“Have you been in Boston so long that you forgot fresh trees don’t last nearly as long as the fake ones?” Brandy admonished.
“Don’t smell as good either,” Brett added.
Yeah, well, I could get a fake one at a big box store and not be reminded of my painful past while doing so—and then go over to aisle fourteen for shampoo. You can’t do that at a tree farm, now can you?
“The answer is no,” I said, grabbing tomorrow’s schedule and holding it against my chest so she couldn’t steal it back.
Brandy groaned. “Pleaasseeee, Tobes. You probably won’t even see him. He’s too busy running the place. He’s never that social anyway.”
I drew back. “Since when?” I questioned.
Growing up, Archer was always Mr. Popularity. He played football, was in like three different after-school clubs, and later worked at the town grocer as a bag boy. All the ladies loved him because he carried their bags to their cars.
“Since forever. He’s grown the farm a lot in the past few years. He hardly ever comes to town. He’s a workaholic just like you.”
“I guess today was my lucky day,” I muttered, thinking of before when Ms. Keystone mentioned how much tourism Archer had brought to town with the farm. Maybe the yuletide bonfire was one of the ways he was doing that.
“So, like, what happened between you guys?” Brett wondered, and honestly, I’d forgotten he was there.
“What?” I asked, feeling like a deer in headlights.
“Everyone seems to know you two don’t get along, but no one ever really says why.”
“Because nothing really happened.” I lied. “We grew apart. Kids do that sometimes.”
I was saved from being questioned even more when the front door opened and a burst of cold winter air announced a visitor.
I brightened, hoping it was a last-minute walk-in and I could go back to work and not think about bonfires or Archer or anything to do with Christmas.
“Oh, good! I made it in time,” a very familiar voice called as I was turning. “I was worried you’d already be locked up for the day.”
“Mom,” I said, taking in her long wool coat with gold buttons, wind-blown blond hair, and gloved hands holding her beloved chihuahua against her chest. Teacup was tan with short hair and large brown eyes. Her ears were bigger than her face, and she was wearing a pink Christmas sweater with a gingerbread man on the back.
“What are you doing here?”
“I had to come to see how your first day at the clinic went. Your father tried to come as well, but I told him taking a break from work did not mean coming in here to see how you were running the place.”
“Well, it is his clinic,” I allowed. It was probably killing him that he wasn’t here to see how it was going.
“And I can tell it’s being taken care of just fine,” she said, glancing around. “Oh. Where is the Christmas tree?” she asked, scanning the room as if she’d missed it. “And why wasn’t there a wreath on the door?”
“Dr. Thomas said there was no need for them this year since he was taking time off,” Brandy replied.
“Ugh, that man! Always trying to cut costs. But you can’t put a price on Christmas spirit. I should have come by sooner. I’dhave taken care of it. But I’ve been so busy getting ready for Toby’s arrival.”
I really wondered what she had to do to get ready for me. My room was still the same as when I moved out, and it wasn’t like I required anything special. I mean, I could see maybe a trip to the grocer, but that could be done in one afternoon.
“Don’t worry about it, Mom,” I said. “A tree isn’t essential to good veterinary care. You can put one up next year.” Never mind that when I arrived, I’d also been a little put off by the lack of decorations around here.
Mom gasped as if I’d broken her favorite holiday ornament. “Animals like Christmas spirit too.”
As if to agree, Teacup gave a little growl.
“Just listen to her, Tobias. She’s positively depressed that there’s not one ornament or bow to be found here.”
I glanced at Teacup, who was positively suffering in her pink sweater and my mother’s arms. As I stared, Mom reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small treat. Teacup ate it in one bite.
“I know!” Brandy announced. “You can pick up a tree and a wreath for the clinic at the bonfire tonight. We can decorate it tomorrow between patients.”
