Page 32 of Yours for the Season
In the end, Naveed and Rob scored the first point by finding a bag of coal beneath a tree, and Barb and Tahsin identified a familiar tune as the sound of sleigh bells. Esa and Calvin had worked out that a word scramble clue was “tinsel” and found a pile of the glittery gold decorationon one of the smallest trees on the lot, but Tom was right about the horseshoe. That left the final clue, a star. Now that each team was tied, the search took on a new energy, with each couple yelling distractions to their competition and engaging in some friendly trash-talking.
“Are you sure you don’t need a stepladder to look for the star?” Naveed asked his petite wife with fake sincerity.
“I hope Hilda sells supersize chocolate bars, because I plan to winbig,” Esa said loudly when they passed him and Calvin down one aisle, and she responded with her own cheerful ribbing. It felt good to tease her little brother, and be mocked in turn.
Sameera was goading her father about stars when Tom tugged on her arm.
“Emily and I had a spot on the lot where we used to hide as kids,” he whispered to her, and Sameera tried to ignore the sudden stab of jealousy at his words. Of course he and Emily had a special spot; they had grown up together in Wolf Run. It didn’t mean anything.
Except Hilda had warned Tom that Emily was back in town, which implied they had a relationship that went beyond simply old childhood friends.
Not that it mattered. So what if Tom’s ex-girlfriend (ex-fiancée?Ex-wife?) looked like a blond Hollywood bombshell and had eyes only for him? As soon as she got that intro to Andy Shaikh and this trip was over, she and Tom would go their separate ways.
Which was ... fine. Exactly the plan. Perfect, really.
Tom led her to a secluded spot in the middle of the grove. It was quiet here, and the trees grew in an almost perfect circle, taller than the other conifers surrounding them. “This is the oldest part of the tree lot,” Tom whispered to her. “Emily’s mom never let anyone buy these trees for some reason. Said they were special. When we were younger, we thought maybe she was a witch, and this was where her coven met up. Now I think she just knew we liked to play here. It was one of the only places in Wolf Run that felt like it belonged only to us.” He reachedup to one of the trees, gently pushing aside the needles, and plucked something shiny hidden at the top.
“This feels like a setup,” Sameera teased. “Insider trading.”
“All is fair in love and hot chocolate,” Tom quipped. He passed her the golden star, which was actually made from dented brass. She grinned at him and rang the cowbell. A minute later, an older woman—definitely not the ethereal Emily—appeared at the edge of the tree circle. The look she shot Tom was as cold as the snow surrounding them, and his smile instantly vanished.
“I told that girl not to hide the star here. Knew you’d find it right away. Come on, golden boy.” The older woman turned abruptly without waiting to see that they were following.
“Who is that?” she whispered to him.
“Jan Michaels. Emily’s mom,” Tom said, keeping his voice low as they retraced their steps.
Sameera contemplated Jan’s tense shoulders, her angry stride through the trees toward the main clearing. “I don’t think she likes you,” Sameera said, and beside her, Tom huffed out a laugh.
“She’s the president of my fan club, actually,” he said.
Jan turned around and eyed them suspiciously. “Bit tacky, isn’t it? Bringing your new girl here to meet the woman you abandoned when you went down south.”
This stopped Tom short. “Sameera is a friend, Jan. Nothing more.”
Sameera flashed him a grateful smile. He had listened to her.
Jan snorted. “That’s not what you told Hilda. Afraid to hurt my feelings? I always knew you were a snake.”
Tom didn’t take the bait. “Emily and I broke up a long time ago. It was mutual.”
Jan snorted again. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, pretty boy.” Her eyes wandered to Sameera. “Be careful with this one. He knows how to say all the right things. Too bad he’s not as great at backing up those words with action.”
“Tom has integrity. He would never attack someone in public and try to drag their character down in front of others,” Sameera snapped back, clocking Tom’s surprise at her immediate defense. She was surprised, too. But something about Jan’s words bothered her. Tom had accepted his mistake the minute it was pointed out, and had just tried to do better. Besides, anyone who could brew chai like he did couldn’t be all bad.
Jan wasn’t impressed with her words, and scoffed. “Golden boy has you under his spell, too. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
They approached the store, where their respective families waited, alongside the beautiful Emily, whose face fell when she caught sight of her mother.
“Look who I found showing his new girlfriend your special spot,” Jan said, her tone derisive.
“We’re not—” Sameera started, but Emily put a placating hand on her arm.
“Did you find the star?” she asked Tom, and he handed it over wordlessly.
While Emily mediated Esa’s accusations of cheating, Sameera took the opportunity to examine Tom. Despite Jan’s needling, he didn’t appear upset at the situation. In fact, his reaction to Emily had been one of distant friendliness, without a hint of heartbreak. Jan seemed more upset than either Tom or Emily.
“Tom and Sameera found the last clue, which means they win!” Emily announced. She offered to buy Esa a hot chocolate as consolation, which silenced his complaints immediately.
