The Man I Met on Holiday

Chapter 02 -Break

It took me a few seconds to process that information. The owner of the place himself worked at the reception and still served guests? It could only be a joke.

"I look like I’m laughing?" I asked him, hoping he’d end it. I was probably just trying to find a way to escape my complaint. Likewise, I was determined to complain. He wouldn’t stop me.

"I can get the property documents with my name for you to confirm if you want," he said seriously, hoping I would confirm. He wasn’t surprised when I agreed and asked to do it. "I can catch, of course, but I can call the police for invasion of privacy, perhaps even for ideological falsehood," he mentioned, with a malicious smile. In that moment, I knew I hated him. I just stared at him as he walked away. I knocked on the door in his face. f**k if he really was the owner.

I sat on the couch in my apartment. I needed to unpack and get things in order. My phone turned on, triggering a notification. I could see from the pop-up that it was Noah, my ex-husband, asking if I had arrived safely. As if I was going to reply. Being divorced didn’t help much; when the families of both supported the relationship, they were all close and even worked together. When the opportunity to take that trip came up, I didn’t even hesitate.

The breakfast was delicious, I should admit. Was it Theo who made it too? It wasn’t hard to imagine, considering the previous situations. Anyway, my anger had already dissipated. Maybe I was just dumping my traumas on someone who didn’t even know the reasons.

I looked in the mirror and, for a few seconds, I remembered having painted my hair black. Theo was right; I was even more beautiful as a redhead. You should admit it. At the same moment, I heard a noise at the door and saw a folder being passed under it. I walked suspiciously, but after all, I was a writer. Of course, I wouldn’t resist.

I approached and grabbed it. There was a note in it. "It’s a copy, but still… Sorry." A signature from the inn was just below. Theo.

In the folder, there were several documents, some family photos, and the deed of the inn. In fact, Theo was indeed the owner of the place. s**t, I had been very rude. Before closing the folder and preparing to apologize, I couldn’t help but notice a different document from the others. There was a will in the name of the Weiss couple. So I understood he was an orphan.

Between calling the reception and going in person, I chose to go in person. Unfortunately for me, Theo wasn’t there. One of the employees informed me that he had taken a break, and then I went to the outdoor area. It was not long before I found him smoking and gazing at the horizon of distant mountains. As soon as he saw me, he coughed up and put out his cigarette immediately, while I threw it into the small layer of snow on the ground.

"You didn’t have to do that," I said, getting closer. "I’ve gotten used to people smoking everywhere. Why would it be different here?" I asked rhetorically. He was visibly upset, not knowing what to say. "What? I am not a ghost", I said, laughing, trying to show that the previous tension had already dissipated and I was no longer a "threat".

"I just wasn’t expecting you to show up. I’m on my break, and it doesn’t seem like you like being outdoors," he remarked. He was right. It was strange, because it was almost as if he knew me. "Am I right?"

I couldn’t hide the smile. "Well, there are exceptions," I said, getting closer. "But I’m not going to ask for a cigarette or anything like those romance movies." I was already losing the line of what I was really doing there.

"We’re in the most romantic time of year. You don’t like Christmas, so I assume romance isn’t really your thing either," he said, looking at me. Theo could be well-educated when he wanted. Noah was the same in the beginning…

"I’m a writer. I know about romance, so I can say that it doesn’t work for me. I came to stay here to escape all that s**t," I said, staring at the horizon as if I really believed it.

"You came to stay in one of the busiest inns at Christmas? Didn’t you see the website or the brochure?" he asked. I felt my heart racing. It wasn’t possible that I had made that grotesque mistake, was it? I was hoping it would be another one of his funny tricks.

"I chose this inn because it is high up on the mountain. And isolated", I remarked, as I looked around and realized there were more cars than I expected and that many people were coming and going, not to mention who was in the hall.

"Well, you’re right about the first part, but isolated? Not really. Unfortunately, no," he said, sighing. "It’s always a busy time. In fact, it’s like this all year round, but in December, you know how it is," he said.

"Don’t you like Christmas, Theo?" I dared to ask. I’ve suspected that since I’d interacted with him in the lobby. Likewise, I didn’t know many people with the same opinion as me, and that was fascinating.

"I hate Christmas," he said, staring at the horizon. He seemed more serious than before. For a second, I felt like it was a mistake that I showed up at his break. I was silent for a while, not knowing what to say. "Ah, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. I mean, a guest shouldn’t bother with an employee’s opinion," he said, trying to get around the situation.

"Theo?" I called him, realizing he was pulling away. He was probably already at the end of his break. He stopped, turned back, and stared at me. "Do you know a good place to have lunch?" I asked. To my surprise, he smiled, as if he knew exactly what to do. I felt my heart heat up, but I was sure it was just in my head.

The Christmas didn’t dare to catch me.