Page 42 of Fa-La-La-La Faking It
Freezing temperatures were never good, but hard freezes weren’t that common in this part of the state. On the rare occasion the Hill Country did freeze over, it usually happened after Christmas—weeks, or even months, after families had come to Texas Tidings to choose and cut down their Christmas tree. This was the first Christmas that Jace had harvested the trees and sold them at a lot, and he’d made that choice out of sheer necessity. The only way to be close to Gus was to bring the trees with him, so that’s what he’d done.
He liked working the lot as much as he enjoyed working the farm during the holidays. People were typically in good spirits when they came out to select a tree. Couples had gotten engaged at Texas Tidings, and a year or two later, they’d come back with babies bundled up in snowsuits or dogs wearing red plaid collars and Santa hats. Already, his new customers in Bluebonnet were asking if he’d be back in the town square next year. Christmas tree shopping was a holiday tradition, and having just a small role in it made Jace feel like he was part of a bigger whole. He needed it, especially this year.
And now the weatherman was telling him a freeze was on its way.
Jace’s stomach hardened as entered the building and made his way to his uncle’s room in the extended care unit. He was going to lose the trees. Every night, he covered them with tarps and wound them up snug until the following day, but ice, chill and drying winds were enemies of freshly cut trees, especially when they were the result of a sudden drop in temperature. The tarps weren’t going to be enough.
“Uncle Gus, I can’t stay long today. I’ve got a crisis on my—” Jace’s voice drifted off as he took in the scene in room 212. He almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Oh, hi.” Adaline waved at him from the chair at Gus’s bedside. The only thing more surprising than finding her there was the sight of Fuzzy—dressed in his Comfort Paws vest-and-antler combo, as per usual—curled in a contented ball on his uncle’s lap.
Her presence wrapped itself around Jace like a blanket. He grinned. “Morning, sweetheart. This is a nice surprise.”
He moved to press a kiss to the top of her head. As usual, the heady scents of sugar and frosting tickled his nose when he got close to her.
“Morning.” She tipped her head toward Uncle Gus’s bed. “Look who decided to say yes to a pet visit today.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Gus grumbled and nodded at Jace. “This one isn’t giving me much of a choice. He says I have to be nice to you.”
“You mentioned that already,” Adaline said. “A couple times, actually. I’m not buying it, though. You don’t strike me as the type to put up with being ordered around, Mr. Martin.”
“If you’re going to be hanging around here, do me a favor and stop calling me Mr. Martin. It makes me feel like an old man.” Gus shifted his gaze toward Fuzzy and ran his gnarled fingers over the sleeping pup’s back with a tenderness Jace hadn’t seen from his uncle since...well...ever.
“What shall I call you, then?” Adaline exchanged a glance with Jace while she waited for Gus to answer.
She looked as radiant as he’d ever seen her. He loved that something as simple as a kind word from his cranky relative could make her so happy. What kind of person derived such joy from visiting elderly people with their dog?
Some days, coming here was hard. It couldn’t be any easier for Adaline, given the challenges her grandmother was facing. And she didn’t stop there. She took Fuzzy to visit the other residents, too, and it hadn’t escaped Jace’s notice that she usually stuck to this wing of the building—the unit where patients needed long-term, personal care.
He’d been serious when he’d told her he admired her. She had a compassionate heart that she permanently wore on her sleeve, even when she was trying her best not to be vulnerable. It was an enchanting paradox. No wonder Jace couldn’t stop thinking about her...
Even when he knew he shouldn’t.
“I suppose you can call me Uncle Gus, but let’s not make a thing of it, okay? I’m used to Jace calling me that, is all.” Gus finally tore his gaze away from Fuzzy long enough to spot the small fir tree Jace was carrying. “What in tarnation is that?”
“It’s a Christmas tree for your room. I told you I was bringing you one.” Jace set the tree in the corner and adjusted the clamp stand he’d attached to it before he took it off the lot.
“And I told you I didn’t need one. If I want to look at a tree, I can go down to the lobby and see that giant one you brought the other day,” Gus said.
Jace stood at the foot of his bed and crossed his arms. He shot a wink at Adaline, who was laughing under her breath, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth now that she’d somehow gotten on his uncle’s good side. “I think the words you’re looking for arethankandyou.”
“It’s not the ugliest tree I’ve ever seen,” Gus admitted, albeit reluctantly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The set of Jace’s shoulders relaxed a bit. He could get used to this—Adaline and Fuzzy being here with him and Gus. It felt nice, almost like they were a normal family.
Except he and Adaline weren’t a family at all. They weren’t even a real couple.
Jace cleared his throat and managed to drag his head out of the clouds long enough to remember he couldn’t stay. “Look, there’s a problem at the Christmas tree lot, so I need to get going.”
Disappointment carved its way into the lines on Gus’s face. “Already? You just got here.”
Of all the days for his uncle to finally start appreciating his presence. Jace sighed. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“What’s wrong?” Adaline’s forehead puckered. “I mean, what’s wrong...babe?”
Jace pressed his lips together to keep himself from chuckling. Babe? The word sounded ridiculous coming out of her mouth, but at least she was making an effort at making their ruse as convincing as possible.
“There’s a hard freeze warning tonight. I’ve got to close down the lot.”
