They passed a huge display of Christmas characters made by the Cassidy family and put out every year. And in front of the nursery, a couple of helpers were taking down the last of the cut Christmas trees and piling them in a pickup truck.
“No more trees?” Gael asked sadly.
“Well, not a lot of people buy a Christmas tree after Christmas,” Jenny told him. “But I’m sure there’s still plenty of Christmas stuff inside.”
Erik pushed open the door to the nursery and they all stepped in.
“Wow,”Gael murmured, looking around.
Erik turned to Jenny. She was looking around the enormous space too, her expression softening with amazement.
The nursery was wonderful. There was a forest of potted evergreens draped with twinkle lights, and handmade wreaths hung from the walls, filling the whole glassy room with the cozy scent of pine.
There were holiday themed welcome mats, little wood-carved creche scenes, huge displays of ornaments, and great big spools of velvet and satin ribbon. Tables of poinsettias sat under lights, their foil wrapped pots shimmering.
“Wow,” Gael said again, rushing over to a table of miniature Christmas houses that looked like real elves and fairies could live in them. “Are they toys?”
“They’re garden decorations,” Erik said. “You hide them in your garden for kids to find, or fairies.”
“Cool,”Gael enthused. “If I had a garden, I would definitely buy one and hide it.”
Jenny smiled, and Erik wished he could buy her a house with a garden right now.
Easy, tiger,he told himself inwardly.
But of course he was reminded that he had planned to buy a house out here once Lydia joined him, and he actually still needed to cancel their appointment with the real estate agent.
“Where do you live?” Gael asked suddenly, as if he’d read Erik’s mind.
“I just rent an apartment in town,” Erik said. “It’s close to the Center, and that was really important when I first opened up.”
“It’s nice not to worry about maintenance,” Jenny offered.
“Well, I kind of like the idea of fixing up a house,” Erik heard himself admit. “I was planning on looking at a few places this week, but…”
He felt like an idiot for opening his mouth and reminding her that he’d been dumped by his fiancée on Christmas Eve.
“Why not buy a house anyway?” Jenny said, brightening. “You don’t have to be married to pick out a house.”
“She wasn’t married when she picked out a kid,” Gael pointed out, which made Jenny laugh.
Erik found himself chuckling too.
“Whoa,” Gael yelled, darting off to check out a massive sleigh-shaped shelving unit that was covered with Christmas lawn decorations.
“He’s really something,” Erik said fondly.
“He really is,” Jenny said. “And for the record, I didn’t exactly pick him out. That’s not how it works. But I do think the two of us were meant for each other.”
“That’s clear from seeing you together,” Erik said. “You’re both so gentle with each other. I hope that’s not a strange thing to say.”
“We’ve both experienced loss,” she said, nodding. “Gael more than me. But I think it helps us understand each other.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Erik said, his heart aching, though he had suspected as much, at least for Gael.
“I lost my husband not long after we got married,” Jenny said. “He made me promise not to be alone. He knew how much I wanted a family. I didn’t really see myself marrying again, but I think adopting a child counts.”
“Of course it counts,” Erik said, trying not to dwell on her thoughts about marriage.
