Abruptly, Cameron stopped walking. Melanie nearly ran her over as they stood dangerously close yet again.
“I’m sorry,” they said in unison.
“I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry,” Cameron repeated. She motioned toward the kids, who were now significantly farther down the path. “Let’s just go catch up with the kids and find a tree, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Although Cameron didn’t sound angry at her, the mood between them had definitely shifted. Gone was the flirting that had been there before and in its place were two adults trying to act like nothing was wrong for the sake of the kids. They followed Jonah and Dylan around from tree to tree until they both agreed they’d found the perfect one. Melanie volunteered to go let someone know they’d found a tree, if for no other reason than it gave her a second alone to think.
She hadn’t meant to shut Cameron down like that. Truly she didn’t. Melanie had just suddenly become keenly aware they were pushing past the friends stage they needed to stay in until after her divorce and into something more.
Stuffing her hands into the pocket of her jacket, Melanie made her way down the well-worn path to the small group of seasonal workers who helped with cutting down the trees. She noticed Oakley Cooper, a friend of one of her nieces, and waved at her.
“Hey, Mel.”
“Hey, Oakley.” She quickly hugged her neck. “It’s good to see you.”
“You, too. Did you find a tree?”
“We did. Thanks.”
“Perfect.” Oakley picked up an axe as if it were a toothpick and slung it onto her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Oakley was a quiet woman with long brunette hair she currently had braided down her back. She owned Oakcrest Lumber, the business that Charlie Monroe, the farm’s manager, contracted out to help with the cutting. Melanie’s niece Hunter and Oakley had been friends since they were kids, so she had known Oakley for years.
Showing Oakley to the tree, they all watched her and her coworker expertly cut, wrap, and load the tree into their truck. Cameron paid them and made an appointment for the delivery the next afternoon. As they all stood in the parking lot, they debated what to do next.
“I have homework I need to finish,” Jonah squirmed, probably knowing Cameron would have changed their plans if she knew he had homework. “Sorry, Mom.”
Cameron sighed. “It’s okay. Why don’t you and Dylan grab something to eat on the way home? I promised Mel dinner, so she can take me home later.”
Fishing her keys out of her pocket, Cameron handed them to Jonah as the kids got into her car and left. Alone with Cameron again, Melanie leaned against her car and studied her. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn’t, which was odd for Cameron.
“What’s on your mind, Cam?”
“I’m just hoping I didn’t screw things up back there.” She looked as if she might cry, and Melanie quickly pulled her into a hug. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I just got…”
“Carried away. I know. I almost let you get carried away, too.” Melanie tenderly tucked Cameron’s hair behind her ear as she looked into her blue eyes. “I just want to do this right. I know it sounds stupid since Rob is off living it up with some other woman, but that’s not me.”
“I know, Mel. I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way.”
“Shut up.”
Cameron looked taken aback as she clutched her heart. “Excuse me?”
“You’re totally not sorry.” With a wink, Melanie opened the car door for Cameron. Cameron laughed as she got in.
“Okay, fair. You caught me.”
“I know you too well.”
Smiling at Cameron, Melanie carefully closed the door as she hurried around to the driver’s seat. They drove to Straight to Ale in relative silence as their hands felt like magnets between them. Unable to stand it any longer, Melanie wrapped her pinky around Cameron’s.
“Just keep thinking what you’re thinking for a few more weeks.”
