Page 37 of Christmas Promises

He grinned, pulling her in for a quick peck on the mouth. “Okay, let’s do this. According to Luke, picking out a tree is serious business.”

“Lucky for you, I’m an expert.” Laney looped her arm through his.

“I’m in your capable hands,” Nolan said.

They wandered through the rows of trees, debating as they inspected each one. Nolan tested the fullness of the branches, while Laney evaluated the height and shape. They debated briefly over a tall, thin fir and a shorter but denser spruce before finally agreeing on a Fraser fir that struck the perfect balance for Nolan’s house. For Aunt Edna, they chose a smaller but beautifully shaped Douglas fir that would fit well in her cozy apartment.

“This is the one,” Nolan declared, giving the trunk of his tree an approving nod. “Plump but not too tall and smells like Christmas.”

Laney laughed. “What more could you ask for?”

As they waited for an employee to wrap the trees and fasten them to the top of the SUV, Nolan gestured toward the gift shop. “I don’t have any ornaments. Should we check out what they have?”

Laney’s eyes lit up. “Absolutely. We can’t let these trees go naked on their first Christmas.”

They made their way to the shop, which was just as charming inside as it was outside. Shelves were lined with ornaments of every kind—delicate glass balls, whimsical wooden animals, and hand-painted snowflakes. Nolan picked up a ceramic cardinal and held it up for Laney to see.

“This one reminds me of my mother. She loves cardinals.”

“Then we have to get it.”

Laney selected a small rustic star made of twigs and twine. “Aunt Edna will love this for her tree topper.”

In addition, they chose for Aunt Edna a collection of vintage-style ornaments, including a glass angel and a set of tiny wooden birds that reminded Laney of her aunt’s love for nature. Laney also found a charming ornament shaped like a tiny open book with gilded pages, which they both agreed was a must for Aunt Edna’s bookstore. They added a sparkling snowflake ornament, a cheerful red sleigh, and a quaint little lantern that looked as if it could light the way on a snowy evening.

For Nolan’s tree, they picked out a carved wooden reindeer and a pair of mitten-shaped ornaments, both of which had a cozy, handcrafted feel. Laney found a delicate glass fox ornament that instantly reminded her of Clever Fox Books. “This one has to go on your tree,” she said, holding it up with a smile. “So, you think of me and Aunt Edna when you look at it.”

They added a set of wooden snowflakes, a brass bell that chimed softly when shaken, and a small snowy cabin ornament that reminded them of Sugarville Grove. Nolan said he couldn’t resist a vintage-style Santa, its faded colors evoking memories of Christmases long past.

As they browsed, Laney chose several boxes of bulbs in silver, blue, and gold to fill in any empty spaces on both trees. She also grabbed a set of shimmering glass ornaments with frosted patterns for Aunt Edna’s tree, adding a touch of elegance to their collection.

On their way out, they nearly collided with Luke, who was loading several trees onto the back of his vintage red truck.

“Hey there, you two,” Luke called out with a grin. “Did you pick out a tree?”

“For me and for Aunt Edna,” Nolan said, gesturing toward the wrapped firs now tied to the top of his vehicle. “What about you? Are you playing Santa today?”

Luke chuckled. “Just helping out some of the older folks in town.”

“That’s kind of you,” Laney said. This family. They were too much. Too good.

“He does it every year,” Nolan said, sounding proud.

Luke shrugged. “Just doing my part. I have so much and some have so little. This time of year, really makes you think, doesn’t it?”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways. As they drove out of the farm and onto the road, Laney warmed her hands in front of the heater vent.

“We need lights,” she said.

“Yeah, I guess we do. I guess that means we’re stopping by the hardware store.”

She smiled. “I guess it does. I love today.”

“You make everything fun.”

The hardware store was bustling with holiday shoppers, and they wandered the aisles together, debating between multicolored strands and classic white lights. Ultimately, they settled on a warm white glow for Nolan’s tree and colorful bulbs for Aunt Edna’s to brighten her apartment.

“She seems like the colored light kind of person, don’t you think?” Laney asked Nolan.

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