Page 72 of If You Give a Grump a Christmas Tree Farm
“Good thing we didn’t take the motorcycle,” I tease as he turns the ignition.
“Yeah.” JJ glances up at the darkening sky. “I thought we'd better not risk it. Besides, where would we have stored the boatload of ornaments you bought?”
“So funny.”
JJ stays just ahead of the storm and, pulling up to the cabin, we hurriedly unload the packages.
He dashes up the steps to unlock the door while I gather up the shopping bags. Rain pelts down.
As I approach the stairs, I notice a little gift bag sitting on the porch. “What’s that?”
“Dunno,” he replies.
I pick it up, and a tag dangles from one of the handles with my name scrawled across it.
Inside the bag is a little black lab ornament. “Oh, it’s so cute. Just like Buddy. Who do you think left it?”
“Must have a secret admirer.” JJ slides past me to carry the bags inside.
“Maybe it’s from Miles from Silver Bells Ornaments?”
It’s the first ornament I place on the tree.
We finish putting up the rest of the ornaments, and JJ ties the tree skirt around the base of the tree. I climb on the stepstool and attach the star to the top. Then we step back to admire our work.
“You did good,” JJ compliments me.
“It does look nice.” I smile at the twinkling lights and the beautiful ornaments adorning it.
Thunder rumbles in the distance, knocking me out of my thoughts.
Not long after, the rain becomes a downpour, and lightning illuminates the sky like a light show.
“Wow, that moved in fast.” I stand at the window watching the trees sway in the wind.
“Yeah, good thing we didn’t have to drive in this.”
The lights flicker, and I glance at JJ.
“Let’s get some flashlights and candles together just in case,” he suggests.
The lights flicker a few more times as we eat dinner.
Just as I’m carrying the dishes to the sink, the power goes out.
JJ lights a few candles, and we carry them into the living room.
“I wonder if the town has lost power, too.” I watch as lightning breaks across the sky with a crackle.
“With this wind,” he watches our trees swaying under its force, “I’d say so.”
A loud boom has me jumping. “That sounded close.”
“Yeah, it did.” JJ scans the outside trying to see through the rain.
“I hope it passes soon.” I pull my phone out and swipe to the weather app to check the radar. “It doesn’t look like it will.” I hold my phone up for him to see.
My eyes flick over his shoulder. “What’s that glow? Is that a fire?”
