“She would be glad, wouldn’t she?” Evie’s lips curled up in a gentle smile. “Let’s get the stand for the tree and get it set up. Then we can haul out the decorations.”
Soon they had the tree in the stand and Evie commanded him to turn it this way and that, move it to the right, to the left. He smiled to himself. It was just like putting up the tree for Miss G.
After the tree was exactly like Evie wanted it, they strung the lights on it. She disappeared into the storage room and returned with a box of Christmas ornaments.
Her excitement as she remembered so many of the ornaments tickled him. Each one brought a wide smile to her face. The Rudolph ornament she’d made for her grandmother when she was a little girl. A replica of the lighthouse here onBelle Island. A small silver ornament frame with a photo of Evie and Miss G. One by one, they hung them on the tree.
Finally, it was time for the tree topper. She got out the stepstool and climbed up on it. He handed her the star, keeping a hand on her back to make sure she didn’t fall. Once it was secure atop the tree, she climbed down and stood back, hands on hips, very much a carbon copy of her grandmother. “Okay, now we need to plug in the lights.”
He did as requested and watched while Evie stood, mesmerized by the tree.
“It’s… so beautiful. Just like how I remembered it.” The emotion was evident in her voice as she choked on the words.
“Miss G would be so happy to see this,” he said softly, knowing he was telling the truth.
She turned to him, her eyes glistening with wonder. “Thank you for helping me with this.”
“My pleasure.” And he meant it. He was fairly certain he’d enjoyed it as much as, if not more than, Evie.
“I should probably let you go. I’ve monopolized your whole day,” she said.
“Not before we get out the caroling mice.” He looked at her in mock horror. “Those have to be set up.”
She laughed out loud. “Nana always insisted they be put in a different spot each year.”
“Then I’ll be sure to tell you if you’re repeating a spot she put them out in over the last few years.”
They found a place for the mice on the bookshelf, standing on a copy of “A Christmas Carol” for a special touch of festivity. He assured her she’d found an original spot. Then she set out the Christmas angel and wound it up so they could watch it spin slowly in circles as the sound of “Silent Night” drifted through the room.
She turned to him. “This has been the best day that I’ve had in a very long time.”
“You know what? Me too.” And he realized it was the best day he’d had in as long as he could remember. Evie was so easy to be with, and he loved seeing her eyes light up with treasured memories.
She grinned. “Now, I need to keep up Nana’s side of the bargain. Only I don’t have anything here to cook. How about I take you out to eat? Looks like we’ve worked right through lunch. You must be starving.”
“I wouldn’t say no to lunch.” And it would mean he could spend more time with her. Startled, he realized it was something he wanted more and more with each passing day.
“I could take you to The Sweet Shoppe,” Evie suggested. She’d loved the loaf of bread she’d gotten from them at the open-air market and the cinnamon rolls Randy had brought. And she’d heard they had sandwiches at lunchtime.
Randy looked at his watch. “Ah, a bit too late. Julie closes at two in the afternoon.”
Oh, bummer. She scrunched up her face and thought for a moment. “Magic Cafe?”
“I never say no to Magic Cafe.” He grinned.
“I could go for a fried grouper sandwich. And hush puppies. I love Tally’s hush puppies.”
“Me too. Sounds like we’re ordering the same thing. Want to walk or drive?”
“Let’s walk if that’s okay with you. I love being able to walk to so many places here on the island.”
It was a short walk to Magic Cafe, and Tally greeted them with a smile. “Late lunch for you two today?”
“Randy was helping me decorate for Christmas.”
“Ah, good. Can’t have a bare cottage this time of year, now can we? Genevieve did love her holidays. Come, I’ll get you a table near the beach, just like you both like it.”
She turned to Randy. “You get a table at the edge near the beach? I know some people don’t like it because it’s a bit sandy under the tables there.”
