“Good evening, Catherine, unfortunately I’m going to have to cancel the rest of my stay. Something’s come up and I need to fly out tonight. Can you take care of that for me?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that, I hope everything is alright. I’d be more than happy to take care of that for you. Would you like me to handle canceling the reservations for the bungalow by the pool and the show tickets and transportation reservations our concierge made for you also? We can handle everything as a courtesy if you’d like.”
“Catherine, that would be amazing, thank you so much. I’m heading up to grab my things, but belongings of the people in the other rooms I reserved will need to be gathered so they can retrieve them. I’ll be happy to pay any fees associated with clearing out the rooms.”
Understanding crossed Catherine's lovely face and she nodded with a small knowing smirk. “Of course, Mr. Winthorpe. I remember the other parties from when they checked in. I’ll be more than happy to take care of packing their things and storing them. We have a waiting list for the week, so as soon as I handle your check out, we’ll be fully booked. We’ll have their things ready for them to head home or find other accommodations. Don’t worry, we’ll handle everything.”
Tiff and her friends had been their usual terrible spoiled brats at check in and had obviously made an impression. It was time they all learned that actions had consequences and those on the receiving end of their actions were more than happy to dish out the consequences with a smile on their face.
After packing my bags and making a reservation for a flight to Oregon, I took a minute to look out the window atl the lights and people down below. All the people going so many places. All those stories happening all at once. Most of my life I had foundinspiration in scenes like this. I could look at the world below and spin plots that could sell.
But not today.
Now, standing in the window of this thousand dollars a night suite, I couldn’t think of any plot or story for myself. My book was stalled, my story at a stand still. I had spent so many years, decades, writing other people’s stories, I had ignored my own.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I turned away from the glass and picked up my bags and jacket. I had some work to get done on the rewrites of my next book, and this cabin in the woods woudl be the perfect, quiet place to get that done. I could put off my own life a little longer. The books were much more interesting anyway.
2
RAGNAR
“Yes, mother, I'm sure I want to work for Christmas this year. I don't want to be a downer for the holidays for everyone else. Just let me have some time and I'll be fine.”
I knew it would be difficult to explain my absence again this year to the family, but there had been no way I could have dealt with the holiday this year on my own. It made it harder than it already was when I could hear the genuine concern and love in my mom's voice.
“But, dearest, we miss you ever so much. Please reconsider. All your cousins and their families will be here and your brother and sister and their families are all making the trip too. You'll be the only one who won't be here again this year.”
“I know, mom, but please understand. I just can't face it yet.”
None of us had talked about the real reason I avoided the family, but it was always hanging there between us. This time, she did mention it though, so I knew she was very concerned about my mood.
“Dearest, it's been three years since we lost him. Chance was as much a member of the family as you. We all miss him terribly, but we want you to enjoy your life. He didn't want you to wallowin your grief. Losing a mate is the worst thing that can ever happen, I know, but the universe can give us second chances if we just open up to the idea.”
This conversation was at an end, whether she knew it or not. I refused to even consider the possibility she was proposing.
“Sorry mom, I'm driving through the mountains now and I'm about to go through a dead zone, if I lose you…” I pushed the button on my steering wheel to end the call. I felt guilty for two seconds, then turned my phone to silent. I knew she meant well, and I also knew she was right, but I wasn't ready to admit it. Losing Chance had been devastating enough for me, but having to be around families who were living the life I thought I would have, was still too much to endure.
Pulling into the front of my home for the next few weeks, I let out a sigh. This place with it's cozy cabins and undisturbed, quiet woods had been a needed refuge the last few years. The raven population nearby had been an added bonus for my work.
Pulling out the key they'd given me at the lodge, I smiled at how the new guy, Branson, had been all but sweating with nerves when I'd checked in. How he'd gotten the job if he was that unfamiliar with shifters was a mystery. I shook my head, then unlocked the door. Everything was almost the same as last year, down to the plaid blanket on the sofa. The only change this year was I'd requested they put me a small Christmas tree in the living room. I hadn't wanted anything to do with the holiday last year, but I felt maybe I could handle it this year.
Baby steps.
The whole cabin smelled like forest pine and wood smoke since someone had already been here and started the fire in the fireplace to warm the place for me. I had also requested the kitchen to be stocked for the time I was here since I didn't plan on leaving for anything other than walks or flights in the woods.As I closed the pantry door with a box of cookies for a snack, I heard a familiar tap tapping on the window and smiled.
“Hello, how are you on this fine winter day?”
I looked out the window to see a handsome raven sitting on the window sill cocking his head back and forth. He lifted his wings and gave me a gravelly squawk before replying, “Good day.” The voice was my own voice, mimicked exactly. It shook me for a split second until I recognized his crooked left toes and the small scratch on his large beak.
“Yes, good day, old friend. It's wonderful to see you. I'm glad you remember me this year. Are we up for a quick flight over the mountains this afternoon? Maybe you can tell me your name this year, you think that might be a plan?”
The majestic bird, almost the size of a hawk, sat still, laser focused eyes on me for at least a minute, until he shook his feathers, then turned to fly away. He liked me, and didn't mind visiting me, but he still hadn't decided to trust me completely. I'd been trying to communicate with the members of the flock, unsuccessfully, for a while, years to be exact. I knew other shifters who had been able to communicate with non-shifter animals of their same kind, but it had been hit or miss with most, and the bird species had been particularly tricky. The experts had still not found whether the issue was one of understanding or whether the birds just hadn’t deemed us worthy of communication. I was leaning toward the latter.
“Okay, maybe not with the name, I get it.”
Turning away from the kitchen window, I went back outside to unload the car and get settled in my home for the next few weeks. As I unpacked the bags of supplies and clothes I'd brought I thought about how this place had provided refuge from all the memories back home.
Chance and I had settled down together in a beautiful home in the South. We had several acres of forest for me to fly andfor him to run. He'd been a fox shifter and while the old fables had always pitted the fox against all the other animals, Chance never had a bad bone in his body. My Chance had been loving and sweet and too good for this world. My decision to sell has been one of the hardest things I'd done. I had liked my home and hadn't minded being there, but it had held so many ghosts and memories, even now. I'd signed the closing documents on my way out of town the day before yesterday and had felt so many emotions since. I'd stay here for a few weeks, then decide where I wanted to land after that.
