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I look to Brooks to see what he thinks of his mother’s suggestion.
He smiles broadly. “Agreed, you’ve gotta come. Let’s get some tress picked out and head home.”
Home. A word that hasn’t held much meaning since Mom and Dad died. When Brooks says it, I wonder what it makes him think of. His home is so far away.
Scout and Coralee walk away, looking for a tree, and Brooks turns his attention to me.
“Now what kind of tree do you like?” he asks me. “It’s an important question.”
I smile, nerves fading away every time Brooks speaks to me. How is it a man I hardly know, can make me feel so comfortable in my own skin?
“There is only one kind of tree I’d choose.”
He smiles, his eyes so bright, so full of life, that my belly flipflops. He makes me feel more alive, just by being around him.
“Let me guess, a sad little Charlie Brown tree?”
I laugh. “How did you know?”
He rests a hand on my arm. “I don’t know what it is, Noelle. But I feel like I know you. In so many ways.”
I bite down on my bottom lip.
The truth is, I feel the exact same way.BrooksAfter we get the tree set up in my parents’ house, I haul out the boxes of ornaments, so my mom and Scout can get to work decorating. As they start stringing lights, I notice that Noelle looks a little uncomfortable. I know we just met yesterday, but it’s surprising seeing her out of sorts.
Noelle is standing in the living room, taking it all in. I have to admit my heart softens as I see Scout giggling with her grandpa — maybe she is missing out on not being closer.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, delivering her a glass of white wine.
“Nothing really,” she says, taking a sip of the wine. “Thanks for getting my tree to my place.”
I frown, not believing her for a minute but I let it go, not wanting to pressure her to talk if she doesn’t want to. “That one was easy, it was small. This one that Scout picked, though, is—”
“Huge?” Noelle smiles. “It’s sweet that you let her pick. You’re wrapped around her finger.”
“You think I’m too easy on her?”
Noelle shakes her head, smiling softly. “No, I think it’s precious. It’s the way a father should treat his little girl. Like she’s the gift she is.”
I rest a hand on the small of her back. “Being here, with my family, is it too hard?”
She looks up at me. “No, Brooks. I love being here.”
“Would you tell me if you didn’t?”
She bites her lip. “Probably not.”
I run a hand over my beard. “So, how am I gonna know what you’re really feeling if you aren’t gonna tell me?”
She shrugs. “Guess you’re gonna have to learn my body language.”
I snort. “Don’t mind being given that job.”
Mom walks past us with a string of lights and asks what we’re smiling about.
“Brooks was just telling me how much he loves to learn new things,” Noelle says.
Mom lifts an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? Are you going to learn how to move closer to your parents?”
I chuckle. “You know my life is in Seattle.”
Mom just raises her eyebrows and then walks away. “Nothing’s set in stone,” she called over her shoulder.
“What is that about?” Noelle asks.
“My parents moved here from Seattle this summer and now they think Scout and I should follow. Not sure that’s how it works though.”
“It’s sweet they want you closer,” Noelle says wistfully, and I realize then, how she'd do anything to have the chance to be close to her parents again. I run a hand over my beard, considering my priorities. I’ve always put Scout first, but now I wonder what is best for both of us. My parents won’t be around forever, and they’re the only family my daughter and I have.
“You’re right,” I say. “I probably don’t tell them that enough.”
“Well, you at least got your mother a Christmas gift, didn’t you?”
“Shit,” I say laughing. “I really need to step up my game.”
“Do you have a problem with Christmas or something?” Noelle asks.
I shrug. “Hell, I’m not the most sentimental man, and I don’t have a wife. You know, someone to remind me to lighten up.”
Scout is shrieking gleefully as my mother brings her a cup of hot cocoa.
“You’re telling me that little girl doesn’t warm your heart?”
“She does. Without her, I’d probably turn to stone.” I look over at Noelle. “What about you? Who in your life makes sure you aren’t becoming jaded or bitter?”
She takes a sip of her wine considering the question. “I think I keep myself pretty busy as a distraction. The truth is I’m alone a lot. I have friends, but everyone is busy with their own lives.”
“Do you want someone in your life? Someone you can count on?”
