When Maddie and Leo had asked Kim what Christmas decorations they could supply, she’d informed them that she had plenty. Her only decorative need: a tree.
Happiness tugged at Maddie when she spotted Leo and Charlie waiting for her by the hot cider stand. It didn’t look like Kim and her girls had arrived yet.
Charlie ran to her on his short, robust legs. Leo had dressed him in corduroys, tiny Adidas sneakers, and his navy coat. “Hi!” he called, extending his hand as far into the sky as it would go.
Maddie knelt down to greet him. “Hi yourself. You look extra cute today.”
“You look cute today, too.”
“Why, thank you. What a gentlemanly thing to say. Are you ready to go shopping for Christmas trees?”
“Yes. Daddy says I can pick out a tree for our house.” Olivia’s blue eyes peered at her from Charlie’s mostly angelic, yet ever-so-slightly mischievous face.
Olivia’s eyes.Would there ever be a time when she’d look at Charlie’s face and not experience a twist of grief? Grief for Charlie, grief for Leo, and grief for herself?
“I’m sure the one you choose will be perfect,” she told Charlie as they made their way to Leo. “He tells me that you’ve given him permission to pick out a tree for your house,” Maddie called.
“I did. I like living dangerously.” Leo’s tan canvas jacket complemented the gold and light brown shades of his hair. His classic black Ray-Bans reflected back an image of herself standing before him, surrounded by a cool, overcast morning.
Charlie scampered off to receive a mug of cider from Mrs. Carmichael.
“You’re not worried he’ll pick out a twenty-foot-tall tree?” she asked, voice pitched low.
“I don’t intend to show him any of the twenty-foot-tall trees.” His lips curved. “Experience has taught me a few things.”
Maddie smiled back. “I’m planning to pick out a tree for my apartment today, too.”
“So we’ll be shopping for trees for three households?”
“Correct. However, since the church hasn’t given us funds for the Huntingtons yet, I want you to know that I’ll pay for the Huntington’s tree. I don’t want you to think I expect you to open your wallet and start covering Mission:Christmas expenses right off the bat.”
“I was looking forward to paying for the Huntington’s tree. It sounds like the money from the church and the garage sale will pay for most of the rest. A tree is the least that Charlie and I can do.”
“You’re already giving of your time, though.”
“So are you.”
“In that case, we can split the cost of the Huntington’s tree. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Kim, Victoria, and Samantha hurried in their direction. “The girls are so excited about this,” Kim said as she wrapped Maddie in a hug. “I just love Carmichaels. Don’t you? This place is the cutest and—” Kim broke off as she spotted Mrs. Carmichael approaching, carrying a tray. “Well, here she comes now. You’reabout to see for yourselves how delicious this cider is,” she told her daughters.
When Maddie accepted her cup, steam fragrant with cinnamon and apples filled her senses.
Their group climbed onto the waiting tractor bed and took seats on the hay bales lining its sides. Mr. Carmichael settled into the driver’s seat of the tractor and towed them toward the portion of his acreage containing trees for sale this season.
“You should take a picture of this,” Leo said. “For Instagram.”
“Oh! Right.” She spent time taking multiple shots she could comb through later in search of the best. As she did so, she could feel Leo’s attention on her like heat.
Charlie kept up a steady stream of chatter with Victoria and Samantha and Kim. When they motored over smooth stretches, they all attempted sips of the cider.
After exiting the tractor bed, they’d walked barely ten yards when Charlie made his tree selection. “This one!” He pointed, jumping up and down with excitement.
Leo held the double-handled saw they’d been entrusted with. Kim looked greatly amused. Her girls appeared befuddled.
The tree Charlie had picked was perhaps the ugliest tree on the farm. Squat. Sparse. A big bare patch in front. Tilting to one side.
