The Arrivals Begin

With the Germain’s, now interested in doing something together. 

Jody went on with her day.   

Gabriella was in her office organizing the bookkeeping paperwork to go offsite for completion. With the inability to use computers reliably. This was necessary. 

Three hours later, the first of their new guests appeared in a flurry of snowflakes as the main doors opened and shut behind them. A young man stood there. He had his face bundled up, and they could see only his startlingly bright green eyes. 

He set his luggage on the floor to the side. With a glance, a round of the space he’d just entered.  

Once he noticed Jody at the front desk, he moved towards her while removed moved his gloves. Jody knew enough that one piece of luggage he had set was a travelling easel and paintbox. Which meant this was Daniel Davis, the artist, come to check-in. “Good morning, Mister Davis. Are you ready to check-in?” 

“Yes, please.” Jody opened the guest book and made a couple of notes before passing it and a pen to their latest guest. “Please sign here if everything is correct, and I will see if I can get someone to help you with getting your luggage to your room. Is that all of it?” 

“Sadly, no, it’s not. But I would appreciate some help with it. Thank you.” 

It wasn’t surprising when Jody rang a bell and Donny came to see what needed she needed help with. As they had so few staff it didn’t surprise Jody at all. “Hi, what’s up, Jody?” Donny asked good naturedly.

“Mister Davis, this is Mister Donny St. James, co-owner of the Blue Moon Inn.” 

“Mister St. James, Mister Davis needs some help to transport his luggage to his rooms. There There’s more luggage in his car too.” 

“Well, that we can correct. Let’s get you settled in. You are the artist who is staying with us?” Donny’s warm nature helped him relate naturally with most of their guests.

“Yes, I am.”  

“Beautiful. Let me just get my coat, and we’ll get you settled in. We’ve readied the sunroom for you. You’ll have a well-lit, and private place for working. We usually keep it closed in winter because of the cold and all. But we will give you a key to it, and you can work whenever the mood strikes you. There are space heaters in there for your comfort.” 

The young man nodded with a grunt, and he bundled himself up. 

Donny retrieved a coat from behind the front desk. He motioned for the new guest to lead the way. 

“This Inn is like a Christmas card. I didn’t think places like this existed anymore.” 

“It’s a struggle with the inability to use technology that gives us time to deal with the extra details. Many avoided coming here as they preferred the excitement of the resort. But we are a place to get away from everything, and that includes technology.” 

With the second blast of winter snow into the Blue Moon’s lobby, they had gone to fetch his luggage, and silence settled in again. 

Now was the time for Jody to turn on the old-fashioned radio behind her and let quiet Christmas music filter through the first floor of the Inn. It transformed the entire space and seemed to set every shiny thing off twinkling. She knew it was all in her mind, but she always thought that a little soft music woke up something and danced with pleasure. 

So, with their latest guest being settled, it was one down and three more to go. The Germains had left for the shops over two hours ago after having a leisurely breakfast. After Jody had spoken to them, the bickering seemed to have stopped for now. She hoped it would continue for them as their day went by.   

One more rush from the door as Donny and their new guest returned with the last load of luggage. A quick sort and Donny informed Jody, “Mind this luggage here. I’ll show Mister Davis to the sunroom first and drop this off there.” 

“Yes, of course, Sir.” The Blue Moon staff always tried to stay formal in front of the guests, but they dropped the formality as soon as they were not around. It wasn’t as simple as that, as there were slip-ups occasionally. But no one had ever called them out on it. 

Once they disappeared, it only took a few moments before the front door whooshed opened and in walked an elegantly dressed woman. With a hat and coat fur-lined to the elegant leather driving gloves, she could only be one person in Jody’s eyes. Mind you, Jody knew her from years past too. “Miss Klein! Mind the luggage. Mister St. James is a little swamped with helping a guest settle in. We’re so pleased you made it this year.” Jody hit the bell three times this time.  

It was the signal that Gabriella needed to come up front. Usually, Jody would use first names with April. Still, she knew the act around new guests and got a kick out of the show and later dichotomy of everyday life they all lived. 

With all the signals given to April and her quick conspirator’s smile, it made her look like that cat that had eaten the cream. She announced to the lobby in an almost echoing voice, “Oh, thank you, my dear. It’s lovely to be back, and I can’t express how happy I am to have gotten out of the mess out there.” 

“We’re so happy you made it safely, April dear.” Gabriella seemed to appear out of nowhere. Jody noticed this because there were no closing doors, and you heard no footsteps. Gabby was a sweet soul and loved to help others, but she had an odd creepiness that one just had to accept. Her feet made no noise. She loved flowing dresses, and it was not unusual to find her wearing flowers in her hair. Where she got those flowers in winter was anyone’s guess. 

“Gabby, sweetheart. How is my mischievous friend? You look pale. Have you been working too hard?” Gabby looked great as usual. This was just how they greeted each other every year. 

“Oh, I was just working on the accounts, and you know how draining that can be on one’s soul. But look at you. Jody, where’s Donny, dear?” 

“He’s in the sunroom settling Mister Davis in there first, and then he will help Mister Davis with his luggage to his room. He’s a painter Miss Klein, and we are renting the sunroom to him so he can work.” 

“Oh, how generous! I guess Mister Davis is looking for some inspiration?” 

Gabby put her finger to her lips but smiled and nodded. Jody wouldn’t ask, but it seemed the two were having a silent conversation that she was not a part of.  

“Well, if he is going to find it, then it will be here at the Blue Moon. Oh, what fun this year will be.” April appeared to become excited and all but danced with it.   

“Why don’t we go into the dining room and warm up with a drink by the fire while we wait for Donny to catch up?” 

“Oh, that would be lovely.” The two ladies linked arms and moved off towards the dining room. Gabby smiled towards Jody to ensure she had caught all that and express how well things were going today. 

An hour later, everyone had settled in. Jody was quietly hiding behind the front desk, eating her lunch while she waited for the last people to check-in. The snow was still falling, and Eddie was outside again, shovelling the driveway and walk again. It appeared now that the Evergreen Grove Ski Lodge and Resort and everyone else would have an excellent year.  

With the snow came the tourists, and Jody would have to check to see if Gabby had opened and freshened the overload guest rooms. The old house had servants’ quarters in the attic, and they used the servants’ quarters only when there was nowhere else to place guests as they were smaller. 

The door opened once more, and this time it admitted two people. They bundled for the cold Canadian winter. As they moved into the warmth, the man’s glasses fogged up. So, once he had his gloves off, his glasses came off next. He used his scarf to wipe the lenses before putting them back on his face with a smile as he took in the warm space around him. 

The woman removed her own gloves and whipped off her hat as if it offended her. With bright red hair exploding from within the depths of the hat, Jody could understand why. That hat could not be comfortable; she dropped her heavy luggage where she stood. This must be her equipment for her ghost hunting. It would be entertaining to see if she could get any of it to work here at the Blue Moon. 

“Welcome everyone to the Blue Moon Bed and Breakfast. Please step forward, and I’ll help get you checked in, and then we’ll show you to your rooms. We hope your stay with us will be magical.” Jody beamed broadly and opened her hands in welcome. Little did they know how magical their stay would be.