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“Now, only professional decorators know this trick,” Cara said in a low voice. “It’s called dimension. Have you ever heard of that word?”
Mia scrunched her nose. “I think so?”
“Let me show you,” Cara said. She handed Mia the iPad, then began to shift the ornaments around. “See, you want to put some closer to the trunk, then others near the edge of the branches. It gives the tree more depth, and changes the reflection of the lights.”
Cara paused. “Now you try it.” She pointed to a silver ball. “See what happens when you put it closer to the light strand.”
Mia did as Cara instructed, then she clapped her hands. “It does look better.”
Roman took a few steps back to watch. It was true. Already, the tree had transformed.
Mia looked over at him, delight in her eyes. “Can you see the difference, Daddy?”
“I can,” he said.
“You have to do the high parts,” Mia continued. “You’re the tallest.”
Roman smiled—mostly from relief, but also because he was suddenly very grateful that Cara Prosper had shown up tonight.
“Oh, and one more thing I almost forgot.” Cara pulled her phone out of her pocket. “We need theme music.”
“Like a movie theme?” Mia was quick to ask.
“Sort of.” Cara’s gaze met Roman’s over his daughter’s head. “But this will be Christmas tree decorating music.”
He wondered if Liz had done this. If so, Mia had never mentioned it.
Before another word was spoken, the melody of a popular Christmas song began playing from Cara’s phone.
“There’s a speaker on the bookcase if you want to turn on your Bluetooth,” Roman said.
She flashed him a quick smile. “Okay.” Within seconds, the cheery strains of “Jingle Bell Rock”floated through the front room.
The three of them worked in tandem, putting in “dimensions,” according to Cara. And she was right, the theme music made the decorating that much better.
“What do you think?” Cara said to Mia when the last ornament had been adjusted.
They all moved back a few steps, and Mia grasped Roman’s hand.
He held his breath, hoping this version of the tree would get his daughter’s approval.
“It’s perfect. I love it!”
Cara laughed, and Roman couldn’t stop grinning.
Mia threw her arms about Cara’s legs. She looked surprised, but then hugged her back.
Roman’s heart warmed. He’d never seen Mia take to another person like this. Too bad Cara would only be here for the week. He almost hated to remind Mia of that—not to get attached. Her relationship with Lila and Thayne was fine, since they’d probably never leave his employ. But it wasn’t like he could ask a professional chef to cook for his household on a daily basis. It would be a major step down. Plus, Lila loved having that as her main job.
“Thanks so much, Ms. Prosper,” he told the woman. “We’ve been working on this tree all night, and I didn’t know if we’d ever get it finished.”
“No problem,” she said with an easy shrug. “Please call me Cara. Everyone does.”
“Even me?” Mia piped up.
“Even you.”
“All right, and call me Roman,” he said. “No formalities at this ranch.”
