Page 42 of The Blessings of Christmas
“It’s fun for me too, Sarah.” He smiled down at her.
Dazed, she murmured, “I’m glad.”
His steps slowed. “You know what I’d like to do, right?”
Heat flushed Sarah’s face. “Yes. But the boys.”
“Right.” He looked around. “It’s so peaceful here.”
Away from the bakery, she felt responsibilities fall away, like the snow dropping from the trees. “Before we came out here, it didn’t feel like Christmas, know what I mean? The real Christmas. The holiday of peace and...love.”
“Not even during the Holiday Walk?” Forehead furrowed, he looked puzzled.
“Don’t take it personally.” She gave him a poke. “Santa won’t even give me a clue about what my children want for Christmas.”
Ryan glanced up ahead where the boys were circling smaller trees. “Some things are sacred. Kind of like scout’s honor.”
She narrowed a glance at him. “You were a Boy Scout?”
“Heck no.” He looked horrified.
Ah, that bad boy look was back. “Way too tame for you, right?”
“Sort of.” But Ryan didn’t look as if he wanted to own that. “Do you think we’re getting closer?”
“Sorry.” She drew away.
Grabbing her hand, he tugged her toward him. “I meant closer to the right tree.”
“Maybe. Who knows what they have in mind?” Their linked hands felt way too good and she broke away. “Nathan and Justin might see us.”
He nodded up ahead. “Looks like they’re plenty busy. Would that be so bad, Sarah?”
“Not really. I guess.” The feelings running through her were real, not from a feverish dream. Reality shook her. She drew in a frigid breath. “Did your parents bring you and Jamie here?”
His chuckle echoed in the quiet woods. “Are you kidding? My mother hated the cold so Dad had to get the tree. She gave him strict instructions. One year he even had to take a tree back and exchange it.”
“No way.” Now, that got her laughing. “That poor man.”
Looking down at her, he smiled. “You see the good in everything. Everyone.”
“That’s very sweet.” The urge to kiss Ryan twisted inside her, and she felt relieved when Nathan called out, “I see it! I see it, Uncle Ryan. The perfect Christmas tree.”
“I can’t wait.” Her breath froze white on the air as she hustled to catch up. Then she skidded to a halt and shot Ryan a glance. His surprised expression mirrored her own amazement.
This had to be the most pathetic tree she’d ever seen. Just a few inches taller than the boys, the poor thing listed to one side, its thin branches reaching for the ground. “Oh, honey. Are you sure?”
“This is it,” Nathan said and Justin nodded his agreement.
Sarah swallowed. “It’s kind of small. Maybe we’ll come back in a couple of years. Meanwhile, we can take one of the other trees home.” She glanced around. They all looked better than this one.
“Make that ten years,” Ryan muttered from the corner of his mouth.
But her sons didn’t agree.
“The tree needs us, Mom.” Nathan gently fingered the needles of a scrawny bough. “We can make this the best Christmas tree ever.”
She seriously doubted it. “Might take a lot of work.” Leaning to one side, the tree had maybe ten branches, if that. And they all aimed in different directions.
