Page 30 of Follow My Heart

“Oh. What’s that?” Violet asked as we took the path up the hill, away from the rest of the customers milling about.

“We have a private field just for family. Lately, we’ve been using it more since a few of us have gotten paired off: Wes, Daphne, Fiona, and Jameson.”

“Wow. I can’t imagine having a personal Christmas tree field.”

I winked at her. “Stick with us Calloways; we’ll hook you up for the holidays.”

Violet grinned. “I love the sound of that.”

“It comes with a price though,” I said as I looked over at Faith, whose earbuds were still in. I’d have to tell her to take them out but not yet.

Violet’s lips tipped up. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?

“You have to keep us in ice cream,” I said seriously.

Violet dropped her head back and laughed. When she recovered she said, “ I can do that. Peppermint stick?”

“You still have s’more?”

“I always keep a tub of it because it’s my favorite.”

I grinned. “Mine too.”

Faith popped out her earbuds and dropped them into her coat pocket. “What’s so funny?”

“Your father told me I owe him ice cream for the tree today.”

Faith’s face lit up. “Can we have hot chocolate?”

“You sure can,” I said, pleased that Faith loved my ice cream.

“And peppermint stick?” Faith continued, testing how far she could go.

“Faith. She needs some ice cream to sell in her shop,” Ryder chided.

“I don’t mind. I can spare a few cartons for friends.”

“I’ll have to run more if you keep feeding me ice cream.”

“Grandpa said you’ve been running early in the morning and sometimes nights too. But that you haven’t stopped by to talk to him.”

Ryder ran a hand through his hair. “Work’s been crazy. I’ve been working as much as I can when Faith’s with her mom.”

“I’m glad you could get some time off for the holiday.”

“I am too.” For the first time in a long time, work wasn’t coming first this weekend. I was still on call if there were questions regarding the case but I didn’t need to be there physically. I was going to enjoy this time with my family, and Violet.

CHAPTER 8

VIOLET

We hiked in the opposite direction of the customers milling around at the cut lot and the other fields available for cutting. It was nice that we would get this time to ourselves to hunt for a tree.

We’d passed the main house. “I can’t believe you grew up here.”

“We got picked on at school for growing up on a farm.”

“That’s terrible.”

---