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“I’m not your boyfriend or your father,” Vance said.
Olive smiled sweetly at him, then took her fist, making a suggestive motion toward her mouth. “Please.”
Anna Beth thought about her box of childhood ornaments. She hadn’t opened the box yet, but…
Suddenly, she jumped to her feet. “I have it!”
“You have what?” Olive asked.
“I know how to show Jared I care. But I need help.”
Vance started to get up again and Olive grabbed his arm. “No.” He sat. “What kind of help?”
“Ornaments. Specific ornaments. And a Christmas tree.”
“By when?”
“Christmas Eve.”
“All the trees at the market are sold,” Vance said.
“That’s okay. I know how to work a chainsaw.”
Thirty-One
Jared sat on the couch at his parent’s house on Christmas Eve, watching the twinkling lights of the tree and wishing he’d gone into work. He wasn’t exactly feeling the holiday cheer at the moment. His brothers and sisters were laughing in the other room as they finished dinner. Jared hadn’t eat much or felt like visiting.
“Hey.” Karen nudged him with her foot. “What are you doing? You’ve been a grump all night.”
“I’m just tired.”
Karen sat down next to him, patting his knee. “Why don’t we d
o presents so you can go home and rest?”
“But we haven’t cleaned up or had dessert yet.”
“It’s Christmas. The dinner mess can wait. We’ll mix things up this year.” She leaned away from him and hollered, “Everyone get in here for the gifts.”
The Jeffries filed in, taking seats around the room. To his surprise, Isa waddled straight for the tree and picked up a small square box wrapped in white paper and tied together with a shiny red ribbon. She held it out to him.
“Usually mom picks the gifts,” Jared said.
Karen smiled. “That’s okay, just open it.”
He read the tag. To Jared. Love, Santa.
Jared didn’t recognize the handwriting. Carefully, he slid off the ribbon and tore the paper. He pulled up the lid on the little white box and inside was an ornament, wrapped in red tissue. Jared picked it up by the hook, noting how heavy it was. The wooden base was a sled. White, glittery puff paint covered the bottom like snow and holly leaves and berries decorated the front. When he held it up to get a better look, he saw that someone had glued a small, red photo frame on top of the sled. Inside was the selfie he’d taken with Anna Beth on top of Slaughter Hill.
“This is from Anna Beth?” he whispered.
“Yes, and there’s something else inside.”
Jared pulled out a piece of white paper tucked to one side. He unfolded it slowly, his stomach twisting in knots.
Jared,
Since I’ve almost finished my list, I thought maybe I should make one for the new year. Let me know what you think…
