Page 35 of A Christmas Duet

“I won’t,” she said, more determined now than ever.

They rode in companionable silence on the way to the cabin.

“I’d sort of pushed Christmas aside, but after tonight, I’m full of the holiday spirit,” she said as he made the turn leading to the cabin.

“You need a tree, then. You can’t celebrate Christmas without a tree.”

“You mean one from your lot?”

“Nope. A real live Christmas tree that you and I are going to cut down ourselves. Are you game?”

“Count me in,” she said, sitting up straighter, excited to be spending more time with Jay. She hoped they could be together every day. Nothing would please her more or make for the perfect Christmas.

Chapter Twelve

With a sense of anticipation, Hailey woke, thinking about the night before with Jay. The Podunk Winter Festival had awakened her to all that was Christmas, bringing up fond memories from her childhood. The best Christmas of her life was the year her parents had given her a guitar. She’d been so happy she’d burst into tears. Somehow, over time, she’d lost the joy of the season as she buried herself in work, as she struggled to find the confidence to create again.

The idea of cutting down her own Christmas tree excited her, even if she didn’t have the traditional decorations. She had paper and scissors and popcorn, which were more than enough. It seemed cleverly cut snowflakes and strung popcorn were in her future. For years, until they were in high school and too sophisticated, Daisy andHailey had insisted they wanted their own Christmas tree. With great enthusiasm, they decorated it with items they’d made themselves. Their parents put up a designer artificial tree that was a showpiece and prominently displayed from the living room window.

The idea for their own tree, a real one, had been Daisy’s, and Hailey had readily agreed. They’d taken pride in it, although, in retrospect, it resembled one Charlie Brown might have owned.

Daisy had crocheted snowflakes, which their mother starched, and they were lovely. Not nearly as crafty as her sister, Hailey bought Christmas-themed wooden pieces she picked up at the local Hobby Lobby and painted them. She didn’t know what had happened to their decorations after junior high, and suspected their mother had likely saved them in a box in the attic.

With her heart full, Hailey reached for her guitar as the words to an extra verse of the Christmas song floated effortlessly into her mind. Then another tune came to mind and she immediately set to work, letting her fingers find the notes.

Lost in a creative mist, she was shocked when there was a knock on the door. She couldn’t imagine who would visit, especially this early in the morning.

To her delight, it was Jay. The night before, they’d agreed to meet in the afternoon.

“Hey,” he said, and glanced toward the sofa where she’d left her guitar. “I see you’re at it again.”

Her gaze followed his. “That’s why I’m here.” She was about to mention the new song she was writing when he spoke again.

“Are you ready to take a break and find your tree? I’ve discovered breaks to be good for my creativity.”

“I wasn’t expecting you this soon.”

He gave her a weird look. “It’s nearly one. I thought that was the time we agreed on.”

“No,” she argued, “it couldn’t be. I’ve only been working a little while.” Sure enough, her watch confirmed the time. “Wow, my morning completely vanished.”

Jay nodded as if he understood all too well himself. “That happens to me when I get in the zone.”

“The time simply flew. I woke up this morning thinking about a Christmas tree,” she told him, as the enthusiasm for their venture returned. Excitedly, she recounted how she and Daisy had insisted they have their own tree and how they’d enjoyed decoratingit.

He listened and grinned when she mentioned the year she’d gotten the guitar. “My parents gave me one around the same time, only it was for my birthday.”

“Best Christmas of my life,” she said.

“Best birthday of my life,” he added.

They shared a smile and their eyes locked. Haileycouldn’t help thinking about the kisses they’d shared and how she hoped their short time together would be the beginning of something lasting and meaningful. She felt like she’d found a kindred spirit in Jay. He seemed to be everything she hoped to find in a relationship, and she didn’t want it to end. Already her mind was coming up with ways for them to stay in touch after she returned to Portland. Jay lived in the Seattle area, and that was only a three-hour drive from where she was.

He broke the spell when he said, “I brought a snowmobile.”

Hailey had never ridden on a snowmobile, but that wasn’t going to stop her. If Jay was inviting her, she was going. Since she’d taken a job at the high school, she’d become staid, caught up in routine and rarely venturing beyond what was comfortable. Being with Jay felt like she’d walked from winter into spring, where everything felt fresh and new.

“I’ll grab my coat.”

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