The Parting Gift(20)

“It should only be two or three hours. We’re going to cut a Christmas tree. Brighten up the place a bit. I think it will bolster Mr. Graham’s spirits,” she explained to Mrs. Smith, trying to cover her response to the sound of the horn.

The older woman raised an eyebrow at her. “I haven’t known Mr. Graham to celebrate Christmas since his wife’s passing. Are you sure about this, my dear?”

“I’m sure. It’s time. Are you okay to stay until we get back?”

“Yes. Though I may have to leave for a short time to pick up the groceries before the market closes. I’ll wait as long as I can.”

Mara buttoned her coat and hurried out the door. “Thank you, Mrs. Smith. He should be asleep for another hour or so. I have lasagna in the oven. He’ll be ready to eat when he wakes up. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”



****



Stepping into the house and shaking the snow out of his hat, Blaine faced her.

“Ready?” He shook out his winter coat. Mara couldn’t keep the smile from her face as he held out her hat and gloves for her to put on. Anticipating the rough weather, she had already put her winter gloves and hat on the nearest counter top. It had been years since she’d gone Christmas tree hunting; she wasn’t sure how bundled up she needed to be.

Shyly, she took the gloves and hat, taking extra care to put them on so the bitter cold wouldn’t seep through. She wasn’t used to the cold winters just yet. Blaine’s boyish grin was infectious as he opened the door to let her out into the chilly mid-afternoon air. They stopped briefly at the shed for a saw. It was difficult for Mara not to read into Blaine’s kind gesture, but she told herself he was merely being kind, wanting to provide her and his father with a happy Christmas.

“Follow me.” He held out his free hand. Taking it, she shivered as the warmth from his fingers spread up her arm, slamming hard into her chest. He opened the door to the truck and helped her in.

“How far is it?”

Blaine gave her a teasing look. “How far do you want it to be? It’s entirely up to you. We could always cut down that tree.” He pointed to a tiny, needle-less and poor excuse for a tree standing at the edge of the driveway.

Mara couldn’t hold back her laughter. “No, that has to be the most depressing tree I’ve ever laid eyes on! We can’t cut that down, it would be…”

“Criminal,” Blaine finished nodding his head. “So shall we venture a little farther out of town? On my way from the gas station, I noticed a tree farm about ten miles out.”

“Lead the way!” Her heart felt light and happy, and a genuine smile spread across her lips.

The truck was warm, comfortable. It reminded her… Well, she wasn’t sure she wanted to think about those memories – the painful ones which involved happier times with her family. They had only celebrated one happy Christmas she could remember. Her father and she had gone in his Ford truck to pick up a Christmas tree. It was the same day he told her she would always be his little girl.

Shaking the dark thought from her head, she turned her attention to happier things. Her treacherous gaze scanned the man beside her. He possessed a quiet confidence that was rare in men these days, especially after the war. It was his greatest characteristic and also his worse fault, for it made it difficult for him to swallow his own pride and guilt.

Comfortable silence ensued as they pulled onto the main street that led out of the suburbs.

“You going to try your hand at the saw when we find the tree?”

“Try my hand?” Laughter bubbled out of her. “I’m not sure you want me around any sort of tool. I may do more harm to myself than the tree.”

“Now, Mrs. Crawford, you aren’t telling me you’re afraid to try, are you?”

Mara bit her lip. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll pick out the tree, but you have to cut it down. And if you do a good job, I’ll make you hot cocoa once we get back to the house.”

“You drive a hard bargain.”

“Nothing I haven’t heard before.”

Eyes twinkling, he looked at her, then back at the road. “Deal. Now hold on.”

“Hold on?” She barely got the words out before the truck began shaking over the rough terrain. Where was this tree farm? She took in the sights around her. Hundreds of trees were set in lines as far as she could see. The first tree in each row was decorated with tinsel and multi-colored ball ornaments, exuding the festive nature of the season. Blaine parked in front of the giant sign which read Markham’s Tree Farm and turned off the roaring truck.

Mara unbuckled her seatbelt and waited for her door to open. Blaine was there within seconds to help her out. When their gloved fingers touched a tremor radiated through her as he returned the pressure. They walked together in silence towards the rows of trees. It was enough to just to breathe in the cool afternoon air.

“Pick one,” he said beside her.

Grinning like a little girl, Mara slipped her hand into his and led the way down the first row of trees.

“They’re all so beautiful, and so tall!” Many of them reached heights of at least ten feet. “It would be glorious to have such a massive tree in the house, don’t you think, Bl—Captain?”

He appeared to ignore her slip up. “This tree farm didn’t used to be here, you know. My father used to take my mother and me out to the country to find a wild tree. Mom always picked it. Do you see one that captures your fancy?”