AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I flicked on the light and slowly descended the wooden stairs. I easily found the stack of boxes labeled Christmas and opened the flaps on each one until I found the one with the tree stand inside. I lifted the metal contraption and carried it upstairs just as Talon came inside.
“You found it?” Talon nodded to the stand in my hand.
“Everything was marked, so it was easy to find. Where do you want it?”
Talon stopped in the middle of the room with the tree in his hand. “How about in front of the window?”
It was the rear window of the house, so no one would see it as they drove up, but then I didn’t think Talon got many visitors outside of his brothers.
“I think it will look great here.” I placed the stand a few feet from the window and stepped back so that Talon could lift the tree into the stand and secure it. I provided directions on whether it was tilting one way or the other. When it was sufficiently straight, Talon moved to stand next to me. “It needs lights.”
“I saw some downstairs.” I moved in the direction of the basement, but Talon stopped me with a hand wrapped around my wrist. “Thank you for helping. I know you have other things to do.”
I smiled to cover the hummingbird speed fluttering of my heart at his touch. “I’d just be working. You’re doing me a favor. I could use a break.”
I felt like I was getting my Talon fix after years of fasting. It was a rush that made me feel a little lightheaded.
He slowly assessed my expression as if verifying the veracity of my words before finally nodding and letting go of my wrist. “I’ll help you bring up the boxes.”
As he followed me down the stairs, I couldn’t help but think that our being together was good for our souls.
Chapter 8
Talon
We worked together to bring up all the boxes that contained decorations. There were childhood decorations I’d made in preschool and new ornaments, outdoor lights, garland, and even electric candles for the windows. I didn’t know why Mom expected me to need these many decorations. But since Holly was here, I was grateful for it. It was like Mom knew I’d need it someday.
“White or colored?” I asked Holly, lifting each strand of lights.
Holly tapped her chin with her finger. “White is classic, but I think I like colored for the tree.”
I nodded. “Good. Because I feel the same.”
“We can do white for the porch.”
I raised a brow. “We’re decorating the outside?”
“It would be nice if your deck was lit up, too, because you can see it from here.” Holly pointed at the deck, which wasn’t visible through the windows because of the darkness.
“What makes you think I need to decorate everything inside and out? I don’t have kids.”
“You said you wanted to do something different. We can’t just do this halfway.”
I loved that Holly had gotten into this. That I was a project for her. “What about your place? We should do yours, too.”
Holly shrugged. “It’s so small. Besides, it’s an apartment. I don’t have a porch or a deck to decorate.”
“We could still make it more festive,” I said as Holly opened a box and lifted a white ornament with green and gold letting.
Holly’s eyes widened as she turned to face me. “This is one of my ornaments.”
I’d forgotten that I bought those and put them in a box in the basement. I kind of thought I’d put them in my closet. But then again, I never thought Holly would be in my house, decorating my Christmas tree. The reality was so far beyond my dreams, I couldn’t have planned for this.
Holly placed it carefully onto the coffee table and dug through the box to pull out another one. “Why do you have my ornaments?”
“I liked them. I wanted to have them,” I admitted.
“Even though you’ve never put them up?” Holly’s gaze lifted to mine.
