Christmas in Angel Harbor - Jeannie Moon Page 0,69

Jane zeroed in on one tree at edge of the small grove. She almost missed it.

“This one.” Looking up, she ran her gloved hand over the needles, and almost none fell off. It was full, but not so dense they’d have trouble stringing lights and hanging the ornaments. “How tall do you think this one is?”

“Based on the sky, or for real?” He smiled, and the little inside joke, that tidbit of familiarity, brought them that much closer.

“For real.”

Extending his arm, he tilted his head. “This one is about seven and a half feet tall. Give or take a couple of inches. How tall is your ceiling?”

“Nine feet.”

“You’re golden. You sure about this one? Last chance to change your mind.”

“I’m sure.”

While he got down on the ground to cut the tree, Jane held the trunk, letting the smell of pine and snow seep into her senses. Just being outside, being with him, helped her feel better.

The thought of Tara missing the build-up to Christmas next year caused a bit of an ache in her chest, but that would happen whether she was in Ireland or Vermont. Jane had to accept that her life was changing, but looking at Danny as he cut down her Christmas tree reminded her that all change wasn’t bad.

The two of them managed to carry the tree back to the main part of the lot, and without much help, Dan hoisted the Fraser fir onto the roof of her car. Jane noticed that he had an easier time securing the tree than the much younger helper employed by the farm. It almost didn’t seem fair.

What was it about men and aging? Why did it always go so well for them? Glancing at the tree on her roof and then at the man who’d made it happen, Jane felt herself smile. At least that was something.

*

Danny pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. It was comfortable, like they’d done this particular routine a thousand times. If her tales of woe earlier that evening had brought him down, she couldn’t tell. He was smiling and humming along with the Christmas music on the radio. He seemed happy and at ease, and Jane wished she could hold on to some holiday spirit for more than five minutes.

Her phone buzzed in her bag, and when she pulled it out, she saw a few text messages had come in. One was from her mother, one was from Tracy, and one was from Gary, her lawyer. Her lawyer? It was eleven-thirty at night, over a holiday weekend. What the devil was he thinking?

It didn’t say much, which was getting to be the norm, but hearing from him was definitely progress. Until she read the message, which indicated anything but. No word, it said. Nothing else.

It put her back up, and she typed furiously back into her phone. I need answers.

“He probably thought I was asleep,” she mumbled.

“What?” Danny had no idea what she was talking about. “Who thinks you’re asleep?”

“Gary. My lawyer. He just sent me a text. ‘No word.’ That’s all it said.”

Danny gripped the steering wheel with both hands, tension evident in his fingers. Jane wondered if he was angry that she couldn’t let go of the issues with the bookstore for one night. They’d been having such a good time. Had she ruined it?

“His timing was impeccable.” Danny was very still, and obviously annoyed.

“Tell me about it. I’m sorry.” With trembling hands, she fished her keys from her bag. Her life was never-ending whiplash, with her feelings being yanked around from one side to another, all while she tried to maintain her calm.

She didn’t know if she was feeling off because of Danny, or her business. Maybe it was a little of both. Him and her business. Both disasters waiting to happen. Why was she opening herself up to this kind of heartache? Especially when she had no idea how to be in a relationship.

It was fine. She could regain control of the situation. He’d help her get the tree in the stand, and then he could go, with her thanks. Jane could put on her pajamas and eat all the chocolate mousse pie that was left over from Thanksgiving.

But therein lay the rub. Jane didn’t want him to go. She loved being with him, and the thought of the night ending made her desperately unhappy.

She was crazy. That was it, she was plain old crazy. She didn’t know how to manage her business or her life, and