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“It’s bound to be a little slippery here,” he said, looking down at the packed snow, sliding his booted foot across it. “Yeah, I think it might be best if I hold onto you. Think you can put some pressure on your foot?”
“Maybe a little,” I said.
“Okay.” He gave me one crutch and took the other back to the car, then placed his arm around my waist, and with me using him for most of my support, we slowly made our way around the park.
When we got to the gazebo, we stopped so I could lean against it and take a rest. He watched as people skated around the pond, and some children off in the distance tobogganed down a hill, their laughter ringing through the air.
“Does Willow Valley set this up every year?” he questioned.
“Every year. They light the large tree in the center of the park in early November. It’s quite the event. I provide hot chocolate, coffee, and apple cider, along with a pile of baked goods for everyone, in exchange for a donation to the Willow Valley food assistance program.”
Tristan turned his eyes toward me. “You really make an impact on people’s lives.”
“Nah, it’s just something I do. It allows me to give back to everyone who has supported me over the years.”
He studied my eyes, then he brought his fingers up and brushed away a strand of hair that had kept falling into my face. “You have an amazing heart, Brooke.” He whispered, “I admire that.”
Before I knew what was happening, he leaned in and slowly brought his lips to mine.
Tristan
The drive back was one filled with silence. She hadn’t said much after the kiss, and I was beginning to wonder if I hadn’t overstepped my bounds. I’d meant what I had said, she was a gorgeous woman with a beautiful heart and a part of me wanted to be surrounded by that forever.
I pulled into the driveway and watched as Brooke hobbled inside, while I untied the tree from the roof of her van. Then I carefully carried it into the house, and together we got it secured into the stand. I placed it in the corner, while she sat on the couch deciding which angle was best. I immediately stopped moving the tree when she shouted that she’d found it. I slowly stepped backwards, my hands out in front of me, in case the thing fell over while she giggled.
“Why are you acting like it’s going to attack you?” She laughed.
I shrugged and laughed at myself as I noticed the tree was standing perfectly on its own.
“You don’t need to worry, I’ve never had the tree fall over or attack me once it was in the stand.” She laughed.
“That’s a relief,” I said, continuing to laugh as I looked at her. She really was a gorgeous woman, with the personality to match. “Do you mind if I take a quick shower?”
“No, by all means, go ahead,” she said, still admiring the tree in the corner.
When I returned to the living room, I noticed she’d managed to pull boxes marked “tree decorations” out and had most of them sitting against the wall. Except for one box. That box sat in front of her on the floor, and she was going through it.
“What’s all that?” I questioned, leaning over the couch and catching a whiff of her perfume.
“Oh, just a few decorations my parents left for me. This one was from my grandmother.” She pulled a glass star out from some tissue paper.
I studied her face as she softly smiled as she held it up. “My grandfather gave that to her the first Christmas after she’d opened The Crispy Biscuit because he knew she was going to be a star,” Brooke said as she looked at it.
“It’s beautiful,” I agreed as I looked at the ornament.
Brooke brought her hand up to her eyes and carefully wiped beneath each of them, then she took a deep breath and wrapped the ornament back up into the tissue paper and placed it gently inside the box. “You know, I think I’m going to go and shower before dinner as well.”
I nodded, “You’re in for a treat tonight,” I said, clapping my hands together.
“Oh?”
“Yep, you will see, I’m not spoiling the surprise. Are you okay though? Do you need any help?” I questioned, watching as she grabbed her scooter.
“I should be okay. Thank you though,” she said and disappeared into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.
I stood looking at the boxes and then over to the tree that was beginning to fall nicely in the corner. Ever since I’d been a little kid, I’d never really known what a true home felt like. At first, it had made me uncomfortable being here, but now I was beginning to like it. “Don’t get to used to it,” I mumbled to myself. “You’ll be back in your cold apartment before you know it.” I glanced to the tree and then turned and made my way into the kitchen.
I’d been working on dinner for twenty-five minutes when I heard the water shut off. I’d just began frying up the breaded chicken, bringing each side to a nice golden brown, and placed it on the baking tray when Brooke came into the kitchen.
