Mary Alice shrugged. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The PA crackled. “Dr. Phillips, you’re needed in the ER. Dr. Phillips, you’re needed in the ER.”
“Damn. Sorry,” Chad muttered. He’d hoped for a longer lull before springing back into action.
“Duty calls. Go save a life.”
He looked at the barely empty coffee cup and deemed it cool enough to chug. Gulping all of it, he rose with an apologetic smile. “To be continued.”
Mary Alice waved.
Reluctant to let her out of his sight, he backed toward the exit. “Spend tomorrow with me,” he called.
“We just hung out the last two nights.”
That had Louise’s interest piquing.
“That was work. I wanna take you out.”
“Like a date?”
“Not like a date. On a date.” He’d meant to give her more time to acclimate, but he just didn’t want to wait.
“Come on, child. This one’s a catch,” Louise added.
“You said you finished your grading. C’mon. Say yes, Mary Alice.”
After a long second, she smiled. “Okay then. Tomorrow.”
&
nbsp; When he pumped his fist in victory, she laughed, and he carried the sound of it with him as he ran for the ER.
Mary Alice climbed out of Chad’s SUV and looked over the rolling hills of Applewhite Christmas Tree farm. As a location for their date, it was entirely unexpected. She loved it out here, miles from town, surrounded by the crisp scent of evergreens. “I have so many fond memories of coming out here with my family as a kid.”
Chad came around the front of the vehicle and took her hand. “Why did y’all stop coming?”
“I don’t know. Just grew up, I guess. I brought my class out here on a field trip one year.”
“I bet they loved that.”
“You bet. But what are we doing here? Are we cutting a Christmas tree? Because, in case you missed it, mine is already up.” The prelit one had come out of the box the day after Thanksgiving. She appreciated the convenience and longevity of a fake tree and, God knew, not having to untangle lights was a blessing. But standing out here, she remembered all the reasons she loved real ones.
“Now that you mention it, we should do that while we’re here. I haven’t got one yet. But no, that’s not why.” He tugged her toward the barn, where Jace Applewhite was watering a team of horses hitched to a hay wagon. He’d been a few years behind her in school, but she remembered him.
“Everything ready?” Chad asked him.
Jace grinned. “Tara and the kids are just getting back.” He nodded behind them, toward the fields.
Mary Alice turned and saw a tall, blonde woman, a lanky boy, and a familiar little girl striding out from the rows of trees. The little girl broke into a run. “Miss Reed! Miss Reed!”
“One of yours, I presume?” Chad asked.
“Last year.” Mary Alice crouched, arms open to catch the child as she rocketed in for a hug. “Hey Ginny! How are you?”
“I’m awesome! Next week, when school’s out, we’re moving out to the tree farm for Christmas, on account of Tara’s dating Jace and we’re honorary Applewhites.”
“Well, that just sounds like a blast.”