Christmas Lodge Page #7

- How?

This way... and here.

Think you can do it?

All right'

Hey, look at you go! And what

do you think you're doing?

Well, I can't let the

boys have all the fun Dad.

You haven't been on site in 10 years.

Feels good to be back.

You sure you're up for this?

I didn't spend my entire

life behind a desk.

You know, my Grandpa had me on his crew

when I was a little

bit older than Charlene.

I could sink a nail faster and

cleaner than any of his men.

Prove it.

Hey, I thought I heard

the human nail gun.

That's my girl. After all these years

you still haven't lost your touch.

I haven't been this tired in...

since as long as I can remember.

Yeah me either. Feels good though,

can't figure out why, but it does.

There's something about this place.

My great grandparents used to say that

uh, they didn't build Christmas Lodge

to have a place to live,

they built it to live.

And I think they would be

very, very happy to know

that the people who share a past

are here to look after

her in her old age.

That's sweet.

By the time we're through,

she'll look 50 years younger.

I wish we could do the same for Grandpa.

We all do. He's climbing the ladder

we'll all climb one day.

He's just happy knowing

we're all together and giving

an important part of history

a new lease on life?

Has your family always been this close?

Well, we've wandered

some here and there,

but we've always found

time to meet in the kitchen.

Well, I just hope that when

we're through, I can restore

some of that sense of home.

Speaking of kitchens, I

think I have one to clean up.

Here, let me help you out.

Mary, I was uh...

What Jack?

Wow, I am not very good at this.

What is it?

Um... We spent a lot of time together

over the last few months and uh, I guess

you could say I've

taken a liking to you.

I hope that doesn't

make you uncomfortable.

No! I mean of course not, I'm honored.

Well uh, I was wondering

if maybe we could be more than friends.

If maybe we could go out together sometime.

Oh, Jack I don't know.

I really don't have a great

track record with men and it...

it wouldn't just be us, it

would be us and Charlene,

and I don't want her to get hurt

if it didn't work out.

You were the one that said

anything's possible, right?

I did.

That means something

good is possible too.

I just haven't noticed

any bad points between us,

- have you?

- No... no.

Then take a chance on

me, Mary. Let's just start

by maybe going to dinner,

dancing, a movie...

Something normal grown ups do

when they're going out as friends.

And if it doesn't work out,

Charlene doesn't have to know

that we were courting

and we could still be

friends. What do you think?

Did I misread you? Is

it that hard to decide?

No, no Jack... my

reluctance has absolutely

nothing to do with you whatsoever,

it's just... there's so much at stake,

I really um, I don't wanna mess it up.

Okay. So the answer's no.

No.

No it's a yes. I am willing

to take that chance with you

because I feel the same way

and I'm so tired of fighting it.

Wow, you guys are really

moving right along!

Have to, the weather's not going

to stay like this much longer.

When winter hits up here, it hits hard.

Won't be able to see

the roof or the walls

under 15 feet of snow.

Bye you guys!

Bye!

I feel so bad leaving you. You know

that I wouldn't, I would stay and help

if I wasn't in the final

days of the Wharf project.

Your hands are itchin' to

pick up a hammer aren't they?

That's my girl.

Check in on your mother

and your grandfather for me,

tell them I'll get down for a couple

of days when we get the place sealed up.

I will, thanks Daddy. I love you.

Mary! Wait up a sec?

Yeah.

I better get back to work.

Hey.

Listen uh, I was just wondering, and I

know this is short notice and all but uh,

I was wondering if it would be possible for

your family to come and stay here this Christmas.

Really? Of course. I've

just, I've always hoped

to get my family back out

here for one more Christmas,

especially my grandpa.

Great.

Maybe we should keep

this between us for now

because there's so much work to be done

and I don't want to disappoint

them if the lodge isn't ready.

I understand.

But, thank you.

Drive safe.

I'll talk to you soon.

I was right. Wasn't I?

While you were gone,

I met with the board

and I explained the situation

to them, and they agreed

to go to our donors to

seek funding to expand out

to the rural areas.

We already have the funding

for a project or two.

Oh!

So, would you be interested in

opening a branch office out there

to coordinate our efforts?

Yes?

- Yo, do you have a minute?

- Yeah.

What's up?

Bob just asked me to open

an office in the mountains.

He what?

Yeah, he wants to help small

towns save historic buildings.

Wow. Four hours, that's along commute.

No, no I mean, I wouldn't be

driving there, I would move there.

Hmm, let me guess... to Christmas Lodge?

All right Mary, fess up.

It's no coincidence that you

broke up with one perfect man

to now agree to work

near another perfect man.

- Have you been seeing Jack Rand?

- Is it that obvious?

I knew it! You've been so happy lately.

Well maybe you'll get

that ring after all.

Okay, let's not be ridiculous.

I have work to do.

Oh my gosh, that's

fantastic. Wait a second.

Yeah?

You're leaving the city

to go work in the country,

who's taking your position here?

Uh, you!

No, no, no, no. This is one

Christmas gift I don't want.

You know, I said that 10 years

ago and look where it got me.

Yeah, you dropped it on me.

Well, for one thing I

think that you can do it,

and for another thing you have

been doing it, and quite well.

So... Merry Christmas.

God...

Hang on a sec.

Okay. So the answer's no.

Mom!

Yeah.

What?

Uh, no... I'll... I'll meet you there.

I have to go to the hospital,

my grandfather just had a stroke.

Mom, hey. How is he? Hi Daddy.

They're still evaluating him.

- Can we see him?

- Not yet honey.

Hey you guys. Is uh, is

Kathy in there with him?

Yeah, and a group of doctors.

Listen, he's in good hands.

So I guess this means that he's going

to have to go to a home now right?

Your mother and Cathy

did the best they could.

Of course. Mom, I know that you

and Cathy did everything you could.

Hey, hi. How is he?

Stable and resting.

Will they need to operate?

No, it was a fairly mild stroke.

The doctors think he's

lost some motor skills.

Can we see him?

The doctors need to

conduct additional tests,

when they're done you can see him.

Thanks Kathy, thanks for everything.

- I love that photo.

- I do too.

Yes. You know Mom, I

had a dream that Grandpa

and I would walk

together in the mountains,

and he would point out every leaf,

every bird, every tree, every ridge

and not just tell me what it

was, but what it meant to him.

He breathed so much

life into this world,

I try to get it back on my own

but it's just... it's not the same.

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