Page 36 of Jingl
I grin at Shae and slide into the free chair. “Sorry about that. The nibs wanted to talk.”
“It’s okay,” Peggy says. “Want something warm to drink? We’re having hot apple chai-der.”
I cock a brow. “What now?”
“That’s what we call it.” Shae takes a loud sip. “It’s chai and apple cider with some whipped cream. It’s so good.”
Peggy pushes to her feet. “We have to-go cups we were planning to take with us. Makes everything feel a little more festive.”
“I’ll give it a try.” I snag Shae’s mug and moan into it as the flavor washes over my tongue. “That’s delicious.”
They chuckle as Peggy makes cups for everyone. Soon we’re out the door and in Peggy’s SUV. Shae insists I sit in the passenger seat since I have longer legs. It’s weird though and I want to be in back with Shae, but I don’t argue.
I get lost as Peggy drives us to the tree lot farm. I vaguely remember coming here every year, but I don’t remember it being as magical as it is now.
Shae bounces out of the vehicle and comes around to my side to yank the door open. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Christmas lights sparkle in Shae’s eyes, and I have to agree. We’re surrounded by trees when he takes my hand and leads me towards a field of trees as he babbles that this section is usually where they find their perfect tree. The sizes are usually just right and fit on top of the SUV.
Peggy lets us lead while she sips on her drink. Shae dances among the trees as he searches for the right one. I don’t think he realizes how excited he gets. It’s endearing how much he loves the process.
“I should have worn my Jingle shoes!” He dashes towards one tree, then another.
Peggy bumps me with her shoulder. “I don’t even care if we have a real tree, but I love how he lights up when we come here.”
I drop my head on top of hers as we watch Shae scurry among the evergreens. He’s so fucking adorable.
Shae gasps. “I think I’ve found the one!” He’s circling a bushy one that will fit exactly where they put their tree every year.
“Oh, that’s a beauty, Shae. I’ll go grab someone to help us.” Peggy gives me a wink as she walks away.
Shae’s humming Christmas songs as he rubs a few of the branches. “Smell it. It smells so good.”
I press my nose to a branch and take a sniff. “Just like Christmas.”
“Exactly!” Shae goes to fluffing up the tree a bit until Peggy comes back with someone to cut the tree down.
It doesn’t take much to get the tree down, then prepared and on the top of Peggy’s SUV. Shae gets us singing Christmas songs and our childhood floods into my memory. We used to do this every year. Both of our families would get together and Shae’d be so excited. We’d even help decorate each other’s trees, starting at Shae’s house then moving to mine where we’d watch a movie and drink hot chocolate when we were done. Then Shae would spend the night.
After Peggy parks, Shae and I wrestle the tree from the top of the SUV and get it inside. Peggy already has the stand ready in the corner and the boxes of ornaments sit on the couch ready to be placed.
Shae practically bounces when we get the tree set up.
Now we just need to make it pretty.
“It’s almost too perfect this year,” Shae says. “It’s almost a shame to cover up the natural beauty with ornaments.”
“Or we’re enhancing it.” I take the ornament Peggy hands to me and place it in Shae’s hands. It’s just a simple thing, scratched up red glass, but this ornament has memories. Our memories. He looks up at me and instead of hanging the ornament, he pulls me down by the collar to kiss. Right there in front of Peggy. But she chuckles as she goes back to hooking ornaments, getting them ready for us. For Shae.
His mouth tastes like the chai-der we’d been drinking. So sweet and spicy.
The ornament in his hands is one we painted together in third grade. My mom wanted us kids to make ornaments, so she got some clear ones. There were plenty for us all to do a couple, so Shae and I chose to do one together. Filling it with red glitter, then painting our initials on it with a heart and a year. I don’t think either of us realized at the time how damn romantic that was.
Shae keeps kissing me as he hooks the ornament to the tree. When he finally pulls away from me, his eyes dart to his mom and back to me. “Sorry ‘bout that,” he whispers.
I lift his chin. “Don’t be.”
We each take an ornament and start decorating the tree, with Peggy directing where she wanted a few of them. Soon it’s time for the lights, then the star on top. Shae’s eyes sparkle, and if Peggy wasn’t sitting right there, I’d probably drop to my knees and give Shae a mind blowing bj, but I’m a gentleman.
