Page 8 of OMG Christmas Tree
“You said you grew up with a fake tree. What happened to it?”
“I...I don’t know.” I didn’t know what happened to any of our old stuff. Mom had threatened Derek and me to pack our old bedrooms and the garage or our remaining stuff would land in a giant rented Dumpster. Eventually, she’d told us the movers put it all in the moving truck and we could sort our boxes later. Whether she’d done the same for Dad’s things, well, I didn’t know. Because I hadn’t asked.
I looked up to find Nick watching me. I sensed pity in his eyes and hated it. Whatever mess I’d made of the years after Dad, I didn’t need Nick’s sympathy.
The front door to the house opened. “Megan. I didn’t hear you drive in.” Mom ducked back inside and reappeared wearing a heavy cardigan. “I had headphones in doing my daily meditations.”
Wow, retirement had done one over on her. Not in a bad way just...different.
Mom stepped with care down the shoveled front walk in slippers with firm soles. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing someone. Hello.”
“He’s not—”
“I’m Nick.” He held a hand out to her.
She beamed with all the wattage of Crystal Cove’s downtown holiday scene.
“He’s helping me with the tree. From Sawyer’s.” Mom didn’t need to know I ended up in a ditch or the likelihood I needed four new tires with no funds to cover it.
“You’re a Sawyer boy?” Mom asked. “How delightful.”
Nick looked over at me, and I telegraphed AGREE in bold font.
“I’m not a Sawyer. I’m a Bennington.”
I pelted him with non-verbal exclamations.How could you!
“Bennington.” Mom blinked rapidly. “Mayor Bennington’s son? Oh, dear, how is your family?”
“My mom, she’s holding up well,” Nick answered. “Really putting up a fight. Dad is hanging in there in his own way.”
What was happening? Mayor? My mom knew his family after a measly, however-many months living here?
Mom focused on Nick. “I didn’t know you helped at the tree farm. What a great way to serve the community.” She peered over the truck bed. “That’s quite a tree.”
“Isn’t it great?” I circled behind Nick and unlatched the rear door. Branches shot forward like a pine-filled trap set free.
Mom jerked back. “Oh, dear.”
Nick adjusted the branches so they appeared more contained. Slightly. “If you think the tree is too large, I can drive this one back and find you a smaller one.”
I stepped in front of him. “This one is perfect. It goes in the two-story window, right Mom?”
“Well...”
The front door opened again. Stu strolled out in a zip-up thermal, dark jeans, and work boots. If you looked upRetiree, examples ofonline, you’d see Stu’s picture. Ruddy-skinned with salt and pepper hair. He was the guy who enjoyed a steak and potatoes dinner and a Sunday ride on a pontoon boat. “Nick Bennington. Well, look at you. Helping out at the Sawyer farm this year?”
“Stu?” Nick looked from Stu to me, from me to Stu. “Your stepdad is Stu Krueger?”
Small towns turned out to be barrels of fun. Brimming-full barrels. “Looks like it.”
Stu pulled Nick into a one-armed hug. Any second now they’d take up arm wrestling. “Woo, this here is a fine tree. And big.” Stu turned to me, thankfully sparing me a physical greeting. “Megan, good to see you. Ah, what’s that? Looks like you’ve got a nail in your nose.”
“Ha-ha,” I spoke the laugh. “Just a nose ring.”
At least he liked the tree. Hopefully, it would grow on Mom, too. If the tree made her happy, then the hassle of bringing it here...well, I could figure out if it was worth it once we made our way inside.
When I didn’t respond, Stu moved his attention to the truck bed. “Thanks for picking this up.”
