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The words lodged in my throat. I couldn’t explain it. When I’d purchased them, my mom hadn’t said anything about it. She’d just carefully wrapped them in tissue paper and handed them over. I’d been grateful for that at the time. But now I wondered if she hoped this day would come, and I had, too.
Instead of answering, I took the ornament with an image of a cabin and trees from her hand, slipped a hook through the hoop, and hung it on a high branch. I wondered whether it was meant to mimic one of our houses.
Holly lifted the one that said Evergreen Christmas Trees and hooked it on a nearby branch. We took turns hanging the wooden snowflakes, snowmen, and candy cane ornaments I’d seen for sale at the shop.
When we were done, Holly said, “I can’t believe you have all the ornaments I’ve ever sold at the shop.”
“You should add the birds to the collection. Those would look good on my tree.”
Her nose scrunched. “I’ve never sold them anywhere.”
“They would complement the other ones you’ve made.”
Holly nodded. “Your tree is the perfect depiction of the holiday shop at the barn. You should take a picture and send it to your mom.”
My throat tightened. “She’d like that.”
Holly took a few pictures of the tree from different angles, and then she gestured for me to move in front.
I let out a huff but let her maneuver me. “I don’t think anyone would want this picture.”
Holly’s lips curved into a smile as she looked up at me. “Your mother might.”
I didn’t protest because she was right, and I liked that her attention was on me.
When Holly stepped back, I snagged her wrist and pulled her into my side. Before she could react, I lifted my phone and snapped a picture.
Holly smacked my arm. “I wasn’t ready.”
“Well, get ready. I’m taking more.” I lifted the camera and snapped a few with my arm around her. She was smiling, but I wasn’t. I snapped one more at the same time she lifted and kissed my cheek. The feel of her lips on my skin sent sparks flying through my body. Nothing had changed over the years. If anything, my body reacted even more to having her nearby.
When we scrolled through the pictures, it was the last one I couldn’t look away from. My expression had softened when she kissed me, and her eyes were closed. I could almost imagine that we were dating, that she was still in love with me, and that was just one of many Christmases we were spending together.
Hope bloomed in my chest. It was a dangerous emotion I rarely let take over anymore. But maybe it was time to let it in. To see if there was a possibility between me and Holly. Didn’t I owe it to myself to at least try?
I’d loved her once. What if it never went away? What if she felt the same way? What if we could have everything we ever wanted together? I waited for the familiar pain to travel through my chest, but it didn’t come.
I’d been repeating what everyone had said we needed for years about closure when I asked her to spend time with me. It was working. The only thing was, I didn’t want closure. I wanted a new beginning.
“We forgot about holiday music.” Holly pulled up a song list and hit play. “Is this okay?”
I sat on the couch and stretched an arm over the back of it. “Of course, it is.”
Holly’s eyes brightened. “You want to order pizza and tackle the outside lights?”
“You’re not tired of me yet?” I asked lightly, almost afraid she’d say yes and get up to leave.
Holly sat next to me. “I could never say that about you. When we were dating, we spent all our free time together.”
In high school, she’d hang out with me in the shop room while I worked. But she’d never been here in the cabin or my workshop.
I handed her my phone and pointed out the pizza app. “Order whatever you want. I’ll take the boxes outside.”
“Seriously?” Holly asked.
I nodded. “I have a feeling you’re going to get your way, even if I put you off for another day.”
Holly threw her head back and laughed.
