“That’s what Christmas is?”
“It’s what it should be.”
He glanced her way. “You seriously think I should have a tree for no one other than myself to see, knowing it’ll just be a bunch of work putting it up and then having to take it down again when I care nothing about having it up in the first place?”
He obviously didn’t think he should, but Sophie nodded anyway.
“I’m positive you should.”
Christmas filled a part of one’s soul in a way that no other time of year did. He just had to embrace the magic to feel its powers spreading joy throughout his being. Cole needed Christmas.
Which made Sophie wonder where his past Christmases as an adult had been spent. Had he been alone? Stationed somewhere on a military base? Or on one of his assignments off base?
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll be working on Christmas Day.”
“Actually, it does make me feel better.” Because she wouldn’t be worried about him sitting at home treeless. Everyone should have a Christmas tree. At least they had one up at the firehall. “Wait, you had to work on Thanksgiving Day and on Christmas day, too? I thought the firehall rotated who was on shift for the holiday
s?”
She knew this from Ben’s involvement in church activities over the years. If he worked one holiday, he was always off the other.
“They usually do, but several of us single guys volunteered to swap so those with families can be home with their wives and kids on both Thanksgiving and Christmas day. It’s not a big deal.”
Sophie’s heart swelled at his admission.
“It’s a big deal to the firemen who get to be home with their families, and for the kids whose parents are there when they wake up.”
Her dad had always managed to hold it together on the Christmases he was home, which was likely one of the reasons Sophie liked the holiday so much. Or maybe it was just that it was such a great time of year when everyone seemed to go out of their way to be kinder.
And the decorations. She liked the decorations, too. Especially the lights. The more lights, the better.
“That’s a nice thing to do,” she pointed out. A lot of the things Cole did were nice. Although she suspected “nice” wasn’t an adjective he’d use to describe himself. Having read his journal, she knew the thoughts he associated with himself. They weren’t pretty.
The more time she spent with him the more she believed the things he’d written weren’t really a true reflection of him. Obviously, they had been once upon a time, but the anger and anguish she’d read on those tragic pages weren’t what she saw when she looked at Cole. Weren’t what she imagined him feeling.
Obviously, he had. But not ever again, her heart whispered. Not ever did she want Cole to return to that grim place he’d once dwelled within.
Nor would she let him. She’d surround him with goodness and light so bright, his thoughts would never step in the shadows again.
Which gave her an idea.
“You should come to church with me on Sunday.”
Cole pulled into Lou’s Diner’s paved lot and put the engine into park. “What?”
“On Sunday. Come to church with me.” It was a brilliant idea, one she should have thought of sooner. She clasped her hands together in excitement as she flashed her biggest smile. “Afterwards, several of us are going to the assisted living home to decorate trees for the residents. If you don’t want to decorate a tree for just you, then help decorate a tree for someone who isn’t able to decorate their own tree but wants one all the same.”
“I…”
“Are you working at the station?” She already knew he wasn’t. Not unless he’d swapped schedules with someone again.
“I’m not, but—”
“But you’re not into helping the elderly who aren’t physically able and need help making one of their last Christmases special?”
His gaze narrowed as he regarded her. “You don’t pull your punches, do you?”
“Not if it means I get to spend the afternoon decorating Christmas trees with you while helping others.” Sophie fought smiling. “I mean, come on, that’s a win-win.”