The rest of the room was equally interesting. There were built-in bookcases filled with leather-bound books, knickknacks and a million picture frames. It was a fascinating thing to Tori. Her family was minimalist out of necessity. They had a strict policy that if they didn’t use something for six months, it was gone. And if it didn’t serve more than one function, there was no sense in getting it at all.
Tori was distracted by footsteps on the dark hardwood floor. What should’ve taken at least an hour in the kitchen was done in less than ten minutes. The family poured back into the living room far earlier than Tori had expected.
They all held mugs of cider. Wade had two, one of which he handed to her as he sat down on the stone hearth beside her. She took it with a touch of hesitation. “Did you put something in this?” she asked quietly enough for only him to hear.
He smiled widely, his dangerous charm making it obvious that he could have if he wanted to. “No. Just cider.”
With no real choice but to believe him, she sipped the drink. It was warm with cinnamon and caramel undertones. It tasted just the way Christmas should. Not the slightest hint of any chemicals.
“Ken,” Molly urged, “go get Tori’s gift from the shop, would you, please?”
“I’ll get it, Dad.” Wade leaped up and beat his father out the door.
Tori sat anxiously awaiting what he was bringing her. He returned a few minutes later with a tiny potted Christmas tree. It was about two feet tall, and it was decorated with tiny balls of birdseed that looked like ornaments, and strands of cranberries and popcorn threaded around it like garland. It was adorably festive and just the right size for her Airstream.
“Is that really for me?” she asked, wishing she had brought something else with the poinsettia. It didn’t seem like enough for all their kindness.
“Absolutely,” Molly said, beaming with the excitement of gift-giving. “Anyone else would’ve gotten a larger tree.”
Wade approached her with the tree in his arms. “When Mama mentioned you’d never had a Christmas tree, the entire family was rightfully appalled. Everyone needs a Christmas tree, as far as the Edens are concerned.” Wade set the tree on the small end table beside her. “This balsam fir is alive and well-potted, so when it’s warmer you can plant it somewhere. The decorations are for the birds, quite literally. You can set the tree outside after Christmas, and they’ll happily eat up all the decorations so you don’t have to find a place to store them.”
Tori couldn’t help the look of surprise on her face. The gift itself was thoughtful enough, but there was also an attention to detail that she appreciated. These people knew nothing about her, and yet they’d chosen the most perfect present. She didn’t know what to say, so she just reached out to touch the ornaments and admire her tree instead of the man who brought it to her.
“It’s beautiful,” she finally got out. “Thank you for the tree. And for having me to dinner. You may have single-handedly salvaged my holiday.”
Wade smiled, and Tori’s breath caught in her throat. He’d never smiled at her that way. There was always a challenge, a hard edge of negotiation in his expression, even when he was trying to charm her. Tonight, for the holiday, he seemed to have put that aside. Now his smile was just pure joy. It lit up his face, making him more breathtakingly handsome than he’d ever been.
She swallowed hard and took a sip of her cider to distract herself. Wade sat down beside her again and took up his own mug. Tori held her breath, just knowing that the rapid pound of her heartbeat was loud enough for him to hear sitting so close.
Fortunately, someone suggested Julianne play some carols on the ancient-looking upright piano in the corner. That would be loud enough to muffle the sound. Heath goaded his sister until she took her place at the bench and started playing. She began with “The First Noel,” and everyone sat quietly listening to her play.
Tori was relieved to have some time without having to maintain a conversation with someone. She wasn’t an introvert, per se, but she did spend a lot of time alone. She’d gotten a little rusty at basic small talk. Eating dinner had taken up a lot of that time until now. Lifting her mug, she happily sipped her mulled cider and listened to the music.
“You may want to leave before too long,” Wade suggested.
Tori turned to him with a frown curling her mouth down. Just when she thought they’d called a truce. “Are you ready to be rid of me already?”
“No,” he said, turning to the piano and leaning toward her. “But you should know we’re hard-core on tradition around here. Once Julianne plays a couple songs, a group of grown men is going to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas on an old VHS tape. Then Dad will read ‘A Visit from Saint Nicholas’ to all of us before bed.”