Page 4 of Accidentally Under Your Tree

"I do. I…I just noticed, and so when you said what you do, it was evidence that you're telling the truth."

"Are you a lawyer?"

A crease formed between her light brown eyebrows. "No, I'm a consultant."

"What kind of consultant?"

"Management. I assess systems and make them more efficient to increase productivity and profit."

"So, you're perceptive?"

The whisper of a smile tugged at one corner of her mouth, hinting at a dimple. "Yeah." Twirling her stud earring, she chewed on her lip. "How recently have you held sandpaper?"

This time my laugh wasn't sardonic. "Uh…it wasn't for work, but…Tuesday or Wednesday."

The blood pumped a little hotter through my veins at her pleased little grin.

"I knew it." Her voice was buttery, smooth.

A smile spread across my face. I didn't know what she meant, but it was safe to assume she'd noticed me, too.

"I'm Will."

"Lizzy."

three

Lizzy

Six nights before Christmas

"Holy shit." Mom cried with a hand to her chest. "I didn't know you were home."

"Sorry," I said. "I got home a couple of hours ago. I was in the basement to get some work done."

When I'd arrived home, chatting with my parents was something I wanted to avoid. Not after the night I'd had.

Moving back into my childhood home felt like the end of my old life. The one where I was an adult. Capable of coming and going as I pleased. I had my privacy. Although my parents weren't meddlers, they were invested. They liked to know…everything.

I just wanted to be left alone.

"How was the trip?" she asked.

"Good."

I sat at the kitchen island. Its quartz top was cold under my forearms. The white surface was clean and shiny. Outside the window over the sink, the trees' shadows lengthened—it was only midafternoon, but already the sun was beginning to set.

Mom flitted from the stand mixer to the fridge, her silver bob bouncing with each step. We made small talk about my past few days. I omitted everything about last night except the storm. She'd gotten the scoop on some of the competitors for the Christmas tree decorating contest.

"They don't stand a chance. Your sister and I have come up with the most incredible design." She turned her back to me opening the oven. The comforting, mouth-watering scent of Shepard's pie wafted into the kitchen. "You'll still help us, right?"

By "help" she meant carry things.

"Planning on it."

"Your sister should be here in a few hours. I'm so excited. Both my girls under the same roof." Her blue eyes were bright with optimism. Leave it to my mom to have faith that this year her daughters would make up. Like every year for the past eight, I was positive she'd be disappointed. I would be too.

My stomach twisted with anxiety. Seeing my twin and only sibling brought complicated emotions.

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