Page 75 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

The last thing Wren wanted to do was hurt Sam. He’d given her everything, including a reason to smile again.

“Hey, Wren!” Millie said, coming over to join her in front of the trees. “You were zoning out. How’s it going?”

“Oh, it’s going,” she said, waving her hand to indicate the rows of evergreens. “Just checking out all the trees.”

“They are really pretty,” Millie said, reaching out to finger a glass piano ornament on the music store’s tree. “Unfortunately, I know I would never be able to keep the tree and ornaments in one piece at my house with my two cats who live to destroy everything I love.”

“Sounds like two creatures that need to be taught some manners,” Wren said.

Millie snorted. “Cats are rude dudes with attitudes, but I love my babies.”

“I know you do,” Wren said, smiling at her friend. She turned her attention back to the trees, scanning some of the glittering, glass ornaments that caught her eye. “They are pretty to look at, but I don’t know if I’d want a theme for my own tree.”

“Did you get a tree this year?” Millie asked. Usually, Wren pulled out a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree statue and sent Millie a pic with her gifts around it.

“My dad bought me one, but it’s just sitting in my living room, staring at me with distain, wondering why I haven’t decorated it yet.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“Because that involves going and buying ornaments and tinsel.”

Millie laughed. “You make it sound like a trip to the dentist.”

“I don’t know why I’m not excited about decorating a tree. It’s almost overwhelming, because eventually, I will include other ornaments that remind me of people I love. It feels like a waste to go purchase a bunch of balls so that my tree gets decorated, when I know I’m eventually going to replace them.”

“This sounds like the tree is a metaphor for something bigger going on in your life,” Millie said suspiciously.

“Maybe it is,” Wren murmured, turning the corner with Duke and Millie. She stopped in front of the A Shop For All Seasons’ tree. “I should bid on this one. It is pretty and has a variety of ornaments. There will be at least a couple I like.”

“Don’t be silly. You can get ornaments you want online without buying a whole tree.” Millie slipped her arm through Wren’s and added, “By the way, how are things going tracking down the Christmas Bandit?”

“Not great. He struck again yesterday when I was off. A blowup Frosty went missing from a home on the south side of town.”

“That is crazy. I wonder what he’s doing with it all?”

“Probably selling it online for drugs or money,” Wren said.

“Would he get a lot for it?” Millie asked.

“I’m not sure. ’Tis the season to overspend.”

“Hmmm,” Millie said before laughing. “Nah. Even if I wanted to, I am not hard-core enough to be a criminal mastermind.” Millie lowered her voice and leaned in close. “By the way, how is Operation Get the Splooge going?”

“Ugh, that’s gross, don’t call it that.”

“Sorry, I was just curious.”

“As it happens, there has been a new development.”

“Go on,” Millie said.

“Sam agreed to inseminate me.”

Millie stopped suddenly. “No way? Did you make him go through the whole home kit thing?”

“No, he thought that was a bit complicated.”

“It is, but then what? Did you find a clinic for him to donate semen to?”