Page 26 of Tis the Season for Sass
Hues of orange and blue painted the evening sky as she waited for Chance’s arrival. Her heart jumped in her chest when she heard his boots stomping off snow on the porch.
Opening the door, she was surprised at what he was dragging with him, a large fir tree.
“I finally realized what you were missing here. So, I brought you one.”
“Uh, I don’t have a tree on purpose. I really don’t do—”
But her pleas came too late. Chance dragged the tree through the front door. He’d previously attached a base and was already standing it up in front of the window. “There!” He eyed it proudly. “I’m pretty sure your parents always put their tree right here.”
Ginger threw her hands up. “I guess I have my first Christmas tree. Thanks? I suppose?”
Inviting him into the dining room, she set out the mouthwatering spread, waiting for his reaction.
“Wow. I have to admit, this is the best homecooked meal I’ve ever had.”
She wasn’t sure if he had just given her a sincere compliment, or if it was just another tease. Either way, he seemed to be in control of his emotions and his wolf.
So far, so good. This is nice, she thought as they enjoyed the rest of the meal and just talked about the house and her plans for it.
After the meal, they returned to the living room and stoked the fire. “What do you say we do something about that tree?” he asked.
“Like I was trying to tell you, I don’t do Christmas. Therefore, no Christmas ornaments, no lights, no deck the halls, and zero ho-ho-fucking-hos.”
“What about this giant box labeled Christmas then?” he asked, opening it.
“Wait! I didn’t want to get into all that yet.” But it was too late. The contents were suddenly on full display.
“Check it out. Lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Everything you need for your tree.”
“This was my parents’ stuff,” she said, kneeling beside the box. She lifted out a silver glass star.
Chance unwound the lights and strung them around the tree. Satisfied, he selected a little glass reindeer and hung it in the tree.
Reluctantly, she joined him in hanging the ornaments. At the bottom of the box were three ornaments carefully wrapped in paper. The first ornament was a ceramic toboggan with the name James written in gold. The next was a ceramic mitten, with Ginger’s name in gold lettering.
“I can’t believe it. We had our own ornaments?”
“Memories. Just like Hal and Siggy.”
They slowly unwrapped the final ornament, which was two intertwined hearts with the lettering, ‘Gregory and Lorna, everlasting love through this life and the next.’
Ginger clutched it to her heart and fell to her knees. Tears streamed down her face.
“I’m so sorry,” Chance said, kneeling beside her. “I shouldn’t have been so pushy about this tree. This is just too hard on you.”
“No. I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m crying because I’m happy. My parents loved James and I, and they loved each other. Somewhere, they are still loving each other. I truly believe it.”
And at that moment, it occurred to her what it meant. Her parents were true mates.
Chance covered the tree in tinsel and turned off the table lamp.
With only the glow of the fire and the colored twinkling lights of the tree, she watched him and sensed majik in the air. The remnants of her protective spell evaporated.
There was one more thing in the bottom of the box. Holding it behind her back, she stepped close to Chance and placed her lips next to his ear. “Mistletoe,” she whispered, holding the sprig over their heads.
21
His kiss was tentative at first, his lips barely brushing against hers. Almost as if he was unsure how hard he should push the envelope.
