“What’s all this stuff,” Vanessa asked, pointing to the two large stacks of boxes.
“I wasn’t sure what y’all would want to decorate with, so I brought a bunch of stuff up. When you’re done decorating, I’ll move the boxes out of here.”
Vanessa lifted the top from one of the boxes and pulled out a heavy bag of pearl garland. “This will be pretty.”
“Oh, I really like that. Isn’t it fancy?”
“Look.” Vanessa raised a shiny ball with a flocked design on it. “I can’t believe it. You never see these anymore. This is exactly like what we had on our tree growing up.”
“There’s all kinds of stuff in those boxes. Different themes, and colors. My late wife… she loved Christmas.”
“Thank you for letting us use this. Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
“Absolutely.” He wagged a finger in Anna and Vanessa’s direction. “Smiles like that. They’re priceless.”
“Thank you, Buck,” Anna said. “Oh, Vanessa, you won’t believe how we got the tree back to the truck.”
“Please don’t tell me you carried it.”
“Heavens, no. It has to weigh a ton. Buck even had someone come help us get it into the house, but they had this sleigh—well, it looked like a sleigh, but it had wheels and this big old mule pulled it with us on the sleigh too.”
“That sounds fun.”
“It was, and Buck’s a great singer.” Anna glanced his way with a smile that pushed a dimple in her chin. “He sang ‘O Christmas Tree’ all the way back.”
“I might’ve been caught up in the moment.” His cheeks flushed. “It was nice.”
“It sure was,” Anna said. “I want to get a tree exactly like this every year.…” She appeared flustered, as if she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Switching her attention back to Vanessa: “What did you do all day while we were cutting down the Christmas tree?”
“I went over and watched them load up the horses to go to a parade up in Pennsylvania. They are even bigger up close. Fraser Hills Percherons,” she mentioned to Buck. “You know them? Well, of course you do. Small town and all.”
“I do.”
“Look at this.” Vanessa ran over to Anna with her phone.“This little puppy showed up at the corporate apartment last night. Isn’t he adorable?”
Anna looked, then grabbed the phone. “Oh my gosh, I bet he still has puppy breath.”
“He does. It reminded me of your dog, Sam.”
“I loved that dog so much.”
“I never really understood how people thought of pets as family. I guess because I’d never had one of my own, but I totally get it now. That pup stole my heart last night. If I didn’t live in a condo, I’d have kept him for myself.”
“I wouldn’t let that stop you,” Anna said. “They bring so much to your life.”
“That’s true,” said Buck.
“And look at this.” Vanessa brought up the picture of Big Ben and Scooter together. “It’s like they were having a discussion. He’s the cutest thing.”
“I’m so surprised to hear you gush over that puppy.” Anna started laughing and pulled closer to Buck. “She used to go crazy if my dog, Sam, licked her. You’d have thought we were forcing poison on her.” She could barely catch her breath as she laughed at the memory. “She’d have a complete hissy fit.”
Vanessa laughed. “I know. She’s not exaggerating. I did lose it. That was so stupid, Anna. You must’ve thought I was a nutcase. Last night, that little guy was licking my face like I was covered in peanut butter. That little tongue of his even went right up my nose, but I didn’t mind one bit. I was a little sad when Lilene knew exactly where the puppy had come from when I brought him into the office with me.”
“You took him to work?”
“I couldn’t leave that sweet little face at home all day alone. He’s so precious.”
Buck put his arm around Anna and gave her a squeeze. “Thanks for a lovely day, fine lady. You two have a joyful night together decorating that tree. If you need help with the angel on top, Anna knows how to reach me.”
