Happily Ever Christmas

~Fifteen~

I made my kids come with me into the bathroom - which was spacious and opulent like something straight out of a dream, but I didn't have time to appreciate any of that right now - and I had Bradley turn around while I changed from my plaid pajamas into my jeans, my brown suede boots, and my fluffy white sweater that I had been planning to wear today.

Nice of Nick to pack up our things before he kidnapped us from our family home.

"Listen to me, you guys. Stay close, okay?" I whispered to them as I hastily dressed, hopping on one foot as I pulled on my knee-high boots and then threw my auburn hair up into a ponytail.

Olivia sighed, looking down at the floor as she traced the toe of her shiny black shoe over the gray marble.

"Are you listening, Olivia?"

Another heavy sigh. "I'm listening, Mom."

"We have got to get out of here, okay?"

"But Mama, you don't understand. It's amazing here-!"

"Sweetie, your grandparents and Nana and Papa and everyone is gonna be worried sick about us, okay?" I squatted down in front of her, still whispering. I tried to smile reassuringly as I squeezed her little shoulders.

I needed to secure her trust and be her friend right now. I didn't need to scare her or push her away with my own panic.

"Do you understand, pumpkin? Bradley, come here, sweetie, hold my hand." When Bradley and Olivia were both holding either of my hands, I made sure they were both looking at me. "I need you guys to trust me here and listen up, okay? We need to slip out of here, as quickly and quietly as possible. So I need you both to stay close to me and when I say so, we need to run. Okay?"

I needed to find a phone to call for help, I thought privately. But I needed to know that my kids would cooperate in the worst-case scenario.

My kids looked at each other and while Bradley seemed wildly less interested, Olivia sighed heavily once more.

"Okay." She said, and I got the distinct impression that she was just indulging me.

"But come on, just let us show you and you'll see there's nothing to freak out about, okay?" My daughter tugged on my hand and I let them drag me out of the bathroom.

I glanced back at the windows looking out over a white world with towering mountains. I had already considered trying to escape out the window, but we were very high up and I just really didn't see it happening.

There was nowhere to run.

*~*~*~*

Fully dressed now, I grimly told Nick to lead the way. He had pounded down a full pot of coffee at this point and had dusted the ash mostly out of his hair.

He yawned, though, and looked like he was about to fall asleep on his feet. "Alright, ready ya'll?"

He shepherded us out into hallway; a long, wide hallway done in shades of dull gold and varnished bronze, with warm, brown wooden paneling.

We passed door after door until we came to a set of double doors at the end of the corridor, adorned with twin holiday wreaths that had been dusted in thick silver glitter.

The scent of pine, cinnamon sugar, and apple cider was strong and grew stronger as we approached the set of double doors.

My kids grinned up at me before they helped each other push the doors open.

I slowly stepped out over the threshold, gasping softly at what I found.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Happiest all of the holidays to all of the people!

HRH