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"I'm good, Mom," Lexi and Zach said in unison.
"Drew?"
"Plenty for me," I answered, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and passing the pot to Lexi.
"Did you want some syrup?" Lexi asked, holding up the bottle of syrup for me to take.
"Thanks." I took the bottle and drizzled the sticky brown liquid on my waffles. I passed the jug to Zach, who sat at the head of the table reading the morning paper and drinking coffee.
"How was your night with the lovely Ann Marie?" I asked.
"Amazing as always. We went downtown and hung around the large fireplace in the square. Did a little Christmas shopping, had a coffee and some cake, and then returned to her parents’ for a movie. What about you? What did you do last night?"
Lexi’s eyes flew to mine, a look of nervousness on her face, for fear I mentioned the cake incident. I winked at her and then answered Zach. "I did dishes with your sister and then hit the sack," I said, shoving a forkful of food into my mouth.
"You went to bed at what, eight o'clock? What are you, ten?" He chuckled.
"Shut up! I was tired okay." Lexi let out a little giggle. "Are you coming with us today to get a tree?" I asked, looking over at Lexi, watching as she licked syrup off her fingers and then quickly got up, excusing herself from the table, and went upstairs. I watched after her, praying that Zach would answer that he would be joining us. However, my prayers were soon crushed.
"No, sorry, man, I can't. Going skiing with Ann Marie and her parents. I promised her I would be there, so I can't exactly back out. Which reminds me, I should probably head over to her place shortly. Do you need anything out of the car before I go?" he asked as he glanced at his watch.
"No, I'm pretty sure I took everything out last night," I said, sipping on my coffee.
"All right then, guess I'll see you tonight?"
"I'll be here. Oh, could you pass me the paper before you go?"
Zach turned and whipped the paper at me, laughing as he took his plate to the sink and went on his way, leaving me in peace to finish my breakfast.
"Zach, don't forget we are decorating the tree tonight," Barbara said, turning to look over at us from where she was working away in the kitchen.
"No worries, Mom, I'll be here. See you later."
"Who got into my coconut cream cake?" Barbara cried when she opened the fridge door for something. “That was supposed to be for the charity gala!”
"Sorry, that was Lexi and me." I cleared my throat as Zach looked over at me, a strange look on his face.
"I should have known. You two always loved that cake. Have your fill. I'll make another one today." She laughed.
Zach had been gone for over a half an hour, and I was just finishing up the business section, drinking the last bit of my now cold coffee, when Lexi came bounding down the stairs, calling my name.
I turned to see her enter the kitchen. She had changed and now wore a long white sweater over black leggings. "You almost ready to go? Thought we could get into town and check out some shops before it gets too busy."
"Ready whenever you are."
"Dad said we could take his truck to get the tree."
"That will help." I laughed. "I'll drive." I threw the paper on the table and began clearing my dishes, and then I went over to the door and put my boots on. Lexi followed behind, slipping her feet into her knee-high black boots that hugged her legs perfectly.
"You don't mind if I take some photos along the way do you? I want to capture the snow and some decorations around town, maybe even some families down at the tree farm."
"Not at all, Lex."
Soon we were bundled into her father's truck and on our way down to the town center. We traveled in silence for a while, Lexi looking out the window almost as if she were afraid to look at me.
"Okay, so what are we getting?"
"Dad said he really wants a Fraser fir this year."
