Christmas at Holiday House - RaeAnne Thayne Page 0,41
his eyes and breathe into the peace.
“It looks great in here. Where did you find so much greenery?”
He knew he shouldn’t be so fascinated by the way her eyes lit up, sparkling like the fairy lights. “The pine trees outside. Christopher and I had loads of fun wandering the grounds and clipping a branch here and there where they wouldn’t be noticed.”
“Winnie has plenty of trees. I’m sure you probably can’t even tell anything is missing.”
“That was the idea. I promise, we didn’t want any glaring bald spots on the trees. She had some fake wired garlands she’s used in the past but they had seen better days, with bald patches and needles falling out. We decided a special year at Holiday House required actual greenery.”
“I saw a few lights on the porch when I drove up. Are you decorating the grounds at all?”
“Winnie already had a plan for the outside. She hired a local garden company to take care of that part. They’re supposed to be here all day tomorrow with a crew, and then they’ll take it all down again after the holidays. And, yes, I agree that’s cutting it too close since the event is in three days. But they were overbooked. They couldn’t get here any earlier.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
“I wish I had your confidence,” she said. “It’s going to seem so strange if we don’t have anything more out there than a wreath on the front door.”
“The house is the real draw. You can put a simple candle in every window and let the lines of the house shine through.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re absolutely right. Christmas at Holiday House is about the house and the simple beauty of the season, isn’t it? We don’t need lasers or synchronized light shows. Thank you for the reminder.”
“You’re welcome.” He wanted to glow under her praise and had to yank himself back to the issue at hand.
“Now. What are we up against here?”
She seemed to collect herself and headed toward the tree and the ladder propped against the wall.
“Winnie wants to use the same ornaments and garland on this tree she’s used for the past few years. That’s what’s in all these boxes. As she suggested, if you want to handle the higher branches, I can work down here.”
Ethan had a better idea. He wanted to wrap his arms around Abby, tug her down to the rug in front of the fire and spend the night kissing her while the fire flickered and the tree lights sparkled.
Instead, he rolled up his sleeves, literally, grateful he had changed out of his work suit into something more casual, jeans and an oxford.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“We should probably start with the star and then the garland.”
While he set up the ladder, she dug through boxes until she found a huge gold foil star he remembered always being on the top of this big tree. She handed him that and also a spool of wide, sparkly gold ribbon.
“Are you sure you can climb the ladder with both of those? If not, start with the star and then come back for the garland.”
“I can carry them both.” He tucked the garland spool under his arm and gripped the star, then began to ascend the ladder.
“Be careful,” she said a little breathlessly. Was she worried for him or for the fragile star?
“The star has a clip that should attach it to the top branch, right there on the back.”
While she watched, he fastened it, adjusting it until it appeared right to him.
“Is that straight?”
She stood away from the tree a little and tilted her head. “Perfect. Good job.”
He had only placed a star on a Christmas tree, he hadn’t ascended Mount Everest. Still, he felt a ridiculous sense of accomplishment.
“I think we need a little Christmas music, don’t you?”
She looked surprised but ordered Winnie’s smart speakers that he had set up for her a few years earlier to play a holiday jazz station, and soon a soft, mellow version of “Silent Night” played through the room, adding to the festive mood.
“Okay, what’s next? I have no idea how to hang a garland.”
She looked up at him with an astonished look. “Have you never decorated a Christmas tree before?”
He scanned his memory banks but came up empty. “I can’t say I have. Sorry.”
“Ever?”
“That’s not precisely true. I’ve hung a few ornaments on this one when Winnie persuaded me to help her, but I’ve never done the setup from the beginning, at least as