AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Searching the walk-in closet, I find a warm Christmas sweater and a pair of fleece-lined leggings. Once I’m dressed, I slide into a pair of black UGG boots and go in search of my boys.
I find them at the stove. Graham is flipping pancakes as Caleb watches a pan of sizzling bacon.
It’s a beautiful sight.
“Something smells delicious,” I say as I make my way to the island.
Caleb glances over his shoulder. “We made gingerbread pancakes.”
“Gingerbread? My favorite,” I coo.
Caleb moves the bacon to a paper towel–covered plate, and then he pulls three glasses from the cabinet above the microwave and fills them with milk.
Graham loads us each a plate with three pancakes and three crispy strips while I fetch the maple syrup from the cupboard.
“Are you guys excited to pick a tree?” I ask as we dig into our meal.
Caleb nods enthusiastically and answers around a mouthful of pancakes. “Graham said we could get the biggest one on the lot.”
“The biggest one?” I ask as I slide my eyes to Graham.
“Yep, we have to get there before Tucker though,” Caleb quips.
Tucker is our nephew and Caleb’s best friend.
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“Because he said he and his dad were going to get the biggest.”
“So, that’s why you two sneak-attacked me so early,” I accuse.
Caleb looks at Graham and grins.
“Devils. You’re lucky these pancakes are so good that I have to forgive you.” I pop a bite into my mouth.
Once we’ve cleaned our plates, Graham goes to warm up his truck as I clean our dishes.
A gentle snowfall garnishes the pines as we make our way down the mountain toward Merry Ridge Tree Farm.
We wind our way down the drive that leads to the parking lot, which is already full of trucks.
People are milling around the entrance with cups in their glove-covered hands.
There is a small building with a window to the right. The sign above it saysHot Cocoa and Warm Cider.
Two men—dressed in jeans, flannels, and boots—are operating a tree baler, where a family is standing, waiting for their pick to be netted and loaded into their vehicle.
Christmas music envelops us as we pile out of the truck and make our way forward.
Graham takes my hand and leads the way as we trudge through the freshly fallen snow, our breath visible in the crisp winter air. The aroma of pine surrounds us as we venture deeper into the tree farm, Caleb by our side.
My eyes scan the rows of evergreens. Each tree is special in its own way, waiting to be chosen to grace a home for the joyous season.
When we come to a patch of impressive-sized options, Caleb runs ahead of us and examines tree after tree, looking for the one that rises above the rest.
“Over here,” he calls, and we follow his voice to a towering Fraser fir.
The tree is magnificent, lush, and full, its needles a vibrant shade of green.
