The Holiday Switch(53)

“Of course. Nice to see you both again, Teddy and Lila.”

After a round of goodbyes, Kira and Ms. V head to the back exit.

“Okay, you can roll up that tongue and put it back in your mouth,” Teddy says.

“How could you not sit there and absorb the greatness?”

He snickers. “She’s the PR rep to the stars, not a star herself.”

“That’s pretty dang close.”

“And,” he continues, “Jonah and Remy are just people.”

“Teddy. Remy Castillo has survived Hollywood. And she looks like us. You saw the film. She was amazing in it.”

He shrugs and fusses with the tabletop display of lip balms.

“Wait a sec, you still haven’t watched the movie?” When he doesn’t answer, I press, “Did you at least read the book?”

He shakes his head, and the expression on his face loses its playfulness; his lips thin into a serious expression. “I’m too busy climbing. I have a competition, remember? Which is much more important than an old movie. In fact, I need to go to sleep. Let’s get this place cleaned up.”

“Oh, so now you’re being responsible?” I tease.

He counters with a deadpan expression. “I did learn from the best.”

Something is up. He’s acting like old Teddy again. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.” He bends down to pick up merchandise from the floor. “It’s late, and I’ve got an early morning. Time me, Santos. We’ll be out of here in an hour.”

    “Fine.” But he doesn’t hear my answer, because he’s already left my side.



Count out register—check

Wipe down counters—check

Complete go-backs—check

Tidy up break room—check

Vacuum—check



“So?” Teddy stares at me in earnest, holding a dust rag. “All done?”

I look up from the laminated list. “I think so.”

A grin splits his face. “Ha—didn’t I call it? I called it. One hour.”

And despite my best efforts not to inflate his ego, I say, “You called it. You were right.”

“Am I the fastest closer at the Bookworm Inn or what?”

“This is ridiculous. I haven’t closed with everyone.” Then I raise a finger. “Wait. I have closed with everyone. Still, the point is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous but right.”

When Teddy is motivated, he is an entirely different person. His brief sullen mood earlier has disappeared. Not once did he and I argue during closing, nor did he question anything on the checklist. “Now if you were this agreeable from the start, things could have been different.”

    “I like to keep people on their toes.” He lifts the rag. “I’ll put this away and lock up. Where did you park?”

“At the entrance to the parking lot.”

“I’ll walk you out, then. I’ve got my boots with me.”

“You don’t have to, but okay. See you at the back door.” I grab my things and turn off the lights. It’s just past ten p.m., and there’s still enough time to get home and type up my next blog post in the peace and quiet.

Teddy waits for me at the back exit, which he’s opened to the white expanse of the parking lot. There are solid inches of snow on the ground. The wheels of Ms. Velasco’s car, parked next to the Inn, are half buried, and the flakes continue to fall like a sheer curtain.

“Crap.” It’s going to be a slippery drive home.

“Let me go grab a shovel.” Teddy disappears toward the Inn.

I slip on my winter boots and step out onto the pathway. The snow gives with the slightest touch, which is a good sign.

The door creaks behind me, and I turn. “The snow isn’t bad. Just some drift.”

“Actually.” It’s Ms. Velasco at the door instead of Teddy. “I got a call that we have a couple of felled trees. Jamie and Lina, who are trying to come up the hill to work the night shift, can’t get through. We’ve got to wait for Clyde to get up here and move the trees before you can go down the hill, but he says it will be about three hours.”

Clyde works the Inn’s landscaping.

“Oh no.” There goes my night.

“I’m sorry, honey. Do you want me to call your parents to say you’ll be late? You’re probably super tired. Maybe I can put you in a room…Oh darn.” She bites her lip.

    I come to the same conclusion at the same time she does.

“All of our rooms are booked,” she says. “I’d say stay in our cabin, but it’s quite tight in there with me and Teddy and his things. But you can hang out in the gift shop if you’d like. It’s safe, and you can lock the door, watch movies to pass the time until Clyde can clear the driveway.” The door opens and Teddy appears behind her. “Can you wait with Lila? Now that Jaime and Lina can’t come in, I’m on duty for the first part of the night. We’re short as it is, and we’ve got a full house.”

“Yeah, of course, Tita Lou.”

She wraps her arms around Teddy’s shoulders. “I’m so lucky you’re here with me this winter. You’ve saved me more times than I can count, even if I don’t know where you are half the time.”