Page 59 of Charlie Takes a Chance

It was a very expensive, adept team. They redid the bathroom and the wiring in the living room wall that had caught fire. I was able to sheetrock over it already, and tomorrow, I’ll do the texture.

“I’m going into town to grab some dinner. Want me to bring you something?”

I jump and spin around at the sound of Max’s deep voice. I’m going to get him a freaking bell. Maybe that way, he’ll stop scaring me.

I notice he didn’t ask if I wanted to come with him. He’s probably just trying to have some reasonable distance between the two of us after I practically threw myself at him. Sheesh.

I was hoping that my apology this morning would make things better…but he seems just as jumpy tonight.

“Nah, I’m good.” I point to the stack of boxes at the bottom of the stairs. “I got all of the Christmas stuff out of the attic. I’ll be here decorating that monstrosity.”

We both turn to stare at the giant tree that reaches all the way to the top of the vaulted ceiling.

“I still can’t believe we fit that thing in here,” Max says in awe as he stares up at it.

“Right? Okay, well, I have to get to work. I might be decorating this for the next couple of months, and it will end up being a Valentine’s Day tree.”

“Give me a call if you change your mind about the food. I’d be happy to grab you something.” He turns and leaves the house, and I set up my speaker to play some loud and happy Christmas music. It’s against the law to decorate a Christmas tree without music.

My Santa spirit quickly dissolves into being a Grinch spirit animal.

It takes a solid hour and a half to string the tree with lights. By the time I finish, Max is back from town and I can smell the delicious food that he’s bringing in.

“I brought you a burger and fries,” Max says as he rounds the corner, carrying a bag of food in one hand and a large cup in the other. “And a chocolate milkshake.”

My eyes widen. “How did you know I actually wanted all that?”

“Call it a hunch.”

“Well, it was a great hunch.” I bend down and plug the Christmas lights in, then turn around to take the food from him. “Thank you for this. I’m definitely hungry now. I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I pull the bag open and take a deep sniff of the salty, greasy fries, and the hamburger that I can see is covered in cheese. I moan as I take out a handful of fries and shove them in my mouth. “Mmm, so good.”

Max is staring at me with a strange look on his face.

“What?” My word comes out muffled around the food.

Max coughs. “Nothing.” He turns away, walks over to the boxes of ornaments, and takes the lid off one of them.

I sink down on the leather couch and pick up the burger.

“Huh, that’s a lot of ornaments,” Max says.

I glance up from the love affair I’m having with my dinner and see that Max has opened seven plastic totes. All of them are full of ornaments.

I consider crying, but instead, I take a long drink of the milkshake—otherwise known as liquid courage.

“Forget what I said about Valentines. I’ll be here decorating until Halloween.”

Max chuckles at that and bends down to pick up an ornament shaped like Santa’s sleigh. He walks over to the tree and hangs it on the limb. He dusts off his hands exaggeratedly. “There. That ought to help.”

He starts to walk out of the living room.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” I sit up and point at him. “You did that so well…I bet you could do another one. You’re probably the best tree decorator I’ve ever seen.”

He looks at me. “I know what you’re doing.”

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