Catching a glimpse of a legendary all-white reindeer is supposed to bring good luck.
Not for Georgia Greene.
As Georgia makes her way home for Christmas, a white reindeer dashes across the road in front of her, causing her to crash her car into a...
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Georgia
"This way, then," Sue said, nodding her chin up the stairs. She reached again for the bags—
"I've got it!" Georgia cried, finally beating her to it; she couldn't let Sue do any more for her. She snatched up the bags and took off up the stairs—and immediately regretted it. She staggered and nearly fell back but caught herself on the handrail just in time. Though she was the one who had packed it and wrestled it into her trunk, she had forgotten just how heavy it was.
Sue just chuckled. "Need some help, dearie?"
"No," Georgia grunted. "I-I've got this." She heaved her suitcase again, but it barely budged, making it up only one step.
"At least allow me to take the gifts," Sue said, holding her hand out.
Georgia chewed her lip for a moment but relented, handing over the tote bag full of presents carefully wrapped by the experts at the department store. They were light enough that she didn't feel as guilty about letting Sue carry them. Sue took them and sauntered up the stairs past her, chuckling all the way.
"I'll drop these in your room," Sue said as she neared the top of the stairs. "I'll come back to see if you need help."
Georgia sighed. What am I paying for that membership at the gym if I can't even lift this stupid bag? she thought. Screwing up all her strength, she lifted her suitcase again and climbed the stairs as her muscles screamed in protest. She made it to the top and dropped the bag, panting from the effort. Her arms would be complaining tomorrow. She made a mental note to book a weight-lifting class when she got back to the city.
On the second floor, Georgia could truly get a sense of the size of the house. The open landing split off into two halls that ran the entire length of the building, with many white doors dotted along each side. If even half the doors led to their own room, the place could've housed a small army.
Sue stepped back out into the hall from a nearby room. "Glad you made it," Sue said, still smirking. "I've got you in here. We've got plenty of rooms, as you can see, but I figured I'd put you near the stairs and bathroom so you don't get lost." She grinned and stepped aside to allow Georgia entrance into the room.
"Thanks," Georgia said, still a little breathless. Thankfully, now that she was on level ground, she could use the wheels on her suitcase. She pulled it along with her as she dipped inside the room Sue had chosen.
The room was small but cozy. Its walls were papered in a soft green print of curling vines. The ceiling was slightly sloped, except for the arch of the dormer window under which the bed was centred, flanked on each side by a spindly table topped with a little lamp and a wooden chair. Her tote bag of gifts had been left hanging from the handle of what looked to be a small closet across from the bed.
"I've still got to do up the bed for you," Sue explained, motioning to the bed, which only had a bare mattress. "Why don't you go shower while I do that?"
