’d say a burger.” She pointed down to the menu. “We have a bunch of different ones . . . one with avocado, one with barbecue sauce and a big onion ring, one with pulled pork on it. They’re all fantastic.”

  My stomach growled as she listed off burger descriptions. “You had me at pulled pork. I’ll take that one.” I closed my menu and handed it to her.

  Andy and Viper ordered the same and the waitress turned and went back to the kitchen.

  “So, not to make your stress any worse, but have you given any more thought to what you’re going to get Kacie? Or when the fuck you’re even going to have time to go shopping?” Viper asked me.

  I shrugged and looked down at the napkin under my glass. “I have a surprise for her, but it’s not really a present. It seems kinda lame to give it to her for Christmas.”

  “Kacie’s a sweet girl, Brody. She doesn’t need jewelry and furs to make her happy. Shit, I doubt she’d even like that stuff,” Andy said before he took a sip of his pop.

  I shook my head. “She’s totally not like that. She likes the little things, the sentimental stuff. Frankly, I doubt she even wants a gift, she just wants us home.”

  My phone beeped and a text from Kacie popped onto the screen.

  “Her ears must have been ringing,” I laughed, swiping at my phone.

  Kacie: Hey, baby. Just checking in. How’s it going?

  Hey, honey. Good. The boys and I are just grabbing a bite to eat before we head over to the arena. How about you guys?

  Kacie: We just came in from building snowmen out in the yard. We made hot chocolate and the kids are warming up by the fire. Hopefully after some lunch they’re all going to crash.

  Sounds like fun. Wish I were sitting by the fire with you guys.

  Kacie: I wish you were here too. :(

  Fuck you, sad face.

  Don’t be sad, baby. We leave right after the game tonight. I’ll call you as soon as we board the plane.

  Kacie: I’ve been watching the news non-stop, Brody. It looks terrible out there. Do you think the flight will be canceled?

  I don’t know. I’m trying not to worry about it until there’s something to worry about.

  Kacie: That’s not exactly my thing. LOL!

  I know . . . but try. Besides, Viper Claus has assured me that everything will be fine.

  Kacie: Viper Claus?!

  Don’t ask. LOL! I’ll call you, hopefully with good news, as soon as I know something, okay?

  Kacie: Okay, babe. Love you.

  Love you more!

  “Kacie freaking out too?” Viper asked as I set my phone down.

  “Yeah.” I nodded toward his phone, “Did Michelle text you?”

  “Yep, and Dani texted him,” he tilted his head toward Andy. “It’s like they synchronized their freakouts and texted us all at the same time.”

 
Andy laughed and set his phone down. “I’m sure they’d be really happy you said that.”

  “I get it, though. I’m a little freaked out myself. I’ve never missed Christmas with my girls before. Frankly, the thought makes me sick.” I let out a long, heavy sigh.

  “Stop saying shit like that!” Viper roared. “We’re not missing anything!”

  Just then, the waitress walked up to the table carrying an arm full of plates and set one down in front of each of us. The tension at the table when she walked away wasn’t a fight between us brothers. It was worry. We all ate quickly and quietly, none of us in the mood to talk.

  When we finished, she brought our check over and Viper grabbed it before it hit the table.

  “Gimme that,” I said with my hand out.

  “I got it,” he swatted me away playfully. “You’re gonna need me to pay for lunch for a while if you keep popping out kids the way you are.”

  Andy puffed his cheeks out trying to keep his laugh in, but was unsuccessful. He and Viper chuckled the whole way to the front podium to pay the bill, while I hung back at the table and fished around my pocket for the tip. I pulled out a bunch of bills, mostly fives and tens, but looked through them for the one hundred dollar bill I knew was in there. I finally found it and tucked it under a glass for the waitress.

  A couple hours later as I sat facing my locker, I chugged the last of my apple juice and slammed the bottle down on the bench next to me.

  “Jesus, Murphy. Calm down. What did that bench ever do to you?” Louie, my annoying teammate, joked as he walked behind me.

  I didn’t turn to look at him or even acknowledge his existence. I was too pissed off.

  They’d just updated the weather report, and almost the entire state of Iowa was now under a blizzard warning. No way were they going to let our plane fly through that. We hadn’t gotten the official word, yet, but I knew it was coming.