“He’s so judgmental in the mornings,” Eliza said.
“Must get it from you,” he said. He set their plates down on the round breakfast table, pulling out the seat for her. She also noted there was a tiny plate left on the windowsill for Puffcake, so he could eat his breakfast in luxury.
Eliza’s heart wrenched, thinking of Isadora. Is this how it started for her, too? With sweet gestures and early morning breakfasts? With fresh coffee and easy flirting? Minus the sassy cinnamon-crusted dragon, of course.
She wrapped her hands around her coffee as she sat, enveloping herself in the warmth.
“Everything okay?” Lachlan’s brows furrowed. Puffcake raised his head again from his current bed and slinked his way over, not skipping a beat as he gobbled up his food.
“Yeah,” she sipped. “Just thinking.”
Lachlan set the spatula down and splayed his hands out on either side of the table. “Funny you should mention it, becauseI’vebeen thinking.”
“Have you, now?” Eliza widened her eyes playfully. “Didn’t know that was possible.”
“Hilarious,” he deadpanned. “I’ve been thinking we don’t have a tree. And what’s Christmas without a tree?”
Eliza had noticed it, too. The house certainly lacked a kind of charming glow without it. But she really didn’t want to take away time from baking to go hunting for one, not when she was having these kinds of baking epiphanies. Already, she was eager to have Lachlan step aside so she could bake the three of them cinnamon rolls, American pancakes,somethingsweet to go alongside their meal.
She could do without a Christmas tree. Unless she wanted to pipe a few shortbread sugar biscuits shaped like Christmas trees and call it a day.
Eliza didn’t respond. Sensing her apathy, Lachlan sighed. “Look, I’ll be honest with you. This isn’t the way I saw my Christmas being spent, either. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t go get a tree at all, but … My sister says that I need to. That it would help …” he tried to find the right words, but couldn't seem to. “I don’t know, I guess, cheer me up?”
What did he need so much cheering up about? If he were to ask her, she’d tell him that he cared too much about what his sister thought. If Lachlan’s sister wanted him to do certain things, she should be here with him to do them.
Eliza arched a brow as Lachlan stumbled through his explanation. “So, what? Your sister thinks you need tree therapy, or something?”
“That’s not a clinical term, but I believe so, yes.”
“You could prove your Christmas spirit to your sister by telling her that you’re stuck in an enchanted cottage with a gingerbread dragon and a girl who throws flour at you like a hand grenade.”
“Yeah, I have a strong inclination that she wouldn’t believe me. For good reason, too. But shewouldbelieve that I met someone, and we were going tree shopping together.”
Eliza’s heart took a leap. She wondered if hewouldtell his sister about her. The thought made her swell with pride a little.
Don’t be silly, Eliza, it’s just a joke.
“I don’t know …” Eliza’s voice trailed off, her enthusiasm—along with her confidence—waning.
“Puffcake can go too,” he sing-songed.
Puffcake just huffed in response, and Lachlan looked hopeful.
“You really want to go get one, don't you?” Eliza asked, setting down her coffee.
“I could try to go alone, if the house would let me. Probably would just pick up a sad Charlie Brown tree. One with saggy limbs and wilting pine needles.”
“Fine,” she rolled her eyes. “I’ll pick out the tree, but you’re paying for it and carrying it back. I’m not about to be a part of the climate crisis.”
“Deal. Like any of that was ever in question.” He settled himself back in his chair, smiling brightly.
Her stomach flipped, but she blamed it on the caffeine.
Yesterday, Eliza had asked Gretel how they’d be able to find the road in the middle of this blizzard, and she’d simply responded with a smile. “Breadcrumbs,” she’d said, but one thing Lachlan and Eliza didn’t plan for was how the house might react to the two of them leaving, even if it was together.
She twisted the peppermint-striped knob, but like yesterday, the door didn’t budge. “Darn, we’ll just have to stay inside today …” Eliza said.
Lachlan shot her a look. “Maybe the house only lets us leave on its terms?” he jested.
