“Sure,” he shrugged. “Nothing else to do.”
“Okay, let me take care of business, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
“Great. I’m going to chop some wood and make sure we have enough for a storm.”
Teddy sat down at his desk, turned on his computer, and began issuing refunds.
“Twelve cancellations, and the three couples who left,” he mumbled to himself.
These cancellations would cost them a lot. They charged two-hundred-and-fifty dollars per night for a room. Teddy and Geoff didn’t spend money outside caring for the bed-and-breakfast, so they’d been saving up for a vacation next summer. That was out the window now.
Sighing, Teddy completed the refunds, cleared his calendar, and emailed those who reserved after January 1st, informing them that their reservations would be canceled if the storm hit Thistle and the roads weren’t cleared in time.
Geoff stacked the wood under the awning outside the front door.
“There,” he grunted. “All set.”
He headed inside and took off his boots before collapsing into his chair and wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Now, for a little rest.”
Teddy walked out of his office. “Ready to head into town?”
“No rest for the weary. Let’s go,” Geoff grunted.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Geoff smiled.
They got into Teddy’s truck and headed down the long road into town. Their bed-and-breakfast was twenty minutes from Thistle, which made it a wonderful place for people to rest and relax away from the bustle of a busy city. Not that Thistle was a bustling metropolis. With a population of three hundred, it could barely be called a town. It was quaint and quiet, which Teddy and Geoff appreciated.
Geoff and Teddy were Thistle’s open secret. Everyone knew they were a gay couple, but no one said anything. Everyone treated everyone with respect, at least to their faces. Gossip ran rampant, as with any small town, and they were no exception.
Teddy’s barber told him he’d heard they ran a sex club for married men on the weekends. They laughed at this. Teddy and Geoff ran a clean establishment for guests who wanted to spend time with their spouses, partners, or even to be alone. His barber didn’t believe the rumor, but thought it was amusing.
Main Street was lit up with decorations for the holidays. Lamp posts sported red ribbons wrapped around the pole with an angel, candle, star, or gift at the top. Every small shop had lights and decorations. The town loved the holidays.
Teddy parked in the crowded grocery store lot.
“Did the whole town come out to shop?” Geoff asked as he locked up the truck.
“A storm is coming,” Teddy said. “They’re preparing just like us.”
“What do we need?” Geoff grabbed a shopping cart and followed Teddy in.
“I have a list,” Teddy smiled. “We just need enough to get us through three weeks at the worst.”
Customers packed the aisles, and shoppers emptied the shelves of their products. Geoff followed as Teddy maneuvered through the crowd, avoiding collisions.
“We should have done this earlier,” Geoff said. “Are we even going to find what we need?”
Geoff came to the grocery store when he wanted snacks, or Teddy asked him to pick up a few things, which wasn’t often. He’d never seen it packed like this.
“I think it’ll be okay.” Teddy shifted. “I’m sure they’ll have prepared for this.”
His words did not convince Geoff.
Geoff followed Teddy to the produce aisle. It held very little. The workers frantically placed items back on the shelves and in the bins, the shoppers immediately grabbing them.
