Page 32 of Christmas Cove

“We got one,” Leo said on the other end of the line with as much excitement as a kid on Christmas morning has.

“A tree?” she asked and nearly fell out of bed.

“Yes, a tree. What else would I be calling about? I need you to put on some warm clothes and meet me outside in five minutes. We have work to do.”

“How do you know I’m not already dressed?” she asked.

He laughed at the question. “The phone is beside the bed, and you picked up at the first ring, so I assume you’re still lying there.” His breath caught.

She could imagine him looking away and heat burning his cheeks. Though this conversation was to the left of appropriate, she enjoyed provoking his sensibilities so. “I’ll be outside in five.”

Just as she had done the day before, America pulled on a pair of worn denim pants, a tank top, and a flannel button down. Her hair’s natural curls had sprung to life during her sleep, and she decided to let them go. On a typical weekday, she would not allow her natural hair to see daylight, and would opt for a sleek pulled back ponytail or tamed, soft curls with one side tucked behind her ear. This day was different. She found herself not caring how perfect her appearance seemed to anyone else. She was comfortable to just be herself.

For once, there was no pressure on her to be a certain way or meet anyone else’s expectations. The people of Christmas Cove had almost nothing to look forward to, as Carol had pointed out. Most of them were waiting around to die.Howbleak, America thought. But she was there, and she was determined to help these people have something to be properly happy about.

Leo’s truck rumbled down the drive and came to a stop in front of the porch. She half expected him to honk the horn, but of course, he didn’t. He opened the door and got out. America decided to meet him outside like he had asked.

“Morning,” he said.

America took his hand and pulled him towards the open door. It was only after she felt his fingers flex around hers that she noticed her heart pounding. “I want to show you something really quick.” Leo followed without complaint. She stopped short just inside the door and released his hand so that she could point across the room to the small tree. It shone like a stained-glass disco ball. “Do you like it?”

Leo walked to the living area where the tree stood and inspected it. His head tilted from one side to the other, and his fingers brushed along the branches and tested their steadiness.

America giggled at his show. “What are you doing?”

“Checking your work,” he said with his back still to her.

She played along. “And the verdict?”

He turned and flashed his devastatingly roguish smile at her. “I’m impressed. You made the most of the few things I brought over, and I’ve never seen a Christmas tree that needed quite as much work as this sad little guy did. Seriously, America, it’s great. But now we have quite a larger tree to get Christmas-ready.”

There was no arguing with that. She grabbed her coat, and they headed out.

The short ride into town was a quiet one. She didn’t know whether the silence was awkward, or whether he enjoyed the stillness in the frosty morning as much as she did. All around and as far as she could see, the countryside glistened with heavenly flocking. A flight of black and brown cowbirds moved like waves from field to field in search of a tasty breakfast. Soon, the frost would melt in the sun’s glow and the tranquility of the moment would dissolve into the dull amber and gray of late autumn.

At Town Hall, the fountain splashed, and the wreaths that they had placed the day before took on a new light. The energy had shifted. Somehow, the small act of hanging the greenery had made a substantial difference.

“Do you feel that?” America asked as she got out of the truck.

Leo came around and held the door for her. A smile spread on his lips. His eyes had a kind of life in them that no longer looked forced as it had when she first met him. Yes, something had shifted with the energy in the town. Even now, she watched the shop owners and residents on Main Street opening their drapes, turning on the lights, kicking the front door open, and talking with one another.

How long had it been since this scene last played out? How many mornings had been left to rot in the sadness that the whole town undoubtedly felt following the storm that knocked out the dam?

“Here it comes!” The excitement in Leo’s voice had a timbre of wonder.

The carriage turned the corner with Edwin tending the reins and a jolly smile painted across his face. Behind him, he towed a modern flatbed trailer. And the trailer held the fluffiest pine tree America had ever seen. As it approached, she could clearly see its branches were like feathered boas and dark green like Scarlett O’Hara’s velvet gown.

America clapped her hands as Edwin passed them and came to a stop. “Where did you get it?”

“It was donated,” Leo said.

America noted his vague response. “Lucky break.” She would push him for more details later, but for now, they had a big job ahead of them. “We’d better get to work,” she said. Her excitement and anticipation caused her voice to sound higher pitched than usual.

Within minutes, the hubbub surrounding their mission to deck out Main Street had reached the ears of some of the other able-bodied men in town. They gathered together and made quick work of attaching the stand to the freshly cut trunk. They erected the tree in place in the same small plaza where the fountain danced.

People spilled from the woodwork to see for themselves whether the rumors were true, that Christmas was making an appearance in the Cove once again. If they did nothing else, America could consider this a success already. Sometimes, all a thing needs is a spark. Something so small can ignite a new life—in this case, a hopeful energy—to a situation.

“Good day to decorate a tree,” a voice came from behind America, and she spun around.

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