Their First Noel by Annie Jones

Author:Annie Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

They got the tree back to the inn and Corrie quickly helped them warm up with some hot chocolate. While they drank that, she laid out the directions for gathering ornaments.

“I can make some sugar cookies to hang on the tree. Nothing fancy, but I can use a glass to make circles and cut out diamonds and crosses with a butter knife.” She narrowed her eyes and let the steamy aroma of chocolate warm her nose as she tried to imagine how to improvise for Greer’s sake. “Oh, and I left those clear twinkle lights with the green cord from the park lighting in your truck, so we have those.”

Andy hustled up a pencil and paper and had begun taking notes.

Notes! For impromptu decorating of a Christmas tree. She didn’t know whether to laugh or grind her teeth in frustration. Or there was a third choice. She reached over and snatched away the pad of plain white paper. “Thank you, Andy. This is perfect. We can use this paper to cut out snowflakes to hang all over the branches.”

“Hey!” He poked the pencil behind one ear and cupped his hot chocolate in both hands and grumbled with a hint of a smile, “I was making a list of what I need to do to get this whole tree thing organized.”

“Trees do not need organizing.” Corrie slapped the pad on to the counter. “One of my favorite lessons from the Bible is Matthew 12:26—Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

“Yeah. God has it covered, Andy. You don’t have to do everything.” Greer downed the last of her drink, set the mug down with a solid thud then wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her bright pink shirt. “You gotta make the popcorn.”

“All right, all right.” He held his hands up in surrender and got up from his stool. “But while I do that, you need to go up to my room and get the little sewing kit on top of my dresser so we can string the popcorn once I’ve popped it.”

She scooted out, leaving them alone.

“I, uh, I didn’t mean to lecture you in front of your sister.” Corrie had been so caught up in her own agenda she hadn’t considered how she might sound reciting chapter and verse until just now.

“It’s okay.” He went to the cabinet and opened it. For a second he didn’t get the popcorn out, though.

“Second thoughts on that? Something you want to ask me?”

“Actually, there is.” At last he got down a big box from the overhead cabinet, turned and held it up for her to see. “Do you think it’s cheating to use microwave popcorn on an old-fashioned tree?”

“No.” She laughed and shook her head. “I say, take what’s handed you and make the best of it.”

“That should be your motto.” He opened the cellophane wrapper, got out the bag, unfolded it and placed it in the brand new microwave oven.

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