When Chase walks in the door later, I hear him place multiple bags on the floor as he shuffles around in the foyer. CeCe wastes no time running toward him where they meet in the kitchen and I can hear a different energy in his voice.
Usually, when Chase gets home from practice or a meeting, he sounds exhausted. But today, there’s a pep in his voice and hisstep when he walks toward me as I’m putting the pillows back on the couch.
“Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?”
I eye him cautiously, “No…”
“Okay, good.” He turns around quickly, leaving me confused at his question.
As I enter the kitchen, I see CeCe sitting on a barstool, rummaging through one of the bags he brought in and pulling out all sorts of Christmas decorations. Garland, lights and ornaments begin to pile up in front of her and I tilt my head, again in confusion at what he’s doing.
“CeCe, careful not to break any of those ornaments, put them on the counter gently.” He hauls another bag from the floor onto the counter, and I just stare. Not knowing what to do or what to say.
Chase isn’t an overly festive person. Between him and his sister, Abby got the holiday gene. Last year, I remember he had a small fake tree in the corner by the fireplace, and I’m positive he only had it for the sake of CeCe.
“What’s uh… what’s going on here, Buddy the elf?”
“Great movie.” He points at me and hands me the last plastic bag from the floor. “No idea what’s in here, can you take a look?”
“Sure…” The word drags out slowly as I study him.
The blue t-shirt he’s wearing is covered in glitter all down one side. “Where’d you get all of this?”
“Mia.” He shrugs as if it’s the most natural answer in the world and I’m some kind of idiot for even asking.
“You got Christmas decorations from Mia?”
“I bought some, but the stores didn’t have a lot. Abby is busy so I knew I couldn’t ask her right now, so the next option was Mia. She said these were extras she didn’t have space for.”
Decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do. I don’t do much in my apartment because it’s just me and I’m notthere often, but a tree and lights are always a must. Anything to make it feel more like the Christmas season in Florida when the weather still feels warm.
“Oh,” I say, smiling.
CeCe takes a bunch of the garland into her bedroom and Chase lets her have free range on decorating her room however she wants to. It’s pure chaos when I walk in, but she loves it.
“What prompted you to want to decorate all of a sudden?” I ask when it’s just the two of us while CeCe finishes her bedroom.
He stills briefly, holding a string of lights in his hands that he just tested to make sure they all work and looks over at me.
“I’ve felt… I don’t know… compelled lately to make things more fun for CeCe. I saw all the Christmas decorations at the facility today and I heard Nate talking about driving the boys around to look at lights this weekend and I just thought I needed to start making more memories like that with her. Bedtimes can be pushed back and candy canes can classify as dinner every now and then, right?”
My smile widens as I walk closer to him. “Right.”
The back of Chase’s hand skims the side of my bike shorts as I stand in front of him. Creating instant goosebumps down my legs.
“Since you aren’t busy the rest of the day…” His other hand discreetly feathering the small of my back under my sweater. “I was hoping maybe you’d want to come pick out a tree with us.”
Two weeks left until Christmas sure hasn’t left me with the best options for a damn tree. It’s almost like part of me forgot the holiday was approaching, even though I’m reminded of it every time I step outside of my apartment.
I don’t hate holidays, I just don’t get overly into them like a lot of people do. I’ve never had more than a small tree in my place aside from when my sister lived with me and did the decorating. But how fair has that been to CeCe? Sometimes, I think I forget she’s still a kid and needs that magic and wonder.
“This one is a little sad looking,” Summer says, tugging at the branches.
We’ve been to three tree farms and haven’t found one that CeCe is jumping up and down for yet. I have half a mind to go to the local store and pick up a fake one, but CeCe was so excited when I mentioned getting a real one, I can’t go back on that now.
“This one!” CeCe shouts behind me.
The tree is lopsided and barely as tall as me. The branches are still a lush dark green, though, and as I stare at it, looking at Cece and then back to the tree, I feel like I could work with this.
