Page 49 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
“It’s weird,” Lina said after finishing her food. “I can’t remember anything, but I could remember how to cook. I didn’t even think about it. I just… started cooking.”
“I bet a lot of things will happen like that,” I told her.
She nodded. “I hope so.”
Asher slid out of his chair and cleared our plates for us. “Can we go get the tree now?”
I nodded and ruffled his crazy hair. “Yeah. Let’s go get your jacket and boots. You still have to brush your teeth. And find your gloves like I asked you to the other day. How about you get ready, and Lina and I will clean the kitchen?”
Asher didn’t say anything. He just took off running.
Lina smiled. “I guess we’d better get going. He’ll be ready to go before we know it.”
I took Lina and Asher to the same place my son and I went every year to buy our Christmas tree. It was a massive yard run by a family of eight: a mom and dad and their six kids, who were all teenagers now. The three sons were thickly built and helped customers get their trees attached to the roofs of their cars. It was a smoothly run operation, and they served hot apple cider as well as hot chocolate and espresso.
We each got a hot drink before wandering down the lanes of trees.
Asher stopped at every second one to inspect it.
“Look at this one, Dad! It’s so green! And it has so many branches! Look! Look!”
“I can see it, Ash.” I chuckled. “Do you think it might be too tall for our living room?”
Asher frowned and peered up at the tree. “Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe.” He put his finger to his chin with thought. Then he peered down the line of trees, spotted his next target, and took off running toward it.
Lina giggled beside me. “He’s a really cute kid.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I know I’m biased, but I agree.”
She smiled and sipped her cider as we arrived at the tree Asher was currently ogling. “What do you guys think about this one? It’s shorter. And wider. And just as green. And I think it would look good—Wait, look at that one!” And he was gone again. Snow shuffled under his boots as he darted to the right, weaving his way between the trees to find another possible candidate for the Gabriel home.
Lina and I took our time catching up to him.
She gazed at all the trees, her eyes falling down them from the tip to the base. She sighed.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Oh. Sorry. Yes. It’s just strange. I can’t help but…” She trailed off and shook her head. “Never mind.”
“No. Tell me.”
She looked up at me. Her eyes were just as green as the trees all around us. “I can’t help but wonder what my normal Christmas tradition is. Where would I be if not here?”
I didn’t know how to answer that question. “Lina—”
She shook her head. “It’s all right. You don’t need to tell me. To be honest, I don’t think I’m ready to know the real stuff yet. I’d like to enjoy the holidays with you and your family. The rest?” She paused and bit her bottom lip. “The rest I’ll figure out when I’m ready.”
I wanted to wrap an arm around her and tell her everything would be okay. I wanted to tell her she was safe. But I didn’t. I kept my hands to myself as we caught up with Asher, who was looking back and forth between two majestic, perfect trees. His eyes were alight with wonder. He looked very much like he did every Christmas morning after seeing Santa had come and gone.
“Dad,” he breathed. “Look at these two.”
I stopped before the two trees. “Wow. These are pretty good finds, Asher. They’re both magnificent.”
He nodded. “I know. I don’t know which one is better.”
Lina walked around one of the trees. “Well, where’s that checklist of yours?”
Asher pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and held it up proudly. “Right here!”
