Even though it would be the biggest coincidence – or stroke of luck – ever, that I just happened to bump into these people in time to overhear a convenient cancelation?
Oblivious to her emotional roller-coaster, the man went on. “Oh, the Thompsons? They were going to check in tonight and stay for two weeks, weren’t they? Man, that sucks. I hope you can at least get someone in for some of that time.”
It was all Poppy could do not to clutch at his arm and rip the phone from his hands.
A last-minute cancelation from someone who was meant to stay somewhere for two weeks? So itisa hotel booking? Or something? At this point I’ll take a shack by the side of the road if it has a proper roof!Or even if it doesn’t!
Instead, she turned to the woman, who was clearly surprised by her sudden intensity.
“I’m sorry to eavesdrop, but what place is he talking about?”
“Oh,” the woman said, looking mildly surprised, but not offended. “That’s my husband, Caleb. He’s just on the phone with some friends of ours – they run a B&B over in Girdwood Springs, just up the mountain. Sounds like they had a last-minute cancelation.”
Poppy tried very,veryhard not to heavy breathe through her nostrils.
“Um. Well. I hate to ask, it’s just thatmyaccommodation booking somehow had a terrible mix-up, in the sense that the booking apparently doesn’t exist. And I don’t really have anywhere else to go. And Ireallydon’t want to get back on the bus – if there’s even another bus – and have to spend my whole vacation sleeping in the airport terminal. And I know it’s rude and we don’t even know each other, but –”
She trailed off, suddenly unable to bring herself to finish the sentence. She was very aware she was babbling, and that this nice lady was probably looking for any way she could excuse herself from this conversation as quickly as possible – forget about her asking her friend with the B&B if Poppy could have the now-free room!
But to her surprise, the woman laughed.
“Oh, sure – I’m sure Natasha will be happy to have the room filled up. Give me a moment and I’ll grab the phone off this guy here and let her know we have a guest for her. Looks like it’s your lucky day.”
Her eyes sparkled a little as she said it, with a look that Poppy would have calledknowing, if there was anything for her to beknowingabout.
Right now, however, Poppy couldn’t say she cared.
“Oh myGod,thank you,” she said, knowing full well she was about to start babbling again. Instead, she forced herself to bite her lip to keep any embarrassing words where they should be.
“No problem, it’ll only take a moment,” the woman said. “Oh, and you mentioned a bus – the last bus of the day up the mountain has come and gone, I’m sorry to say. You wouldn’t happen to want a ride, would you?”
***
“Thank you so much – I really can’t express how grateful I am. To both of you,” Poppy said, meaning every word.
Smiling, her new friends Kira and Caleb shook their heads.
“Think nothing of it,” said Kira. “We couldn’t exactly leave you in Gunter’s Gulch without a roof over your head.”
“But this… this…”
Poppy gestured wildly about her, trying to encapsulate all the – thethis. The B&B wasgorgeous, not to mention the fact that there was a forest and actual, proper snow. And just to top it all off, the owners had offered her a discount after Caleb had explained her situation over the phone. It was all beyond her wildest dreams.
“We were headed up this way anyway, if that makes you feel any better,” Caleb said – and, strangely enough, it did. “We live in the area.”
“Well, I still really appreciate it,” said Poppy, as she tried to turn the tiny numbers on the key safe with the tip of herfingernail. “You helped a stranger out – and a cranky one, at that. A lot of people wouldn’t’ve.”
“Well, you know what they say – a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met,” said Caleb, before letting out a gentleoofas Kira dug her elbow into his ribs. “But seriously, I know what it’s like to have a run of bad luck. Sometimes, all you need to turn things around is to have someone who’s on your side.”
He looked down at Kira with obvious love in his eyes, and Poppy had a feeling that there was a story there.
“Anyway, you must be exhausted – we should let you get to your room instead of making you stand around in the snow,” Kira said. “Did you get your key?”
Poppy nodded. “And the owners sent me instructions on how to find my room. I should be okay from here.”
Thanking them again, Poppy saw them off with a grateful wave, before lugging her suitcase up onto the verandah.
B&B sweet B&B,she thought with an almost delirious happiness. It had been an excruciatingly long day, and it was now past dinnertime – she was exhausted. She had to sit down on the front step to pull her soggy boots off, before stowing them in the cupboard and slipping her feet into the fluffy slippers laid out by the front door.
