Suddenlyeveryone in the car was more on alert, watching exactly where they were going, all with confused faces.Theirdriver made a left turn, then drove past the main buildings for the hotel, past cottages, and turned right onto a road that ran slightly uphill but alongside the ocean to where several mansions stood tall and proud, and pulled to a stop at one.
“We’restaying in a mansion?”Kelliexclaimed.
Theirdriver got out and opened their door, andParkerand the others all climbed out. “Youcan head inside,” she said. “I’llget your luggage taken care of.”
Theother limo had pulled up right behind them, and the twelve of them stared up at the mansion in awe as they made their way to the front door.WhenGrahamandMeritfirst toldParkerabout the retreat, this wasn’t exactly what he had pictured.
Grahamopened the front door right as they reached it and said, “Welcome!Comeon, come inside—we’re excited to get this week started!”
Parkerstepped into a tall foyer of a mansion that opened in one direction to a living room and the other to a twisting staircase leading to a second floor, with a toweringChristmastree nestled in the curve of the staircase, all of which looked like aChristmasexplosion had gone off.Thisplace was even more decorated for the season than hisGrandmaInes’shouse always was.
Itappeared that escaping all ofChristmaswas going to be more difficult than he had planned.
Seven
Kelli
WhenGrahamwelcomedKelliand the others into the mansion, he immediately led them to a gigantic room that had a family room on one side, a dining room on the other, and a kitchen in the middle, andKelliwas in love.Thedining table seated sixteen people.Sixteen!Alunch buffet was set up along one side of the room, which was good becauseKelliwas starving.
Oncethey had their plates filled with a variety of cute little sandwiches and different kinds of salads, they all sat down at the big table.WithGraham,Merit, and a woman who didn’t come in with them but was looking atMeritlike she was in love, they nearly filled the entire table.
Fora while, they just chatted while they ate, and it felt like heaven, being surrounded by so many happy people.Parkerwas sitting straight across from her, and he looked like he was enjoying it, too.Then, as they got close to finishing,Grahamstood up, and everyone stopped talking.
“Welcome, everyone.We’rethrilled you joined us thisChristmas.”
Someonein aRoyalPalmsResortuniform appeared from some side room and started clearing away everyone’s plates while he spoke.
“Iunderstand how it feels to not have anywhere to go forChristmas.Ispent two years living away from family, and the holidays were especially rough.Iknow how it can make you long for all the traditions of home.Orhow it can make you not want anything to do withChristmasat all.Icompletely understand that some of you are going to want to gravitate toward activities at the resort that don’t have to do withChristmas, and you plan to skip anything we do here that’sChristmassy, too.”
Fromthe corner of her eye, she sawParkerexhale in relief like he was so glad thatGrahamunderstood.Didhe not likeChristmas?
Meritstood up. “Ourgoal,” he said as he motioned between him andGraham, “is to make sure that you don’t.”
Kellididn’t want to be obvious by turning to look atParkerso she couldn’t see his response toMerit’sdeclaration, but she chuckled inside knowing that he probably wasn’t thrilled about it.
“Okay,make sure you don’tis kind of harsh.We’regoing toencourageyou to participate.Becausewe know that when we get to the end of this week, you’re going to be happier and more refreshed if you do.”
“Nowhop up,”Grahamsaid. “Wehave explaining to do, and explaining is always better with a slideshow!”
Everyonelooked at each other, seeming just as wary of the slideshow as she was.Especiallybecause this was supposed to be a break from work.Butthey still stood, of course, looking around to see where they should go.
“Don’tlook so afraid,”Meritsaid. “Graham’spresentations aren’t boring.”
Joy, a quiet, sweet, and adorable woman who had ridden in the same limo asKelli, walked up toKelliand said, “Idon’t know a soul here.Doyou?”
“JustParker.”Shemotioned at him as they walked toward the couches on the family room side of the room.
“Heis one good-looking guy.”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “Ifonly he wasn’tParker.”
“Oh.He’sbad news, then?”
Sheshook her head. “Onlyfor me.”
Thecouches were a giant half-circle facing a fireplace with a hugeTVabove it.AnundecoratedChristmastree stood next to the fireplace, looking regal and ready to be loved.Kellisat on the couch with everybody else and, once again, realized she had sat withParkerin her line of sight.
“Welcometo theZentCubeChristmasCelebration!”Grahamsaid, the first slide of his slideshow appearing on the screen.Itwas of each of their faces—pulled from their employeeIDbadges—on tiny bodies, looking like bobble-heads dancing.Thesound of a crowd cheering played with it, and everyone laughed, includingKelli.Sheknew the cheering wasn’t real, but still, it made it feel more festive and exciting.
