Page 40 of The Christmas Dash

“She’s good. Settled in at home. Driving me crazy and going stir-crazy being laid up on the couch.”

“Her meal train is almost full already, so we’ll take good care of her when you’re gone.” Her tone is slightly clipped, like she’s a little miffed that I’m leaving my mom in the lurch.

“I appreciate that.” I keep my own voice level. I know musicians dipping out on their family is a sore spot for her—rightly so. But I can’t help but point out that I haven’t abandoned my mom in her time of need. I rearranged my schedule so I could support her. I wish Beth would realize that not every musician is like her dad. We aren’t all reckless. “I’m glad I can be here for most of her recovery.”

Beth just nods. She turns onto the county road that’ll wind south around to the base of Valley Peak.

After ten minutes, she parks at the base of the hill, and I take in the surroundings.

My jaw drops. “Who are the Kells, and what have they done to Valley Peak?”

“Pretty incredible, huh?” Beth gestures to the landscape in front of the car.

What I remember from my childhood—and even just a decade ago—has been transformed. Valley Peak used to be sort of kitschy, sort of run-down. It was a fine ski hill—not that I would know much about the actual skiing, since I’ve never gone down the runs. But from what I’ve been told, the hill functioned fine.

But the atmosphere of the place was tacky . . . in an endearing way. Giant inflatables lined the drive to the lodge at the bottom of the hill. By mid–holiday season, over half of them had deflated, so they lay flat along the drive. The inside of the lodge was all wood paneling and peeling red-and-green-striped wallpaper. The old owners didn’t care much about the place. They kept it running until our senior year of high school, and then they’d closed up shop and moved out of state.

“Lorissa Kell—she owns the place now with her husband, Richie,” Beth tells me. “She’s from Switzerland. Very distinguished. Very European. She wanted to bring some of her home country to Valley Peak.”

“I feel like I’ve been transported to a ski hill in the Alps.” I glance over at Beth to see her staring up the hill.

“Exactly,” she says. “This was Lorissa’s pet project. Richie is a venture capitalist who works in Chicago. When the Valley Peak resort came on the market, he pounced in an effort to make his wife’s dream come true.”

“That’s sweet.”

Beth agrees. “Lorissa gutted the place, and it’s been a labor of love the past several years getting it to this point. Well worth the effort, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I’d say so.”

The lane we drove in on is lined with smallish trees. Each one is wrapped tightly with string lights. Flag poles are positioned at even intervals and from the tops of each wave a different European flag. Don’t ask me which ones they are, because I don’t know. I’d fail if I were a contestant on The Amazing Race—I also can’t drive stick.

The old lodge at the bottom of the hill has been completely redone. What once was old brown wood siding has been replaced with crisp white slats. The window trim is painted black, and the front door, lit from bright outdoor sconces, is painted a cheery red. There are oversized metal containers packed with evergreen boughs and birch branches on the pathway to the door, and an old-fashioned set of skis, crossed together, are fastened to the siding to the right of the door.

Lights are spilling from the windows, and the whole place couldn’t look warmer or more welcoming.

“Is that where we’re meeting the Kells?” I gesture to the building.

“No. When I spoke to them, they said they’d be at the North Building.”

“Where’s that?”

Beth points up. Way up.

My eyes follow and widen. “What the heck is that?”

“That’s the North Building.”

“That didn’t used to exist.”

“Nope.” Beth chuckles. “But that’s where Lorissa has put most of her energy. It’s a brand-new chalet at the top of the hill.”

My mouth goes dry, and I try to swallow extra to regain my ability to speak. Beth doesn’t seem to notice how I’m suddenly sweating. She continues to prattle on.

“Lorissa told me once that the great views from the top of the peak were being wasted since there wasn’t anywhere to sit and enjoy them. So she built the North Building.”

I clear my throat. “How do you get up there?”

“I’ll show ya.” Beth puts her car in drive again and circles the lodge to the rear parking.