Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [29]
“Not quite, but I’m working on it. I’ve called the car rental agency, plus several others. I’m waiting to hear back.”
Sam’s frown deepened. He seemed about to suggest she join them, but Faith knew that would be impossible.
“You go on,” she insisted, “and if I run into any trouble, I’ll give you a call.” She had his cell phone number. Faith still felt his reluctance, but eventually, after conferring with the others, Sam agreed.
Smiling bravely, she stood on the porch and watched as they climbed into the rental van and backed out of the driveway. She waved until they were out of sight. Her heart sank when she could no longer see them. Soon, far sooner than she was ready, she’d be facing Charles with the unwelcome news from the airlines. Perhaps he’d offer a suggestion, but it was all too clear that he wanted her gone.
Already the two oldest Kennedy children were outside, frolicking in the snow. “Wanna go sledding with us?” Thomas called out to her. He walked toward the park, dragging his sled behind him. His younger brother Jimmy followed, tugging his own sled.
“Maybe later,” Faith shouted back. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she probably wouldn’t be in town much longer.
The cold cut through Faith and she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. She hurried back into the warm comfort of the house, leaning against the closed door as she considered her limited options. She was so deep in thought that it took her a moment to notice Charles standing on the far side of the room.
“Santa and his elves have left?” he asked. “Why were they wearing those outfits, anyway?” He sounded both curious and a touch sardonic.
“Oh—we went to a rest stop and they got changed. We decided it would be part of Emily’s Christmas surprise.”
“Uh-huh.”
Faith avoided eye contact.
“What about you? You’re leaving today, too—aren’t you?”
Faith raised her index finger and swallowed. “There’s…a small problem.”
“How small?”
“Well, actually it’s a rather large one.” She told him how much it would cost to change her flight. “How much?” He sounded as appalled as she was.
“The way it was explained to me is that this would be a new ticket. But the representative said that even if I was willing to pay the change fee, it was unlikely he could find me a seat. I could fly standby, but he told me there are hardly ever any standby seats at this time of year.” Faith knew she was giving him more information than necessary, but it was critical that he understand her position.
Charles sighed as if this was too much to take in all at once. “Summarize, please,” he snapped—as if she was some freshman in one of his classes, she thought resentfully. “Where does that leave you?”
“Well…I have a rental car…or rather I did until Sam and the dwarfs needed it, so I ended up giving it to them.” Again she explained far more than necessary, ending with the tale of the troupe’s appearances at hospitals and nursing homes.
“So, you’re saying they’ve left with the one and only van?”
She nodded. “I have calls into several rental agencies now, and they’re all looking for a car for me. But rest assured that once I do have a vehicle, I’ll be out of here.”
“Where will you go?”
She didn’t have many options there, either. “Back to California.”
Charles had the good grace to look concerned. “You’d be driving at this time of year and in this weather?”
“Do I have a choice?”
He sighed, turned abruptly and walked into the kitchen. “Let me think about this. There’s got to be a solution that’d suit both of us.”
She was glad he seemed to think there were other options, because she couldn’t think of any. The one obvious solution—that she simply stay—was as unpalatable to her as it no doubt was to him.
After a few minutes, Charles returned to the den and closed the door. Apparently he hadn’t come up with any creative ideas.
Faith’s stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon. Checking out the refrigerator, she found eggs, cheese and a few vegetables. She whipped up two omelets, then timidly