Page 25 of Could It Be Magic?
‘What on earth?’ she said in bemusement.
‘If it’s too much, I can find another home for it.’ Nick, who’d been hiding around the corner of the house, emerged, looking both delighted and sheepish to be the bearer of glad tidings, as well as the Christmas tree.
‘Nick…’ Thea began. ‘I… I can’t accept this. And I certainly can’t afford it.’
‘Yes, you can,’ Nick replied. ‘It’s the last of a job lot we got from a supplier. And it’s the runt of the litter, look.’ He pointed to a slightly brown looking branch that was poking out at an angle at the bottom of the tree. ‘I’d have had to knock half off the price, anyway, and we’re getting a few more in tomorrow, so it won’t be missed. It needs a good home.’
‘But I haven’t got a pot to put it in,’ Thea protested. ‘Poor thing’ll die of thirst.’
‘I’ve thought of that, too.’ Nick produced a Christmas tree stand from behind his back, which just happened to be a festive red colour. ‘We have a couple of these in the store room at work – we won’t miss one, this close to Christmas. Put a bit of tinsel around it and you’re golden. Now you have to take it in.’
Thea smiled at him. ‘You’ve convinced me.’ She paused. ‘But you’re also a gullible fool. Cora really did a number on you about the state of our fake tree, didn’t she?’
‘Can’t have a fake tree, anyhow,’ Nick replied. ‘It’s not the same. And before you try to tell me that Christmas trees aren’t sustainable, this one’s got eco-credentials dropping as fast as its needles.’
Thea shook her head. ‘You’re ridiculous, Nick Saint.’
‘So they tell me.’
There was that pause again. ‘Well? Are you going to let me bring it into the house, or is it just going to live on your doorstep until the recycling comes in the new year?’
Thea shook her head. ‘Well, I suppose since you put it like that…’ She moved quickly out of the way as Nick grabbed the tree and briskly brought it into the house. She tried not to notice the dropping needles: the hall needed a good hoover, anyway.
‘Where do you want it?’ Nick asked.
‘In the corner by the patio door would be brilliant,’ Thea replied. She watched as Nick carefully positioned the tree in the stand and fixed it in place.
‘Fill it up with some water and it’s good until Twelfth Night at least,’ Nick said as he straightened back up again. Thea watched him give a slightly disdainful glance in the direction of the remains of the artificial tree. ‘And that old thing can go in the bin, now!’
‘That’s virtually a family heirloom!’ Thea laughed. ‘I think Ed and I bought it for our first house together.’
‘All the more reason to dump the bloody thing, then,’ Nick said. ‘He always struck me as a bit of a fake.’
‘Oh yeah?’ Thea teased. ‘And I suppose you’re the real thing, are you?’
Realising what she’d said, she felt the colour creeping up her face. ‘I mean, um, stop taking the mick, Nick!’
‘Well saved,’ Nick said, an amused tone in his voice. ‘But yeah… I like the real thing. Feels more authentic, somehow. More… trustworthy.’ He was tinkering with the tree, getting it straight in the stand, but as he spoke, he turned around to face her. ‘Don’t you think?’
The question hung between them, and Thea wondered if they were still talking about Christmas greenery. ‘I suppose…’ she began, before a squeal from the doorway cut her off.
‘Oh wow! That’s, like, so much nicer than our old tree. It looks awesome!’
Cora bounded into the room and immediately started rummaging in the box of baubles. ‘Dylan!’ she shouted towards the ceiling. ‘We can decorate the tree now!’
Thea winced at the volume of her daughter’s voice, but Nick seemed unbothered by it.
The thud of footsteps down the stairs, and an even heftier thump as Dylan did his usual and jumped down the last three into the hallway, announced her younger son’s arrival.
‘Cool,’ he said as he hurried past Thea and Nick. ‘Shotgun putting the angel on top!’
‘Mum’s going to do that, like always,’ Cora chided her younger brother. She paused and stopped rummaging in the baubles box. ‘Why don’t you and Nick go for a walk or something while we do the tree? We want to make it look really nice.’ Her eyes swivelled from Thea to Nick. ‘You could even get a coffee at the pub if you wanted to.’
Thea tried to read the expression in her daughter’s eyes, but she’d turned her attention back to the tree decorations.
‘I’m sure you’re really busy, aren’t you?’ She looked at Nick. ‘I mean, you must have loads to do in the run up to Christmas…’
Nick smiled at her. ‘Actually, I don’t have any plans. Next week’s going to be manic, so I deliberately didn’t put anything in for today.’ He shuffled on the spot a bit. ‘We could go for a bit of a walk if you want, leave these two to bling up the tree in peace?’
