Make The Season Bright Bunk'd

Confessions and Carriages

When they approached the navy-blue door of the Martinez residence for the second time that cold day, there was a sheet of notebook paper taped to the center of it. It was the same type of paper the letter that Ravi had received in November had been written on. Lou tugged it off the door and handed it to Ravi.

"They're at the snowflake parade at the resort Sam works at," Ravi said. He read a line from the note, "'You're welcome to wait. We hope you do.'" He lowered the note and looked around the snow-covered yard. The flakes had stopped falling. Now there was just the occasional cold wind that kicked up a bit of powder.

"Look," Lou said, squatting down to the envelope poking out from behind a ceramic rabbit wearing a Santa hat at the base of the front door. She opened it and found a silver housekey. She asked, "Do you want to wait?"

He eyed the house. The sound of Priya's medical bag and purse hitting the floor replayed in his head. From the corner of his eye, he could see the lights on the neighboring houses twinkle on. He turned and looked up at the darkening sky.

Lou decided for them as she stuck the key in the lock. "It's freezing and I want some of those cookies she mentioned." She pressed open the door. "Hello?" She called out, peeking around the doorframe. The hallway to her right was empty. She stepped inside and gasped. "Cookies!"

Ravi followed behind her, shutting the front door and turning the lock. He saw the tray of cookies on the mantle, where those picture frames that Sam had shown him used to be. A part of him wished the pictures that he had tried so hard to avoid seeing were still there because he could already feel himself forgetting what Priya looked like. The other part of him was a little upset that he cared to remember her face.

Lou picked up the tray of cookies and looked down at the floor. She used her foot to point at an arrow made of washi tape on the floor. "A trail! Oh boy, I love a good hunt." She handed Ravi the tray of cookies before tossing her coat onto the grey couch. "Come on!"

The arrows led to the fridge in the kitchen. Lou opened the door and found two glasses of milk. There was a sticky note shaped like a heart attached to one of the glasses. It read, "Take me to the garage." There was another set of glasses below that held water and had a note that read, "Or me. If milk's not your thing."

Lou grabbed all four glasses and said, "Cute! To the garage!" She did a mental recap of the outside of the house where she drove up and then glanced around the kitchen. "That door there!"

Ravi made his way to the door with the tray in hand. He balanced it against his side as he opened the door for Lou to enter.

"Oh! This is just adorable," Lou said, placing all four glasses on a card table that had been propped up for them. There was a red-and-green tablecloth that barely stretched across the tabletop. On that cloth were plates of various shaped crackers, cubes of yellow and white cheeses, sliced apples, and carrot sticks. Colorful Christmas lights were strung along all four walls. Patio furniture was placed neatly in the center of the room, around a flatscreen television. There was a sectional with spongy looking cushions in a Hawaiian floral pattern. The garage had heating because it was toasty and cozy inside.

Lou cooed, "And they made you a special sign!" She pointed at the poster on the garage door: Welcome, Ravi! "It's like they set up a little welcome back party for you."

He placed the tray of cookies on the table. He removed his jacket and placed it neatly on a folding chair. His face was neutral as he looked over the food, lights, and seating. "A party that no one's around for," he said in monotone. He sat in the corner of the sectional.

Lou loaded up a plate of crackers and fruit as she said, "Maybe Priya figured this was the best way to ease you into it." She plucked a gingerbread man off the cookie tray and balanced it on top of her glass of milk. "We kind of ditched her last time. Which was fine. I think she just wants to do this on your terms."