“Got it.”
They drove to the other side of town, up a winding road. Natalie’s headlights came on as dusk began to fall and the clouds hung low like fog ahead.
“It should be up here on the left,” Sheila said.
The GPS announced their arrival, and Natalie stopped and texted Randy to see where they were.
RANDY: Coming up behind you now love.
She glanced in the rearview mirror, then turned in to a driveway marked with blue reflective markers on each side of a black rail fence. The porch light was on, but only one light in the house glowed.
“Think she’s home?” Sheila said.
“Hope so.” She put the truck in park. “Let’s see.”
They waved to Eli and Randy, who were getting out of their truck and dropping the tailgate on Natalie’s by the time Natalie and Sheila reached Ms. Ferebee’s door.
Sheila knocked.
Randy and Eli wrestled the tree out of the truck and lugged it to the porch.
“You’re right. It really looks like a dead body,” Natalie agreed. “Maybe we should ring the bell. She might be hard of hearing or something.”
“Or not home. It’s Christmas Eve. She could be at church.”
“True.” Natalie reached over and rang the bell.
Finally, a white-haired woman in a red robe opened the door, and peered around the edge. “Can I help you?”
“Hello, Ms. Ferebee. We have a special delivery for you,” Natalie said with all the glee of a rock-star elf.
“Oh?”
“May we come in? I’m Natalie, and this is my best friend, Sheila. I live up on the mountain.”
“Best friends? How sweet. But I didn’t order anything. You must have the wrong address.”
“No ma’am. Actually, we’re here to see you. We have a little surprise for you.” Sheila hoped Ms. Ferebee wouldn’t have the same first impression of the mummified tree that she’d had.
“We won the Christmas Tree Stroll,” Natalie piped up. “And you, my new friend, are the winning recipient of it.”
Randy danced the tree behind them catching Ms. Ferebee’s attention.
Sheila couldn’t hold back the laughter. “I promise it’s a beauty under all that cellophane. We were just trying to keep all the ornaments in place for you. You don’t have a Christmas tree, do you?”
“Oh my goodness. No, I didn’t put one up this year. Please, come in.” She opened the door enough for them to enter. “This is such a nice surprise.”
“Merry Christmas,” they said as they stepped inside and the guys shuffled the tree in behind them, then moved a chair out of the way to make room for it.
Sheila pulled a pair of scissors from her purse and started cutting away the clear wrap, straightening the ornaments as she went. “See! It’s beautiful! Did you make it over to the Christmas Tree Stroll? It was my first year.”
“I didn’t go this year. First time in my life I didn’t.” She looked sad. “I probably should have.”
“You missed one glorious night,” Natalie agreed.
A tear slipped down the woman’s cheek. “You have no idea how nice a surprise this is for me.”
“We’re glad you like it,” Natalie said.
