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“You monster,” Del said, grinning. “So, Mi, does that mean you’re finally here to shop instead of volunteer?”
“It sure does. Do you guys have anything left that would fit in my living room?”
“Hmm.” Del turned in a slow circle, eyes narrowed with concentration. “Hey, Chase? Did we sell Whitey?”
“Whitey?” Alex whispered.
Mia looked to him with a shrug.
From a few rows back, Chase’s knit cap—a gift from Aunt Faye—poked into view. “Nope, he’s still back here.”
“Perfect.” Del looped her arm through Brooklyn’s. “Right this way, milady.”
Soon they were all standing before a tree barely taller than Alex. A rather straggly-looking tree. Mia gave her sister a skeptical look.
“So, this is ‘Whitey’?”
Del planted a hand on one hip. “Okay, first? Don’t look at me like that. You know I name all my favorite plants.”
“It’s true,” Chase said. “This time of year, it’s always some silly Charlie Brown tree that wins her heart.”
Mia nodded. “Well, this one definitely fits the bill.”
“Ah, but you’re not looking at its best side,” Del said.
Brooklyn edged closer to Mia and whispered, “I’m not sure this onehasa best side.”
“I heard that. But, as you know, looks can be deceiving. Watch and be amazed, o ye of little faith.” Slowly, Del spun the tree in its portable base. Fuller, gorgeous branches came into view, their needles varying in color from blue green to nearly white. “Also, I know where you always set your tree in the living room. You’ve got a huge corner to hide this tree’s thinner side, which will allow its fuller side to really shine.”
“Turned like that, it’s gorgeous,” Mia said. “And you’re right, I wouldn’t have given this tree a second glance.”
“Most people don’t. That’s why I put my favorites back here. Safekeeping for the most special customers.” She winked.
“But why ‘Whitey’?” Brooklyn asked.
“Because it’s a white fir,” Chase said. “Your aunt can be a real dork sometimes.”
“Watch it, pard. So, Mi, what do you think? Is Whitey joining the family this year?”
Her heart swelled at the sound of that. “How much?”
“I told you I’d buy,” Alex said as Del turned to fish for the tree’s price tag.
Mia frowned. “But you shouldn’t. I mean, after all, it was our fault for leaving a rookie assembler unsupervised.”
“Oh, now I’m definitely buying.”
He bumped his shoulder into hers. She bumped back. It felt like the good old times for a moment, before life and adulthood and a big stupid fight had gotten in the way. It wasn’t until Del reemerged from the branches with a tag in hand and gave Mia a smirk that she realized she and Alex were still standing close together. She took a subtle step away. No sense in putting any ideas in her sister’s head, even if his spicy cologne still smelled divine.
“Hmm, looks like with the family discount, someone should still be able to buy me a fabulous Christmas present.”
“Lucky you,” Mia said with a laugh. “We’ll take it.”
Chase hoisted the tree over one shoulder and headed for the wrapping station while Del found them a tree stand to borrow since the one they had at home didn’t have a basin for water. Mia tried sneaking her credit card into Del’s hand at the checkout station, but Alex snatched her credit card, tossed it to Brooklyn with a grin, and handed his own to Del instead.
Well, she’d tried. But if he was going to insist on buying this tree, she wasn’t going to complain. Being a single mom on a teacher’s salary equated to lots of bill paying and not much else. This nonpurchase was one she was sure to enjoy.
Alex helped Chase load the tree onto the Equinox’s rooftop luggage rack while Del followed them out, hanging theCLOSEDsign across the entrance as they went.
