Happier A Christmas Love Story

Chapter 2 (Jake)

I checked my watch for the 5th time in 20 minutes, listening to my father drone on in meetings was not how I wanted to spend my time. I yawned and was thrilled when my father dismissed the meeting. Ever since I can remember my dad always talked about me taking over his company. He never once asked me if I wanted to take it over, He just assumed that I would. After Mom passed I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't want the company, it had become his life after she died. 

Just as I am walking out the door I feel a hand on my shoulder I look back and it's my Dad. 

"So Son what did you think about the presentation?" He asked excitedly. 

"It was great Dad" I try to give my most convincing smile, "Anyway I am going to head out to that retreat with my friends, I will see you in a few days Dad" As I am about to leave I hear him say "In a few weeks all this will be yours Son" My heart drops because I can't tell him the truth. I smile weakly and nod, turning to leave the room and head towards my office to grab the bag I had pre-packed. I told my dad that I was going on a retreat with friends but I was actually going by myself to a cabin in the middle of nowhere to be alone and come to terms with the fact I will be signing my life away to a company I don't even want. 

The parking garage is a few levels down, I get to my jeep in no time and head out towards the cabins. The sun starts to set as I follow the GPS to the cabin grounds. The silence is getting to be too much for me so I turn on the radio. 

"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms, Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song, When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful, I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight "

I recognize the song, its Perfect by Ed Sheeran, It is a calm enough song that it relaxes while I drive. I've just reached the cabin grounds as it starts to snow. I enter the registration lodge and see an older lady at the counter. 

"Hi I am here to check into my cabin, my name is Jake Snyder," I say politely.

"Ah yes right here, the cabin you have rented was double booked, and we do not have any other cabins available." I sigh loudly, irritated that I won't get to spend the weekend alone, I probably am stuck with some person who is just interested in drinking and trashing the place, "The lady renting with you has already checked in, she has already said she doesn't mind the double booking as there are two rooms in the cabin, We do apologize for the double booking" I look at this kind women and cant help but see it wasn't really her fault and hey if the other guest was ok with it then I don't see an issue either. 

"I don't mind either ma'am and no need for apologies I understand" I give her a warm sincere smile. 

"Please call me Martha Hun" She smiles back as she slides me the key to the cabin. I turn and walk out of the lodge and get in the vehicle to drive over to the cabin. I see a faint light coming through the window. when I get out of the Jeep I lock it and move towards the cabin. The door was already unlocked. I enter the cabin to find a girl sleeping on the couch by the fireplace, I quietly go upstairs to find my room, when I walk into the first room I saw a bag and a carton of cigarettes with a pack missing on the bed. "This must be the room she chose" I whisper to myself. I go to the other room and leave my things in there. I tiptoe downstairs to try and get a good look at who I will be spending the weekend with. 

When I enter the living room I notice her neck is at a weird angle, I do not want a cranky girl with a kink in her neck tomorrow. Gently as not to wake her I slip my hand underneath her head and place a pillow under it so that it is at a more normal angle and won't cause her pain. In doing this though I discovered her face to be slightly damp, more specifically her cheeks like she had been crying. As I bring the blanket more over her shoulders I can't help but wonder "What is her story, what did she come out here to get away from". 

I decide that I don't want to be in the room standing right by her when she wakes up but right before I leave the room I slowly remove her glasses and put them on the coffee table. 

To my left, I see the kitchen and decide to go make myself a cup of coffee. There is a window seat in the kitchen, I decide to sit there and look out the window, as I gaze upon the falling snowflakes I wonder how I am going to admit to my father that I don't want to take over the company. With my coffee finished I place the cup in the sink and go and sit back down on the window seat. I must have dozed off because the next time I open my eyes it is bright out and I am covered with a blanket. I look around the kitchen and my eyes land on the figure with blonde hair sitting out on the heated deck area. 

I wrap the blanket around my self and shuffle over towards the deck, I slowly open the door and make my way to the chair beside her. 

"So I woke up to my glasses on the table and a pillow under my head, that's not how I fell asleep," she says while breaking the silence.

"I put a pillow under your head so you didn't kink your neck and I put your glasses on the table so that you didn't break them or something, I just figured it was the least I could do considering you know we are spending the weekend sharing the cabin. 

She takes a drag from her cigarette, "Thank you, you were shivering when I woke up so I put the blanket on you, I hope it helped. My name is Erica, Erica Bridges." she extends the hand that isn't holding her cigarette out to shake mine. 

I shake her hand "I'm Jake, Jake Snyder"

"So Jake, what brings you here?"