Chapter9
Kacey pointed to a full pine tree a few inches taller than her. “This is the perfect tree.”
They had been perusing the Christmas tree lot located just outside of downtown Splendid Lake for nearly thirty minutes. Kacey looked adorable clad in jeans, hiking boots, her teal jacket, and a matching teal hat.
“You’re positive?” he teased her.
She jammed her hands on her hips and frowned. “You said you invited me because I’m an expert, and now you have the nerve to doubt me?”
He loved when she teased him. “You’re right, Kace. I’m out of line. If you say this is the tree, then it is.”
She laughed.
After he paid for the tree, Kacey helped him secure it on the roof of his car before they climbed in and started toward his house.
“Could we make a stop?” Kacey asked.
“Sure. Where am I taking you?”
“It’s a surprise.” She pointed toward Main Street. “Head into town and find a parking spot anywhere.”
He parked in front of the Coffee Bean. “Are you buying me a snack?”
“Nope!” Her smile was coy as she gathered her purse from the floorboard and pushed open the door. “Let’s go.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Drew met her on the sidewalk, and she grabbed his hand before steering him through the crowd of Black Friday shoppers. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see,” she sang.
She stopped in front of the Christmas Shop and smiled up at him. “I want to get you a special ornament so you’ll remember this Christmas. Okay?”
“That’s a great idea.” Although he was certain he’d never forget this Christmas.
Drew followed her inside the store, where several customers milled around more than a dozen Christmas trees, all covered with lights and decorations. Each one seemed to have a theme. One had white lights and all-white ornaments, including snowflakes, snowmen, and stars. Another tree was adorned with red lights and red decorations, and a third had multicolored lights and matching glass balls.
A spirited rendition of “Deck the Halls” rang through the store’s speakers, and a suspiciously strong scent of pine filled his nostrils, causing him to wonder if either plug-in air fresheners or powerfully scented candles were hidden among the decorations.
Kacey fluttered around the store, checking out displays of ornaments. Drew looked out the large glass window, where folks decorated the light poles with garland and light-up candy canes in preparation for the festival.
When he turned, he spotted an ornament for Kacey, and he smiled as he picked it up and headed toward the cashier, where Kacey already stood in line.
After they had both paid, they met at the door leading out to the street.
“Here you go.” She handed him the bag.
He held out a bag to her. “And here’s yours.”
He pulled out a beautiful classic wooden guitar with the year printed on it. He smiled and felt warm all the way through. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She lifted her chin. “You said it was your favorite instrument.”
“I love it.” He pointed to her bag. “Open yours.”
She smiled as she pulled a banana split ornament from the bag. “Oh, Drew! Is this to commemorate all those times we shared a banana split at Scoops?”
“Of course.”
