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“I was in the neighborhood,” he replies after setting the first tote on the floor. “Are there more?”
“Two more at the top of the stairs.”
Drew immediately climbs the steps, two at a time, and before I know it, he’s lugged both of the totes downstairs.
“Thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“They’re heavy,” he says, barely winded. “You could have broken your back.”
“Or your face,” Caleb chimes in helpfully.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you,” I say, ignoring their lack of confidence in me to do manual labor, “but what are you doing?”
“I thought I’d come see what you’re up to,” he says and shoves his hands into his pockets. “Probably should have called first, huh?”
“No, I don’t mind if you want to come over. You’re welcome anytime. It just surprised me, that’s all.”
“I told Mom that it’s too early for Christmas stuff,” Caleb says. “Do you have yours up?”
“I don’t know that I’ll put anything up this year,” Drew replies.
“Why wouldn’t you?” Caleb wants to know, looking slightly mortified at the thought of no Christmas decorations.
“Well, I just moved into my condo this year, and I haven’t really thought about decorating it for the holidays.”
“You have to at least have atree,” my son insists. “We will have five of them.”
Drew’s eyes fly to mine in surprise. “Fivetrees?”
“It’s a big house,” I remind him. “We have one in the game room, with all the gaming ornaments Caleb has collected over the years.”
“I get two new ones every year.”
I grin and push my fingers through my son’s hair. “There will be a big one in the foyer, one in the living room off the kitchen, and one in each of our bedrooms.”
I’m ticking them off on my fingers, trying to remember them all.
“Oh, and I’m going to put a tiny one in the kitchen. So, six.”
“That’s a lot of Christmas trees. I’m assuming that doesn’t include all the fancy lights and garland and decorations,” Drew decides. “How do you have time to do it all?”
“I hire most of it out. They have ladders and nerves of steel. But there are some things that I want Caleb and I to do together. I was in the mood to bring some down and get started, but now I realize that there isn’t much I can do until the trees go up, and that isn’t happening until this weekend.”
I chew on my bottom lip, eyeing the totes.
“We’ll put these in the guest room until I’m ready for them, and for now, the wreath can go on the front door. That’s a start, at least.”
Drew carries the totes into the guest room, stowing them out of sight in the closet, and then I hang the wreath on the door.
“There. Done for now.”
“Maybe we can work on the Lego set,” Caleb suggests, watching Drew with hopeful eyes.
“I’m down for that,” Drew replies and looks at me. “Okay with you?”
“Sure. You guys go ahead. It’s still in the game room. I have a couple of emails to send, and then I’ll be in.”
Caleb happily runs off, and when he can no longer see us, Drew tugs me against him and kisses me, hard and fast, then pushes away.
