AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We began wandering the lot looking for the perfect tree—too short, too skimpy, too tall, too fat, not fat enough, needles falling off, the list went on and on. Thirty minutes later, she yelled over to me as I searched again through the Fraser section.
"I think I found it, Drew. Come look."
I walked through the mess of trees I had been sifting through when she came into sight, holding up a tree, a large grin on her face. "Isn't it perfect!" she exclaimed.
I shook my head. It certainly was perfect. Not too big or too tall, perfectly shaped, and so was the girl who was holding it.
"I think it’s perfect," I said smiling at her, only I wasn't really talking about the tree. When I saw her start to struggle with it, I grabbed the tree by the trunk, taking it from her. I paid for the tree and threw it into the back of the truck, then I walked around to Lexi's door and opened it for her, helping her get in. I pulled the buckle across her lap and adjusted the strap across her chest as she looked into my eyes, the click of the belt lock sounding loudly through the truck. This was going to be a perfect Christmas.
Chapter 11
Alexa
We pulledinto the driveway in time to see Zach walk out of the garage. He walked over to the car and pulled his skis from the trunk and carried them back into the garage. Drew put the car in park, and I hopped out.
"I'll go in and get the decorations down from the storage room; you guys bring the tree inside!" I shouted as I ran up the front steps to the house.
"Alexa don't slam the door," I heard Mom call from the kitchen.
"Mom, wait until you see it. It's perfect!" I exclaimed, placing the stand on the floor in the living room—the same spot the tree had gone in since I had been a child, right in the front room window. I had always loved coming home from school and seeing the tree, its lights flashing to the world as I climbed up the front steps. As I would walk through the door, the warm scents of cinnamon and nutmeg greeted me just like they had today. It was as if I had been transported back through time.
The first thing I did was flip on the radio to the all-day Christmas station and grab the step stool from the closet just as the front door opened. Drew came in carrying the trunk of the tree, with Zach trailing behind holding the top. They were both laughing as they tried to maneuver the tree up the stairs and into the sitting room.
I climbed on the stool and pulled down the boxes from the top of the storage area, setting them one by one on the table. I couldn't help but giggle as I listened to Zach and Drew as they continued to struggle to get the tree set up.
"Zach, since you were absolutely no help, as always, why don't you get down on the floor and help me guide this baby into the stand."
"Why? Has it been so long you’re afraid you won't be able to find the hole?" Zach broke out in fits of laughter, dropping the top of the tree onto the floor as Dad smacked him across the back of the head.
"That is enough of that wiseass," Dad scolded. "You may be an adult, but remember you’re not too old to get a smack."
Drew started to laugh as he picked up the tree and stood it upright, being careful not to set the trunk down on the white carpet.
I felt my cheeks redden at the comment Zach had made to Drew but did my best to pretend I hadn't heard a word he had said. Mom came in carrying a tray full of hot apple cider and set it down on the living room table. The hot apple cider was a tradition when we decorated the tree, and so was the cinnamon stick that sat in each of the mugs.
Mom took one look at me and instantly her hand went to my forehead. "Lexi, honey, you are feeling all right. You look flushed."
"I'm good, Mom."
She dropped her hand and looked at me, but I just continued pulling open the box of decorations. I began sifting through them, trying to keep my eyes from wandering over to Drew, who now had his coat off and was adjusting the tree, while Zach lay on the floor shouting out instructions. I glanced up again and watched the muscles in his back flexing through his shirt.
"Lexi why don't you come and help me in the kitchen with the cinnamon buns," Mom said, diverting my attention away from Drew.
"All right, Mom." I closed the box I was sifting through and followed her into the kitchen.
I stood at the counter while she pulled apart the buns from the pan and plated them up before drizzling the sticky sugar topping onto them.
"I see you have grandma's angel necklace on. You normally only wear that when you are wishing for something."
I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. "I guess I just felt like being close to her right now."
"Lexi are you sure everything is okay?"
I toyed with telling her about how I was feeling for Drew and was just about to say something when I heard someone behind me.
"Finally got the tree up," Drew said, coming into the kitchen to wash his hands. "It is a great tree, Lexi. You really did pick the perfect one." He turned to face us, smiling at me while he dried his hands.
"Thanks!" I noticed my mother watching me in the questioning way all mothers did. “These ready now, Mom?” I questioned and grabbed three of the plates and scurried into the living room, setting the plates beside the tray of drinks that Mom had brought in earlier.
