The thought of spending Christmas by myself is not appealing in the slightest.
A quick call to my mom confirms what I thought she would say when I tell her what happened. She puts me on speaker so Dad can hear.
“Those people never deserved you anyway, Sadie. You know it as well as I do.”
Mom definitively doesn’t mince words, but I love her to bits. I also play it down so they don’t worry.
“I told Bailey it could be the universe pointing me in another direction,” I say. “I’ll find something else, something better.”
“There’s a silver lining in everything,” Mom agrees. “You might not know what it is yet, honey, but in time you’ll see.”
“Why don’t you take some time off?” I hear Dad in the background. “Come over for a visit? You know we leave for Silver Pines in early December.”
“I’d love that,” I say. “I’ll keep you guys up to date with the job hunting.” Another fib because an idea hits me, but it’s thanks to Bailey because she suggested it: I should surprise them for Christmas. Maybe even show up in Colorado to help them pack.
I purposely didn’t tell them about Kelto because Dad has had heart problems, and I’d rather tell them in person about the living situation.
My parents will only worry more if they know about my current dilemma and having to move in two weeks. I don’t like keeping things from them, but I’ll be able to explain it all better in person.
So, somewhere between sorting out all of my shoes into color co-ordinated order, and working out if I’ll ever wear a poncho in this lifetime, I decide to go for it. Not move permanently, but Icouldwork for the Christmas season and save some money.
I can box up most of my things and store them at Viola’s place till I get back, and take my clothes and the precious things I can’t live without along with me.
It’s a start at least.
I spend all afternoon clearing out my closet and sorting things into piles: toss, keep, donate. It’s crazy what you accumulate, but there’s something actually freeing about this whole thing. I’d normally be at work now, chained to the desk, mindlessly typing like a robot. I’m never home like this on a weekday, finding time to sort out my closet. So maybe it’s a turning point; something good to come out of this whole mess. I have to look on the bright side.
Maybe my silver lining is already starting to show.
One week later
Bailey sent me a one-way ticket to Jackson Hole the same day I agreed to come. I’ve spent the better half of the past week in disarray. I’m welcoming this break because this shit is hard.
I quickly learned that Kelto had always planned on leaving me in the lurch. Most of her things were already cleaned out from her bedroom, only leaving a few items of clothing and toiletries behind. I obviously didn’t have access to her room, so I had no freaking clue. The nerve of some people!
She certainly won’t be getting any of her security deposit back since I had to cover everything and the back rent, wiping out most of my savings. It didn’t change the eviction outcome, but at least I don’t have the rental agency hunting me down for money, and having a black mark against my name.
Things have moved at an alarming pace since being made redundant. I haven’t had a minute to spare, except for my daily chats to Bailey, Jane and Viola, and looking up the Lawless Christmas Tree Farm in between. I googled it. The website showed a family farm with acres of different varieties of cypress and conifer trees. Plus a beautiful lodge where you can stay, and a few self-contained cottages around the property.
On the ‘about us’ page showed a family photo of the Lawless family: grandparents Josephine and Gary; then Gary’s son, Frank, with his wife Sylvia, and their children; Isabelle and Zane – plus Maisie, the border collie. It’s a beautiful family photo taken by the edge of a creek with a plethora of beautiful trees behind them. Everyone is smiling, except Zane Lawless, well, if you can call one cheek being slightly lifted a smile. He wears a winter beanie and has a short beard, donning the same dark blue flannel shirt his grandpa and father are wearing.Ding-ding.That’s all I can say. He’s rugged, handsome, and looks like he’s been lifting weights since he was in diapers. He also has the most striking blue eyes, and a chiseled jaw.
Bailey definitely didn’t mentionhim. She told me about Isabelle though, and that she’s happy to hold the position for me until I get there. Even if I can only help them over the busy holiday season, she said they’d be grateful. I mean, how hard could it be?
A new town. A new jobifI want it. Bailey already told me I can live at her place for the first couple of weeks to settle in, but there is staff accommodation included if I take the job at Lawless Farms.
“You know, I have a feeling you might not want to leave Wyoming,” Viola sighs when we sit down for a drink. It’s my last night before I fly out to Jackson Hole. We’re eating pizza and drinking cheap wine at our own little soirée with paper cups.
“I totally agree,” Jane says, popping the cork on the bottle of champagne as I serve up the pizza. “Could this be the last time we ever see you?” She makes a sad face, and I know they support my decision to get out of town for the holidays, but they are clearly going to miss me just as much as I’m going to miss them.
“Of course not.” I laugh it off as I hand them both a plate. “I’m just envisioning a working vacation in the snow. It won’t be forever.”
“At a Christmas tree farm,” Viola states, like the words just can’t make their way out. I giggle along with them.
“I know, it sounds insane,” I agree. “But I get a good feeling about this. I’ll get to see Bailey, and my folks, and just be away for a little bit.”
They smile sadly. Then Jane asks, “Have you heard anymore from Duncan?”
I shake my head. He’s been finding new ways to message me even when I change numbers.
