Meet Me on Christmas Eve by Alana Highbury

Author:Alana Highbury [Highbury, Alana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

*****

Sneaking glances at Terry as we walked to the other side of the ballroom, I asked, “Could I set this one up?”

His eyebrows rose. “Hmm.”

I scoffed. “What, you don’t think I can?” I held up a bicep. “I work out, you know.”

His lips tugged up at the corners as his eyes darted down to my silly display of strength and then back up to my face. “I’m sure you do. But you’re also a little clumsy. At least in my presence.”

“Oh, you—” I sputtered, “it’s not you. And I’m not clumsy. It’s probably an inner ear thing that controls balance, you know. I was planning to call my doctor, actually—”

He chuckled. “Relax, Mariana. I was just giving you shit. You can do the tree if you want.”

My face relaxed, even as I’m sure it was probably a few shades of pink. He was teasing me. He couldn’t hate me if he was teasing, right? Another possible sign that maybe, just maybe, all was not lost. “Really?” I said hopefully.

He shrugged. “It’s your tree.”

When we got to the wall where I wanted this tree placed, I worked slowly on the base. I’d helped my dad with this when I was little, but it had been so long. I didn’t want to mess it up. I had to unscrew the different sides a few times when it seemed tilted, and Terry took hold of the tree when it seemed that it might tip over.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

Maybe I should make small talk. This was not the most uncomfortable silence ever, but it was not exactly pleasant either.

“So, a tree farm, eh? Is this just … an extra income thing or a particular interest of yours?”

He didn’t answer for a long time. Finally, I looked up at him, curious at whether he’d even heard me.

“Both, I guess.”

I thought about how to respond to this. “Really? You’re interested in Christmas trees? Or farming? Or retail or … what part of it is your interest?”

I heard him take a few breaths before he responded. “All of the above, I guess.” I thought he wasn’t going to say anymore, but after a very long pause, he added, “I got a botany degree a couple years ago. And I like this area, so … finding some unconventional ways to put it to use, I guess.”

“Wow, that’s … really wonderful,” I said. A botanist? What on earth? I never would’ve guessed. Of all the things. “It’s great to have an occupation that is rewarding in more than just money.”

“Is that how owning an elite resort is for you? Or is it just about the money?” His voice had an unmistakable note of derision in it.

I felt my hackles go up again as I turned to him. “Why would you just assume that? Is it that hard to imagine that I might enjoy what I do?”

I pushed up with my feet then, trying to stand, but I lost my footing while trying to hold onto the tree. I started taking the tree with me as I went crashing back to the floor, my shoulder blades hitting the wall.

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