Page 61 of Here Comes Santa Paws

“Hi, Nancy.”

Nancy went in for a hug too, and he stared at me, comically wide-eyed, over her shoulder.

“To what do we owe this lovely surprise?” Nancy asked before releasing him.

“I just left an appointment with Jim, and he asked me to bring this by on my way home.” Roman lifted a bag I hadn’t noticed.

Nancy’s eyes danced knowingly. I narrowed my own at her.

“What is it?”

“You’ll have to open it and see.” She bounced on her toes.

I took the bag from Roman’s outstretched hand and set it on the counter. After removing the loose tissue paper, I pulled out a nondescript box. The flaps had been folded closed, so it only took moments to open the box and remove something wrapped in thin foam. I peeled that away to find an adorable Christmas tree topper of several illustrated dogs and cats with halos. It wasso cute.

“Is this for our shelter tree?” I looked between Roman and Nancy.

Nancy squeezed my arm. “It is. It’s perfect to represent our shelter animals, isn’t it? I came across it online and your grandfather insisted on ordering it.”

I started to wrap the topper back up, but Nancy took over. When her attention was elsewhere, I glanced at Roman and waggled my eyebrows. His lips slid to one side in a teasing smile.

“I don’t know what a shelter tree is, but I’m guessing it’s for the festival?” Roman asked as we watched Nancy tuck the topper box into a bag with other tree decorations.

“Isn’t everything this time of year?” Nancy’s laugh was bright.

“Local businesses and organizations decorate donated trees set up in the museum. People can buy tokens and vote for their favorites, and all the money raised goes to the Holiday Hope Foundation.”

“That’s interesting.”

An improvement over his outright disdain for all things festive.

“I’m heading over to decorate our tree now because the event starts tomorrow.”

“Want some help?”

There was nothing subtle about Nancy’s smile.

“Sure. I’d love that.” I smiled as Roman immediately went into action and loaded his arms with the decoration bags.

Nancy winked at me. “I’ll leave you boys to it. After I finish locking up, I’ll take Jim some dinner. I’m sure he’s hungry after PT.”

Roman caught my eye, and I smiled knowingly. I was glad to see Gramps and Nancy finding their way to each other. I adored her and knew she’d treat Gramps well.

When we reached the Christmas Falls Festival Museum, I wheeled a wagon full of decorations into Festival Hall. A volunteer led us to the shelter’s tree.

“Isn’t this where we went for the Arts and Crafts Fair?” Roman asked as he looked around the quiet room full of tall pines.

“It is. Looks different in here, huh?”

Without the crowds, live music, and tables, it resembled a festive forest with twinkle lights sparkling from half the trees. We weren’t the only ones decorating at the last minute because the other half of the trees were in varied stages of decoration. I couldn’t wait to come back this weekend and see them all in their shining glory.

“How do we start?” He shoved his hands in his coat pockets and rocked back on his heels. “You’ll have to teach me. I don’t have a decorating bone in my body.”

I’d bent over to rummage through the bags to find the lights, but I paused at his words. “I beg to differ. Your home is tastefully decorated.”

“Let me clarify. Afestivedecorating bone.”

I straightened and closed the two steps between us, stretching to whisper in his ear so the bank employees hanging fake cash ornaments with Santa’s face on the tree next to us couldn’t hear. “I could put a festive bone in your body.”

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