Page 45 of A Small Town Spring

“With the holidays coming?”

“It’s the perfect time.New York is magical in December.”He takes a sip of tea.“Don’t you have any holiday shopping to do?”

I had, in fact, been actively putting off thinking about the holidays.In England, I always loved the lights going up around the city, the festive spirit imbued in everything from shop windows to the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree.Ivy liked Christmas, and she’d always make our flat warm and beautiful.The last I heard, she was going to London for two weeks.

But I have no plans besides being here in Rosedale with Luna.My mother’s still in Australia, and the last time I spent Christmas with my father I was fifteen.

“What are you doing for the holidays?”I ask Kingston, suddenly worried he’ll be out of town again.“Going back to Atlanta?”

“No, I’ll send a box of presents for the twins, but I was just there for a good visit.I was thinking I might stick around here.Even if we don’t have snow, Rosedale is a pretty cozy place to spend Christmas.”

I grin.“Wonderful.”

“Jack and Pete usually do Christmas Eve at their place.But my idea of a nice Christmas morning is something quiet and mellow.”

“Sounds perfect.”I belatedly realize he may not want company for his mellow Christmas morning.“That is—if you don’t mind my being here.”

“I don’t mind,” he says lightly, then pivots.“You’re not getting out of clothes shopping.How’s Monday?We can drive in.I’ll make room in my schedule, and you can take the train back Tuesday.”

“My interview with the woman from the local lifestyle magazine is Wednesday here in Rosedale.”

“Perfect timing then.”

“You have everything figured out, don’t you?”I say admiringly.

“Not everything,” he says.“For instance, if we’re going to spend Christmas here, we ought to have a tree.”

“Do you have ornaments?”

“A few.”

“We should get a small tree, one of those potted ones for the tabletop.That way Luna will be less likely to attack it and bring the whole thing down.”

Kingston looks down at the cat in surprise.“Would she do that?”

“Cats and Christmas trees are mortal enemies, didn’t you know that?”

“I had no idea.Well, I think the flower shop sells them.Should we go there tomorrow and pick one out?”

“Let’s.”

Saturday morning isthe coldest it’s been this winter.I bundle up in my gloves and tartan scarf, tug a knit cap over my head.My winter coat is a white puffball thing that makes me look like a homeless snowman next to Kingston.His idea of winter layers is a faux-camel hair coat, a cashmere scarf the color of milky coffee, and his fine wool sweater and wool trousers, with dark brown boots completing the look.He pulls on a large flap-eared hat that should look silly but just makes him seem like he stepped out of a GQ ad.

“Shall I drive?”I suggest.“That way we won’t get any needles or anything in Daniel.”

He grins.“That’s a great idea.Thanks.”

We go to the flower shop first.Shay Brierley, the shop owner, is working today, and his boyfriend Connor is helping him.

“We have tabletop trees over here,” Shay says.“And also, if you want something different and out of the box and totally chic,” he says, eyeing Kingston’s hat, “rosemary trees.They’re quite sturdy and they smell amazing.”

“Are they okay with cats?”I ask.

“No guarantees that Luna won’t want to play with it,” Connor says, “but in terms of toxicity, it’s fine.You still have to be careful with what ornaments you put on.Nothing too breakable.”

I feel better with the veterinarian’s blessing, but glance at Kingston.“We’ll be careful,” I say.“What do you think?The rosemary tree?”I lean close and breathe in the sharp herbal scent.

“It’s smaller than I had envisioned, but it is a pretty color,” he says.“Is it what you want?”

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