CHAPTER 4 part 2: SAVING CHRISTMAS MANOR

Mix-ups, cookies and no room at the inn

Ben arrived to his hotel at three in the afternoon, well, if you could call it a hotel. It was more like a bed and breakfast. Hopestown didn’t have any major hotels. It was fine for the few days he would be in the area, and then off to the ski resort.

“Good Afternoon. I’m Benjamin Spencer, and I’m checking in.”

“Oh hello, Mr. Spencer. Did anyone call you? Nan Parker called us yesterday and canceled your reservation. She said that you would not be needing the room, as you would be staying at Noel Manor with her.” A smiling twenty something looked back at him.

“Pardon? No, no one called me about the reservation change. I didn’t agree to that. How can you just cancel the reservation like that? I will speak to Mrs. Parker. In the meantime, please reinstate my original reservation here, as I won’t be staying at Noel Manor.” Ben snapped. He couldn’t believe this woman had done that without consulting him.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Spencer. The bed and breakfast is now full. There are no rooms available.”

“Of course, nothing else is available. What about the Inn down the way?” Ben was pissed.

“Sure. I’ll give them a call.” Said the clerk, and with that, she went into the back room to check.

Ben dialed Nan. She had no right to change his hotel accommodations like that. Not a great way to start out the weekend. In that moment, Ben realized Nan Parker might be more trouble than originally anticipated.

“Mrs. Parker, Ben Spencer.”

“Mr. Spencer. How are you? Have you arrived in our little town?”

“Yes, Mrs. Parker. I’m here, and I’m at the bed and breakfast. However, I have been told that you canceled my reservation without consulting me or getting my consent. Is that true?”

“Yes, Mr. Spencer. I thought it would be nice for you to stay with me. I want you to better understand Noel Manor. The only way to do that is by staying here as a guest. I am all alone in this house so having company this time of year is a treat for me.”

“Mrs. Parker, while I appreciate your very generous offer, I am not going to be able to stay with you, and would have appreciated you running this decision by me. The clerk here is calling the inn as we speak. I’ll be staying there, thank you.”

“Um excuse me, Mr. Spencer. I just called the inn, and they no availabilities. The only rooms available would be at Noel Manor. I’m very sorry.” The clerk sheepishly backed up from Ben as the vein in his forehead began to throb.

“Well, that is just perfect then, Mr. Spencer. You will stay at Noel Manor. We are scheduled this evening to have dinner around 6pm, so why don’t you head over now, and we can get you settled in before dinner. We will see you in a bit.”

“What, no wait…”

She had already hung up, before Ben could say another word. Ben couldn’t believe that just happened. He wasn’t about to stay at the very property he was trying to buy out. Further, he hadn’t gone to law school just to be bullied around by the person he was here to convince to sell. So, he decided to call the Ski resort. It was only a 30-minute drive from Noel Manor, and he could drive back and forth. Five minutes later, an irate Ben was back in the car, and on the way to Noel Manor. He couldn’t believe it. The ski resort was also booked until he was set to arrive on Tuesday evening. Just my damn luck.

All was going according to Nan’s plan. Ben might be an attorney for a big New York City company, but she was the heart-beat of this town, and of the county. She had friends everywhere, so she did a little background research on Benjamin Spencer. She knew he was from rural Virginia, and had been in New York City for well over a decade. He had gone to New York for college, stayed around for law school, and had gotten a job right after passing the bar. Ben was incredibly smart, and capable, and from all accounts of both his academic and professional achievement. He had been working for Mr. Frost for seven years, and had risen through the ranks of the company into the Office of the General Counsel’s office, and then to General Counsel.

Happy Reading! Until next time...All my healing love,

K.