Chapter 3 - THE HOTEL ROOM
The nearest decent hotel had one room left.
Two queen beds.
I booked it from the driveway.
Forty minutes later, Lily was sitting cross-legged beneath a white comforter eating crackers from the vending machine.
Noah stood at the window watching snow fall beneath the parking-lot lights.
“This is nicer than Grandma’s floor.”
I almost laughed.
“Low bar.”
He looked at me.
“Why doesn’t Grandma like us?”
That question hurt more than Margaret’s words.
“She does.”
Noah’s expression told me not to insult him.
I tried again.
“She loves you. But sometimes adults can love people and still behave badly.”
“She doesn’t make Amanda sleep on the floor.”
“No.”
“She doesn’t make Tyler sleep there.”
“No.”
“So why us?”
Because I always forgive her.
The thought arrived before I could stop it.
Because Margaret knew Amanda would throw a tantrum.
Because she knew I would adjust.
Because the easiest person to disappoint had become me.
And my children were being charged for my history.
I sat beside Noah.
“You shouldn’t have been treated that way.”
He nodded.
“Neither should Lily.”
“I know.”
“Are we going back tomorrow?”
“No.”
His shoulders dropped.
Relief.
That settled whatever doubt remained.
My phone had been vibrating continuously.
Margaret.
Amanda.
Amanda again.
Then cousin Jennifer.
Then Aunt Carol.
I ignored everyone until the hotel reservation coordinator returned my call.
“Ms. Bennett, I have your cancellation request.”
“Yes.”
“The lodge booking is refundable until midnight tonight, minus the initial processing fee.”
“Cancel it.”
“And the catering?”
“Anything contracted under my name, cancel.”
“The shuttle can also be released without penalty.”
“Do it.”
There was a pause.
“Would you like us to transfer any of the services to another family member?”
“No.”
That was important.
I was not preventing anyone from having Christmas.
They were free to rebook everything.
They simply had to pay for it themselves.
“What about tomorrow’s catering delivery to the Bennett residence?”
“Cancel anything that can still be canceled.”
“Understood.”
When the call ended, Noah was watching me.
“What did you do?”
“Changed our plans.”
“Are we still having Christmas?”
I smiled.
“Absolutely.”
“Where?”
I looked at Lily, half asleep beneath a hotel blanket.
Then at the snow outside.
“I don’t know yet.”
May you like
That made him grin.
For the first time that night, the uncertainty felt good.
