Page 7 of Once Upon a Winter
Laura turned sharply and stared. She lifted the globe and turned it over to look at the bottom. No, there was no switch. The globe didn’t light up. Except it just had. Shaking her head, she decided there had to be a logical explanation. A car probably drove by with some chrome that reflected the sun on the snow globe. She wondered how much chrome trim was on cars anymore. It could have been an old car or truck. Whatever it was, it was gone, and the snow globe looked perfectly normal. She set it down and dug into a large cardboard box.
But Christmas tree thoughts stirred her inner childlike anticipation of the magic of the season. Perhaps it was the upheaval of the ongoing repair work, but the thought fixed itself in her mind that her house would not be a home without a proper Christmas tree. It would be an unpacked house, but it wouldn’t feel like home. Despite a long list of practical tasks to complete, she bumped the Christmas tree to the top of the list. All she needed was a Christmas tree farm.
She pulled out her phone to search for one, but the rumble of Cooper’s old red pickup truck drew her attention outside. He pulled into her driveway, and he was dressed in a flannel shirt and jeans. He looked every bit the rugged outdoorsman. As he began unloading roofing supplies from the truck bed, he caught sight of her standing by the window. Their eyes met, but there was no wave or smile, so Laura stepped back from the window. Did he do that on purpose, or was it a gift—making her feel so disconcerted? Doing her best to shake off the feeling, she grabbed her coat and keys and headed outside. The crisp winter air was refreshing.
“Cooper,” she called out as she neared the truck. “Do you know if there’s a Christmas tree farm in the area? My house needs a tree.”
“Yeah,” he replied, wiping his hands on a rag before tucking it into his back pocket. “There’s a great one a few miles down the road.” He pointed toward the edge of town. “Head down Main Street, take a left onto Maple, and keep driving a couple of miles. Just follow the signs. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks!” She brightened with anticipation. But when she turned the key in the ignition, nothing happened. She tried it again. And again. It refused to start. First the roof, then her car. With a frustrated sigh, she stormed out of the car and gave the tire a kick.
“What did that tire do to you?” Cooper’s voice was tinged with humor as he approached her.
“It’s an accessory to the crime. My car won’t start.” Laura shook her head, then a thought came to mind. “What do you know about cars?”
“I know how to call a mechanic.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Oh. I guess today’s not my Christmas tree day after all.”
“I’ll tell you what.” Cooper scratched his head thoughtfully. “I was planning on going later this week to get one for my mom.” He shrugged. “But today’s just as good. We could make a morning of it if you’d like.”
Laura wasn’t sure how to react. She had to have misunderstood because it almost appeared he was being nice. “Really?”
Squinting, he peered at her as though she were a little off. “Yeah.”
He’d done it to her again—made her feel unsure of herself. She stammered. “Well, I just… I mean, are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”
“If it was any trouble, I wouldn’t have offered.”
“I know, but I don’t want to impose.”
He frowned. “Just say thank you and get in the truck.”
“But my car…”
“I know the tow guy.”
“Of course you do.”
“I’ll call him.” He paused, raising an eyebrow. “Unless you’d rather get a second opinion.”
Laura supposed she deserved that. “No, I trust your judgment.”
He leaned back, feigning surprise. “Well, that’s progress.”
She wasn’t sure whether he was being sarcastic or truly annoyed, but to her relief, his lips curved up at one corner as he pulled out his phone. A quick conversation later, he shoved the phone back into his pocket. “All settled. Just leave it unlocked with the keys on the car seat.”
Pleased but confused, Laura asked, “But where’s he going to take it?”
His eyes lit up with amusement. “His garage is just off Main Street in town. He’ll call us once he knows what needs to be done.”
“Okay.” She still couldn’t believe how easy that was.
“So.” Cooper lifted his eyebrows. “To the tree farm?”
The thought restored her good mood. “To the tree farm!”
The journey to the farm was filled with as comfortable a silence as she’d known with the guy. The only sounds were the hum of the truck’s engine and the soft Christmas carols playing on the radio. Laura studied Cooper in the dim light. The lines of concentration on his face as he navigated the icy roads, the way his hands skillfully controlled the steering wheel, and the quiet strength that, despite everything she’d experienced so far, drew her in.
