Page 73 of Why Not Now?

As they work, Lacey says, “Did you know real trees are better for the environment than artificial ones?”

“Really?” I ask.

“Yeah. Tree farms plant way more than they cut down each year and are always close to local. Artificial ones get shipped all over and are made from plastic.”

“Plus, real ones smell nicer,” I add, breathing in deeply, letting the scent of pine fill me up.

“Do you have a real tree, Derek?” Lacey asks.

“Yeah. But mine is alive. I keep it out on my deck and bring it in for the winter. It’s pretty small.” I indicate with my hands how big it is.

“That’s a cool idea,” she says.

“It’s really cute, too,” Ava says. “I helped him decorate it the other day.”

I sit and watch as they pull out baubles and trinkets, laughing over each one as they remember where it came from. There’s a blue one that came from their grandmother, and a pink one that saysBaby’s First Christmasand Lacey’s name.

“Your first ornament,” Ava says as Lacey finds a spot for it.

“Do you have one?” Lacey asks.

“No. I think it broke a long time ago.”

“We should get you a new one,” Lacey says, hanging a red ball with silver sparkles.

Ava laughs. “A Baby’s First Christmas ornament?”

“No. Just one with your name on it or something. You don’t have any others except the ones Dad made with all our names on it. You don’t have any that are just yours.”

They get to those ornaments next, round pieces of Christmas trees spanning nineteen years, right up until the last Christmas before Mr. and Mrs. Calligan had died in the car accident. As the sisters pull each one out, tears flood their eyes.

When they’re done, they stand together, their arms around each other, and look up at the tree. I stand behind them.

“I still miss them sometimes,” Lacey whispers.

The lights twinkle and reflect off the tears that have fallen on her cheeks.

“I know,” Ava says. “I do, too.”

I rub a hand over both of their arms, not sure what more I can do for them.

We finish with the decorations inside, then go outside where I get a ladder and string lights up around their door and windows. Lacey told me they hadn’t decorated the outside of the house in years, since Ava was always too busy. I keep the display simple this year, already planning how I can improve it next Christmas.

Their neighbour, Theresa, comes out to inspect our work, commenting that it looks nice, but the way she eyes me makes me wonder what she really thinks. Theresa and I never got along. She and I have incompatible personality types. After a while, when no one is giving her the attention she wants, Theresa returns to her house.

When we’re done, the colourful lights twinkle merrily and the sisters grin as they hang a wreath on the door. Christmas has arrived at the Calligan house.

We go back inside where Ava makes hot apple cider and we decide what we’ll eat for dinner.

“Is Derek staying?” Lacey asks, going through a few takeout menus.

Ava and I look at each other and come to a silent agreement. She swallows and says, “Yes. He and I came to a decision last night, actually. We should probably talk about it.”

Lacey looks up, her gaze shooting between us, eyes wide.

“Are you guys dating again? For real?”

Ava nods, starting to say, “This doesn’t mean—”

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