I put down the first one and lifted the second.
He shook his head and pointed to the third. “That one?”
I did the same as before, and he made a sound. “Uhhh…”
Muttering under my breath, I put it down and stood up the remaining tree he’d yet to look at.
He pursed his lips, tilted his head, then gestured for me to spin it around. I obliged, and he stared at it some more.
“Well?” I finally asked.
“I’ll take the first one.”
My teeth gnashed together as I picked up the first one he’d rejected and hauled it to the net machine to feed it through.
When that was done, I grabbed it with one hand. “I’ll take it to your car.”
“I need a wreath too.”
“Well, why didn’t you get one while I was wrapping this?” I wondered.
He shrugged.
“Over there,” I said, directing him to a display of handmade wreaths.
“They’re all so beautiful,” he said almost to himself. “How to choose?”
“If they’re all so great, it won’t matter. Just pick one,” I told him.
If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the spot.
I swear, he took ten times longer than he needed after that, and when he finally chose one, he carried it over and looped it over my head like a necklace. “You mind?” he asked but walked away before I could answer.
Sighing, I trailed after him while he piled a few bows on me and picked up a jar of Hodge Podge and some maple candy.
“You still make maple syrup,” he said.
“I built a new sugarhouse,” I replied.
“The farm looks really good.”
Incredulous, I stared at him. “Was that a compliment?”
He shrugged. “It’s the truth.” He walked off to the register and pointed to me and everything I was holding. The girl ringing him up laughed, and moments later, I was trailing behind him toward his car.
“How are you going to get this inside?” I asked.
“I’ll manage.”
The image of him struggling to get this tree into the clinic was an unwelcome flash behind my eyes. “It’s heavier than it looks,” I cautioned.
He countered with, “I’m stronger than I look.”
He put everything but the tree inside, and then I helped secure it to the roof rack. After that was done, I couldn’t help but ask, “How are you going to get that down?”
“I told you I’ll manage,” he replied like it wasn’t even a concern. “If I need help, I’ll call Brandy.”
“Because she’s your friend.”
