Page 11 of OMG Christmas Tree
I sighed. “I am.”
“How do you know my mom?”
“I don’t. My family’s in the local news a lot. It’s an active community. Stu I’ve known forever.”
“You’re not telling me something. Why do you want my tree?”
The way she called it her tree made me smile. Time to come clean. “So, I messed up. The Sawyers save a tree for the mayoral benefit and I didn’t pick it up in time. The tree is supposed to go in the historic mayor’s mansion ballroom for the charity party. Which I also need to plan. For Christmas Eve.”
Megan blinked at me. “You saidneed to plan. Does that mean you haven’t started?”
“The planning wasstarted.” My defenses kicked in, but the truth lay bare as the ballroom I’d failed to decorate. “The mayor’s office started the planning. They handle the guest list and catering.”
“But trusted you for the tree.”
For some reason. “The mayor is supposed to hand-select the tree and the decorations. Seemed easy enough.” I even sounded like a loser saying it. The task was easy and I still failed. “This year, it’s, she couldn’t. I told my parents I’d help and now...I’m in over my head.”
“Your mom is sick?”
My throat tightened. “Cancer. She’s doing okay, but her treatment and appointments take a lot of time, so my dad is a little overwhelmed. The doctor said she needs to rest more than she is. The town wants her to stay in the job. Like I said, I wanted to help. I didn’t realize how much work this benefit involved.”
She absorbed what I said. “My dad was sick too. Different disease, but it took his life. I understand how an illness can affect a family.”
“I’m sorry.” So, that explained the awkward family vibes. I backed out of the drive and turned the opposite direction we’d driven in.
“What you’re saying is, I took the tree meant for the charity event.”
“Yes.”
She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Yikes.”
“I could have taken your tree and left your car in the ditch,” I added. “Turns out, I’m not Scrooge McGrinchy Satan-pants.”
She pursed her lips. I wanted to grin again, but grinning would absolutely make her mad.
She turned in her seat to face me more fully. “You tried to convince me I bought too big a tree. The truth is, you planned poorly and didn’t pick up your tree in time.”
“Well—” She had me there. “Yeah, I did.”
“Things happen to work out for you, don’t they? Generally speaking.”
I shrugged. “I suppose.”
“You assumed without any planning or foresight, you’d put together a charity event in a couple days.”
Heat crawled up my neck. “It’s not that bad. I’m sure things will work out. Like you said.” I flashed her my reliable Bennington charm.
A scowl hurled back at me. “That is so pretentious and privileged.” She turned her head, looking out her window.
I wanted to argue our family wasn’t part of some corrupt political machine, but I doubted she meant that. Her accusation stung. She wasn’t wrong. I was used to not only getting my way, but having the time and freedom to figure things out. All but Mom’s cancer, which I absolutely couldn’t change. Now she and Dad needed me like they never had before.
And I’d been about to drop a bomb.
I’d planned on moving out of Crystal Cove. To finally start my own life.
Except...I couldn’t leave them. No way could I move to my own apartment, look for my own job apart from the family printing business, right when our lives could change forever.
“I thought you were country-bred, but you’re spoiled,” she said.
