Page 6 of Daddy’s Little Candy Cane

CHAPTER SIX

Ethan

While I felt bad for lying to her, I couldn't deny the fact that I had done it just to be able to spend time with her. Even though I usually closed the tree lot at five so that nobody was out close to the woods after dark, especially thanks to all the children who like to wander off from the fenced off area, I had decided to wait in order to see her. At first, I thought she wasn't coming, but, when she finally did, I was thrilled and couldn't believe my luck.

Ever since I left the diner that day, I couldn't get my mind off her. She was like a drug to me, and I didn't want to come down from the high that she made me feel. Since she was much younger than me, I had to remember to take it slow and not scare her off, especially since I couldn't help how much I wanted to be with her. After all, I was a Daddy, and I didn't know if she was a Little or not.

I had been introduced to the concept of being a daddy about ten years ago when I noticed that a lot of people who were older than me were getting with women who were about the same age as Diana was now. At first, I thought it was strange, but, after realizing that nobody in town gossiped about them the way they did whenever people the same age got together, I realized that more people in town were accepting of the idea then in most places. After realizing that more people who were married had about the same age gap as those couples I was seeing, I started to wonder about the idea of becoming a Daddy myself.

Up until this point, no woman had really caught my attention the way Diana had. I had dated a few women here and there, but that was mostly because they had asked me out rather than me asking them out. After the date, we never really talked again, and I started to feel lonely over the years. Now that Diana was here, I knew that I had to try to win her over no matter what it took.

As soon as I saw that she was still wearing her work uniform underneath her coat, I realized that she must have just gotten off work when she had come over just like I had instructed her to and knew that she would feel bad if she knew that I closed at five instead of five thirty. I felt bad for lying, but I didn't want her to feel guilty for coming to see me after the tree lot was closed. So, as we walked out to the fenced area where this year's crop of trees was waiting, I did everything I could to try to make small conversation.

Of course, I already knew exactly what kind of tree she should get. Charles Travis always picked out a Nordmann tree that was never over six feet tall. He had been a shorter man and preferred to be able to put the tree topper on the tree without much help, especially as he got older, so he always picked a smaller tree. After seeing how tall his daughter was, I realized that she would be better off with nothing taller than six feet, just as he had always picked out. I had a healthy batch of Nordmann trees that a lot of townsfolk didn't like to buy, so I knew that she would have her pick of the crop when we got there. There was one in particular I had already chosen and figured she would go for, but it was her tree, meaning it was her decision.

As soon as we arrived at the fenced off area, I turned on the lights that I had set up out there so that we could see the trees a lot better despite the dark that was growing around us. She looked a little scared, and I started to wonder if she was uncomfortable being out after dark this close to the woods, but, when the lights came on, she seemed to relax a little and followed me across the area until we came across the trees. As soon as she saw them, she couldn't help but smile.

"Are these the trees that you were going to suggest?" she asked as she approached them. Amazed at her ability to recognize them, I smiled and nodded in response.

"Your father always got a six foot tall Nordmann tree with soft needles," I informed her as she felt the branch of the tree. "While most people prefer the Scotch pine or the white fir trees, your father always insisted on getting a Nordmann, saying that he wanted something unique." As she looked around at the trees, she looked lost and thought.

"You're right about that," she replied. "Father always hates being like everybody else. Being down south must really bother him." Realizing that she must miss her family and that this was going to be her first Christmas alone, I couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards her.

I had been twenty-five when I had to spend my first Christmas alone, and, even then, I had the townsfolk their at the tree lot almost each and every day, so I didn't end up feeling so lonely. Because I didn't have any family to spend Christmas with, I liked to help out the community throughout the entire Christmas season because it cut down on how alone I always felt when the season came. Wondering if she felt the same way I had the first year I had spent Christmas alone, I couldn't help but smile at her.

"Your father has good taste in trees," I complimented. "The Nordmann are some of my favorite trees, and I usually end up taking one inside for myself whenever I set up my Christmas tree." Turning to face me, she smiled.

"Which of these is the one that you wanted to give me?" she asked, sounding genuinely curious as she spoke. Pointing at the one that she had touched, I nodded.

"That one," I admitted to her. "The one that you chose when you first got here." She paused as she turned to look back at the tree. After a brief silence, she nodded.

"I'll take it," she replied. "Name your price." I took some time to consider the price before shrugging.

"One hundred dollars, and it's yours," I finally decided, and her jaw dropped in surprise.

"Is it really that inexpensive?" she asked as she stared at me in disbelief. "People have told me that usually a real Christmas tree cost anywhere from three to four hundred dollars. I thought I was going to be spending a lot more than just one hundred on a tree." Not surprised at all by her statement, I shook my head.

"Nordmann trees are a lot less expensive than noble furs or white furs," I pointed out. "Besides, I like to run a deal for first time customers. Since this is your first Christmas buying a tree from me, I can give it to you for one hundred dollars." She turned back to the tree, her hand still on the soft needles of the branch as she considered my offer, and I started to wonder if she was getting the wrong idea. After her brief silence, she nodded in response.

"Deal," she replied as she smiled at me. "Do you take debit card?"