Irene appears in the doorway holding a mug of tea, ready for chaos. “Do I sense… a fabulous idea?”
Susan points at her like she’s recruiting a co-conspirator.
“We’re going to line the entire front of the property with Christmas trees. Like a forest. Aprivacy wallof pine.”
I choke on a laugh. “A pine hedge?”
“A pinebarricade,” she corrects proudly. “Thirty trees. Maybe forty. And wreaths on the new gate. And garland. And those giant old-fashioned bulbs. And a big cluster in front of your window so no paparazzi can peek in.”
Mason’s eyes are huge. “Are you building her… a holiday fortress?”
“Yes,” Susan says without irony. “A festive, beautiful, slightly ridiculous fortress.”
I lean back against the counter and laugh. Really laugh.
“That’s going to be expensive,” I say.
She shrugs. “It’ll be worth it.”
I grin, pulling Dad’s check from my hoodie pocket and waving it once in the air.
“Well,” I say, “I did just get twenty grand.”
Everyone freezes.
Then all three of them shout:
“WE’RE CHRISTMAS TREE FARMING THE SHIT OUT OF THIS COTTAGE!”
AThe tree lots are already glowing under string lights — New England doesn’t mess around when it comes to December magic. The smell of pine, cold air, and fresh cider hits me like a nostalgic punch.
We show up with:
• Shani’s dad’s giant pickup
•Two horse trailers
• The chaotic determination of people preparing for war
And then — of course — Tristan and Xavier roll in like it’s a Fast & Furious Christmas special.
Tristan jumps out wearing a leather jacket and a scarf that costs more than my soul.
“LET’S STEAL SOME TREES!” he announces.
“We’rebuyingthem,” Xavier corrects, already handing a bewildered teenage worker a platinum AmEx.
Half the parents at the lot recognize us.
Some of them wave.
Some gasp.
Some pull out phones.
Because apparently… I am a celebrity now.
Later as we are unloading them back at the house… it’s’ chaos. My aunt’s cottage is now a tourist stop.
