Page 57
“How much is it?” she asked.
He ripped off the tag and jammed it in his back pocket. “It’s on sale for super cheap.”
She smiled uncertainly at first. She didn’t believe him, but she quickly caught on that he really didn’t mind the price. “Okay. I like that one if you do.”
“It doesn’t matter what I like. This is for you.”
“It’s a great tree,” she said.
“Hallelujah!” he teased. “We’ve found the one!” He pulled out the gloves he’d brought to avoid getting sap on his hands and carried it over to Anthony, who must’ve noticed that they’d finally decided because he was on his way over to them.
“How would you like to pay for it?” he asked as Kanon set it down.
Kanon pulled out his wallet and handed him a hundred-dollar bill, which barely covered it.
“Shall we go get some decorations?” he asked after he and Anthony had loaded the tree and tied it down in the bed of his truck.
“It doesn’t have to be decorated,” Ari said earnestly.
“A tree isn’t a Christmas tree if it’s not decorated,” Kanon said. “Haven’t you seen A Charlie Brown Christmas?”
“Who’s Charlie Brown?” she asked as they all climbed into his truck and put on their seat belts.
“You don’t know who Charlie Brown is?” He gave Patience a mock scowl. “How could you let your daughter grow up not knowing who Charlie Brown is?”
Patience’s lips curved into the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. “Maybe we should watch A Charlie Brown Christmas together tonight. Would you—” she hesitated for a second, but then continued “—would you like to come over for dinner and a movie?”
He had a lot to do at the motel, but he’d done nothing but work since he arrived in town and figured he deserved a day off. Kelsey was more than happy to text back and forth with her love interest in Reno while covering the office. “Sure. But first we need to get a stand, some lights and tinsel or whatever else for this tree,” he said and turned into Bentley’s Hardware Store.
* * *
Patience enjoyed watching Kanon and Ari interact. As they got to know each other better, Ari grew less reserved and more like her chatty, happy self, so it didn’t take long for them to start teasing each other, which made Patience forget all the things she’d been worried about and simply enjoy the day. Once she let go of the sick feeling that churned in her gut whenever she wasn’t getting along with her father, she had a blast getting ready for Christmas in her new place. Although Kanon had insisted on paying for the tree, she wouldn’t let him buy the decorations, as well. Whatever she spent she’d just have to make up later, she told herself—maybe by working overtime, if Jack would allow it. She’d think of something; in her mind, this was worth the splurge.
Kanon bought two Christmas stockings on the way out. She guessed they were for her and Ari, which made her even happier. There was something about him that invigorated her, made her feel like a new person. Even Ari seemed to be charmed.
It was one of the best mornings Patience could remember—until they came out of the store and saw Glenda’s gray SUV rolling slowly down the row of parked cars, coming toward them.
Patience stopped walking as soon as she realized Glenda hadn’t spotted them yet—because she was too busy examining Kanon’s truck, probably trying to see if he was still inside it. It was a strong possibility she’d been out looking for it since his vehicle was no longer at the motel.
When she glanced up and saw them, her mouth dropped open.
Patience assumed Glenda’s pride would demand she pretend she didn’t see them. But she put on the brakes and rolled down her window, covering any negative emotions she might be feeling with a plastic smile. “Hey! What’re you guys up to?”
“Just getting a few decorations for the Christmas tree Kanon bought us,” Ari piped up.
The muscles in Glenda’s face tightened, making her skin look stretched over the underlying bones. “How fun. But shouldn’t you be able to pay for it yourself now that you’re going back to Jack?” she asked Patience.
Patience gripped the handle of the shopping cart that much tighter. “I’ve already told you—I’m not going back to Jack.”
“That isn’t what he said. He said you were taking my old job—starting on Monday, so I didn’t need to worry about returning.” Her smile disappeared as if it’d been too much effort to maintain in the first place. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
Patience felt her eyes widen. Wasn’t that exactly what Glenda had done to her five years ago? “He wasn’t going to have you continue to work for him anyway, so I didn’t see any harm in accepting the position. It pays better than the church,” she explained.
The surprise on her face was as fake as her former smile. “It does? How much are we talking?”
“That’s none of your business,” Patience responded. “Merry Christmas!”
Patience started to push the cart again, hoping both Kanon and Ari would follow her lead, and they did. She felt bad for Glenda, knew how Glenda must be feeling. She’d been there herself. But she could no longer allow her former friend to negatively impact her. She had to push back against anyone who tried to steal the joy from her life, and that included Glenda and her father.
