Once Upon a Second Chance (Once Upon a Holiday Story #1)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Aaron

The rest of the day was nice, which wasn’t a word I used to describe most days. We watched a couple of movies, ate more food—nothing too heavy, aside from the earlier conversation.

Daniel got a call from his sister after dinner, so I offered to clean up. I rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, wiped down the table and counters, and once all of that was done and Daniel was still off somewhere, I moved to the living room.

The snow had stopped falling hours ago, and throughout the day I’d heard snowplows clearing the roads. My time here, ensconced in this warm Christmas hug that was Daniel and his home, was coming to an end.

I grabbed the green-and-red throw from the back of the couch and settled on the plush sofa. The warmth of the fire and the twinkling of the lights on the tree calmed my anxiety regarding my unknown future.

Moments later, Mayhem jumped up and curled on my lap. She purred as I gently pet her, and I felt so at peace and safe I almost cried.

The air shifted slightly, and I just knew Daniel was behind me. I was proved right as he stepped deeper into the room and sat in the armchair.

“Sorry that took so long.” He smiled at his cat. “I see you’ve made friends.”

“No worries. Your sister is likely checking to make sure the stranger you brought into your home hasn’t killed you, and making friends with this one is easy.”

“Kate has a flair for the dramatics; you certainly got her number.”

“That’s nice, though.”

“What?”

I sighed. “Someone worrying about you.”

“She means well. I’ll never tell her or any of my family not to worry about me. It’s pointless, anyway.”

I chuckled and looked up at the man with the beautiful face who clearly had a heart of gold. “So, tell me, Daniel. Is your family coming here for the holidays?”

“Yes, they all will fly in next week. It’s tradition to have Christmas here.”

Next week. I wondered where I’d be in a week. I went back to petting Mayhem and enjoying the crackling of the fire and her purrs.

Daniel read one of his books for a while and as soon as Mayhem jumped off my lap, I announced I’d be turning in. He wished me good night and my heart felt heavy as I realized I’d miss hearing someone wish me that every night… Wish . Wishing for anything was a dangerous thing for someone like me.

The light coming through the bedroom window was brighter than the day before, which meant the clouds had all shifted, and the sun was certainly working its magic. I moved to take a peek outside and saw that the icicles from yesterday were melting quickly.

I showered and got ready for the day. When I entered the kitchen, I was greeted with fresh coffee, fluffy pancakes, and fruit salad.

“Good morning.” Daniel was sitting at the table, his phone beside him and Mayhem cuddled on his lap. It was a glorious sight.

“Morning.” I motioned to the food. “You didn’t have to do this, Daniel. I’m not a guest, really. You’re doing me a solid, letting me crash here.”

Daniel didn’t miss a beat. “I have to eat too, and instead of making breakfast for one, I made it for two. It’s not very taxing.”

I didn’t argue. I filled a plate, poured myself coffee, and joined him at the table.

“I don’t truly know what’s going on in the world. What’s the news saying about the weather?”

Daniel picked up his phone. “There are some people without power a few towns over, but most everyone here has a generator. I was lucky I didn’t even need that.”

“That’s great. And are the roads clear?”

It wasn’t that I wanted to leave, but I didn’t want to overstay my welcome, and I for sure didn’t want to get used to living like this.

“Passable. Our mayor is asking residents not to travel yet if they can help it.”

So maybe I did get a little more time here…was that a good thing, though? I wanted to stay, but I needed to leave. I was lost in my thoughts, and I missed what Daniel had said. “Sorry, what?”

“I was saying that I spoke with Hank, the sheriff who you met at the grocery store?”

“Oh, okay, and?”

“He got word out about your car. They’re keeping an eye out and he said once it was located, they’d dig it out and get it over to the mechanic in town.”

The piece of pancake I’d just swallowed threatened to make a reappearance. “What! No.”

“No?” Daniel cocked his head.

“If you bring it to a mechanic, they’ll try and fix it.”

Daniel snorted. “Isn’t that what needs to happen?”

Sighing, I put my fork down. “Daniel, I can’t afford that right now.”

“I understand, but if it’s found they’ll tow it regardless, and it would be to the impound or nearest mechanic anyway. I was able to arrange for it to be sent to the one in town. Either way, money is going to need to switch hands.”

Fuck my whole entire life. I hung my head, trying to figure out something I could do. Maybe if I left now, I could walk to where my car was and dig it out myself. They wouldn’t tow it if I was in it, would they?

“Aaron, what’s wrong?”

“I just told you. I can’t afford any of that.” I pushed the plate aside and stood. “Thank you for everything. I can’t tell you how much your kindness has meant to me, but I need to leave now.”

“Leave?” Daniel’s head snapped back. “You can’t do that. Didn’t you just hear me tell you what the mayor said?”

“Yeah, not to leave unless you had to, and I do. I can’t risk my car being stuck in an impound or at a mechanics. I have to get to it before I lose it forever…it’s all I have, Daniel.”

“Aaron.” He stood, Mayhem hissing and leaping from his lap. “It’s too dangerous.”

I chuckled darkly. “My whole life is dangerous. I don’t blame you for not understanding my situation. I don’t resent you for it either. But we are from two totally different worlds. I wouldn’t tell you how to survive yours, and you can’t tell me how to survive mine. That car, as dead as it is right now, is my life. I have to get to it.”

Daniel huffed, and he placed his hands on my shoulders. I wasn’t sure if it was meant to calm me but the moment he touched me, the chaos and fear that were running around in my head settled.

“Let me help you.”

“You already have.”

The corner of his mouth curled up. “Not really, Aaron. It was no hardship having you here as company. And you’re right, I don’t understand your life, and you don’t understand mine. So, by that logic you won’t fight me when I tell you I will pay for your car to be fixed.”

“What!” Was this man trying to get into Heaven or something? “No way.”

“Way.”

“You can’t just way me and expect it to be okay.”

He shrugged, and his hands slipped from my shoulders. I missed the contact instantly.

“Sorry, Aaron, it’s who I am. I don’t expect you to understand my survival techniques.”

I narrowed my eyes, not sure if I was truly mad or gobsmacked. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Do I, though? I’m a bit older than you…not sure I understand the young folks.”

I wanted to smack him and kiss him at the same time. “I can’t let you do that. I don’t want pity or charity.”

“Fair enough.” He started walking away.

“Hold up, fair enough?”

“Yeah.” I followed him as he left the kitchen and went into another room I hadn’t been in yet. It appeared to be a library or study.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“How about we make a deal?” He moved around to a desk and opened the drawer.

“What kind of deal?”

“I will pay the full amount of work needed on your car, and in exchange I hire you.”

“Hire me?”

He nodded and handed me what looked like a catalog. “Everlasting Holidays?”

“Yep, every year, the weekend before Christmas, we have a festival. It’s great, honestly. Vendors, rides, Santa—there are also many things for all the celebrated holidays. Anyway, it’s a huge affair but with the storm, we need to work fast and we need all hands on deck.”

I opened the catalog, and it was filled with pictures of bright, happy faces, vendor information, activities. It read like a book of holidays.

“And what sort of stuff would I be doing?”

He motioned to the seat across from his desk, so I sat.

“Something tells me you have many talents, Aaron. Tell me what they are, and I’ll know exactly how you can help this town.”

Daniel’s smile was far too wide, and he was radiating joy…I was suspicious.