Page 7 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
“Biggest does not always mean the best,” Michael explained. “The best tree for you is one that is the perfect fit.” He looked up at Sarah, deliberately deferring to her. “What do you think would work best for your space?”
Sarah considered the tree Emmy had chosen, then a slightly smaller one nearby. “How about this one, Emmy? It’s plenty big enough, and look at these branches.”
“Springy,” Emmy said as she hurried over to the tree and touched its branches.
“It’s a splendid tree,” Michael said in his best professional tree farmer voice. “It has good branch spacing. The needles will hold well, and the branches won’t droop even with heavier ornaments. The trunk diameter should fit a standard stand with no issues.”
“We do not want droopy branches,” Emmy said, matching his tone.
“I love it. We could trim a bit from the base,” Sarah said. “It’ll stand in the corner by the bay window, so it can be fuller on one side.” She described the placement with her hands, creating the shape of the room in the air.
He realized he was staring and cleared his throat. “This one it is, then.”
Emmy cheered, dancing around the chosen tree while Pat laughed, watching her granddaughter’s excitement.
Michael stepped forward, brushing snow from the top branch to get a better look at the crown. Sarah moved closer, too, reaching up to touch a needle tuft just as his hand withdrew.
“Thank you,” she murmured, their fingers almost touching. “For helping us find the perfect one.”
The moment stretched between them, fragile and new, until the sound of approaching voices broke the spell.
“Michael! Fancy meeting you here!” Daniel called, trudging up the path with Maisie and Teddy in tow. The children’s cheeks were flushed with cold and excitement, their wool hats dusted with fresh snow.
“Daniel,” Michael greeted, stepping back from Sarah with reluctance. “Out tree hunting, too?”
“These two wouldn’t let me hear the end of it if we waited another day,” Daniel said, ruffling Teddy’s hair. “Hi, Pat.”
“Morning, Daniel. Let me introduce you to my daughter, Sarah, and her daughter, Emmy,” Pat said, gesturing toward them with obvious pride. “Sarah, this is Daniel Brooks. He runs the bakery in town and makes the best cinnamon rolls you’ll ever taste.”
“Nice to meet you,” Sarah said, extending her hand with a warm smile that made something twist in Michael’s chest.
Daniel shook her hand. “Welcome to Bear Creek. These are my kids, Maisie and Teddy.”
Maisie stepped forward, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Emmy. “Hi! Are you choosing a tree, too? We get ours from Michael every year. It’s a tradition, isn’t it, Dad?”
Emmy nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! And it’s going to be the best tree ever! Do you have special ornaments? I have a ballerina that spins around and around.”
Maisie beamed. “I’m a snowflake girl. You know, like the glass ones that catch the lights and make rainbows on the ceiling.”
Teddy puffed up. “I’ve got a rocket ship that lights up!”
Maisie rolled her eyes. “He hangs it on the tree every year and then takes it off again and flies it around the room.”
“That’s what rocket ships are for,” Teddy told his sister. Then he switched his attention to Emmy. “Want to see the tree we picked? It’s just over there!”
“Sure,” Emmy said.
As they walked away, the two girls immediately launched into animated chatter about ornaments and decorations as they moved toward the chosen tree, while Teddy skidded on the icy path as he tagged along behind them.
“Careful on the ice, kids!” Daniel called after them, then turned back to Sarah. “So, you’re new in town? How are you finding Bear Creek so far?”
Michael watched as Sarah smiled and began chatting easily with Daniel.
His bear rumbled with an unexpected possessiveness that caught him off guard.Mine,he growled.Our mate.
The primal urge to step between them, to somehow mark Sarah as his, rose like a wave. Michael clenched his jaw, fighting the ridiculous impulse. Daniel was his best friend, for heaven’s sake. And Sarah…well, she wasn’t even aware of what she was to him yet.
But she’s ours,his bear insisted, but Michael breathed deeply, letting the jealousy dissolve into the cold air.
