Wrapped Up In Christmas

For whatever reason, Bodie didn’t want to like anything related to Christmas. Sarah didn’t understand how that was even possible. How could she, when she loved everything about the holidays?

Maybe by the time he finished with Hamilton House, she’d have shown him what Christmas could, and should, be like.

Chapter Nine

Bodie wrapped light strands around Sarah’s “perfect” tree, stopping every so often to make sure he had them evenly distributed, then moved on to the next layer.

How did she keep pulling him into all this Christmas stuff?

He had told her no, walked away, gone to the bathroom and cut the vanity free of its cardboard and Styrofoam casing. He’d heard her go outside, come back in, heard the Christmas music come on, heard her start singing while she trimmed the tree.

The more he’d heard, the more guilt had eaten at him. For however long he was in Pine Hill, he needed to help Sarah.

He’d abandoned the vanity and gone to help her, almost having a heart attack when he’d seen her on the ladder, looking like an angel tree topper who was about to topple.

At the moment, she was a cookie-bearing angel watching him from the doorway, thinking he was unaware she was there even though he’d been aware of every step she’d made since leaving the kitchen.

“You did check to make sure all the bulbs still work, right?” she asked, finally coming on into the room.

“You think I’m an amateur?”

“At decorating a tree?” She sat a tray down on a table. “I’d put money on it.”

Turning from the tree, he eyed her. “How much money?”

“How much are you willing to lose?”

He chuckled. “Am I so bad at putting lights on a tree that you’re confident I’ve never done this before?”

“Honestly? You’re great at putting on the lights.”

“You’re just saying that because me putting the lights on means you don’t have to.”

“Guilty as charged,” she admitted. “But I’m also serious. You’re doing an amazing job.”

Pleased at her praise, he asked, “What makes you think I’m any good at light hanging?”

“I was watching you check the spacing,” she admitted. “The lights are going to be perfect. Turn them on if you don’t believe me.”

“I’ll finish putting the lights on, then we’ll see.”

Sarah lingered over the cookies and milk. Overall, it had been such a good day. She wanted to pause time where it was and not risk ruining it with opening the box of ornaments.

Opening those ornaments shouldn’t be a bad thing. Decorating the tree was her idea. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to walk over to the box.

As excited as she was about the tree, all along she’d been dreading this part. Seeing the ornaments her aunt had made, that they’d made together over the years, and knowing that Aunt Jean wasn’t there this time and never would be again… It wasn’t going to be easy.

She told Bodie a joke she’d heard while out delivering meals. He laughed, finished his milk and cookies, and stood. Although he’d been sleeping on the rug in front of the fireplace, Harry lifted his head to keep an eye on Bodie.

“There’s more if you want another.”

He patted his flat stomach. “I’m good.”

Yes, he was. A good distraction from what she knew was about to happen.

&nb

sp; “I need to get back to work.”