“Oh my God, you have a date!”
I watch him get in his car and drive away, but there is that butterfly feeling in my stomach. “It’s not a date,” I say, wishing in all reality that it was.
Lindy snickers. “Okay, so maybe his daughter will be with you guys, but I could see it in his eyes. He’s attracted to you.”
I wave her off. “No, he’s not. It’s just a business deal. He’s going to design my gallery’s website, and as payment, he wants me to cook him and his daughter dinner. Besides, I’m sure he’s still sad about his wife. Dating is the last thing on his mind.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “You might just be what the man needs.”
I don’t know what it’s like to lose a loved one to tragedy. I’m sure it puts a hole in your heart. Whatever happens, I’m not going to rush it.It’s still raining by the time I close up the gallery, so there won’t be any Santa visits. I run home to grab my chicken breasts out of the refrigerator and the sides I planned on cooking for myself. It turns out mac and cheese was already on the menu, so that should make Alyssa happy. I’ll be sure to add extra cheese to it.
When I pull into the driveway, Caleb walks out with an umbrella. “Hey,” he calls out, holding it over my head as I get out of the car. “Need help with the groceries?”
“Sure. They’re in the back.” I open the backseat door, and he takes one bag while I take the other. “Thank you for coming out to help me.”
I hurry inside, but he stays on the porch and shakes out the umbrella. “You’re welcome. Just trying to be a gentleman.”
I snort. “I wish all men were like that. My ex would’ve stayed on the front porch and laughed while I got wet.”
Caleb walks inside and shuts the door. “What a dirtbag.”
“Exactly.”
“I already got out a pan and the two pots you requested in your earlier text.” He nods toward the kitchen. “Come on. I’ll show you to the kitchen.” When I turn to get a good look at his living room, I freeze. There are boxes everywhere, the new couch still has the plastic covering on it, and there isn’t a Christmas tree.
“Oh, Caleb, this is awful.”
He comes up beside me and runs a hand through his hair with a sigh. “I know. It’s been hard to find motivation.” He takes my bag of food, and I follow him into the kitchen.
“The boxes will get emptied in time, but you have to get a Christmas tree.”
“Yes,” Alyssa squeals, appearing around the corner. “A Christmas tree!”
Caleb places his hands on the counter and sighs again. “Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now. Two against one.”
I shrug and smile. “I had mine up the second week of November. If I had my way, it’d be Christmas all year long at my house.”
He throws his hands up in the air, trying his best not to smile. “Fine. Alyssa and I will get a tree tomorrow. How does that sound?” he asks her.
Alyssa bounces up and down on her feet. “Yay. Can Bree help decorate with us?”
Caleb turns to me and lifts his brows. “Well, I don’t know. Bree might be busy tomorrow.”
Alyssa clasps her hands together, pursing her lips in a pouty way. “Please, Bree. Daddy doesn’t know how to decorate.”
“Hey,” Caleb calls out. “That’s not nice.”
Bree and I both giggle. “I tell you what,” I say, bending down to tap her on the nose, “I’ll come over right after I’m done with Santa. Maybe when we’re halfway done with the tree, we can bake some cookies?”
Her eyes widen. “Chocolate chip?”
“Whatever you want, pretty girl.”
She dances around and runs back down the hallway. Caleb chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re spoiling her, Bree. First, extra candy canes and now a Christmas tree and cookies?”
I shrug. “She deserves it.”
“That she does,” he agrees. “She’s been through a lot.”
He slides the pan I need over to me, and I put the chicken in it. “Hopefully, I’m not putting you out. I have an artificial tree you can use if you don’t have the time to find one.” I turn the oven on and slide the pan of chicken inside.
Caleb shakes his head. “It’s okay. I want to find a tree with Alyssa.”
“Good. We’ll have fun decorating it. I’ll bring over some of my ornaments. I have a ton of them.” I might have a habit of buying new ornaments every year. Every time I see one I like, I buy it. My poor tree can’t hold them all; that’s why I bought an extra one a couple of weeks ago, only I haven’t put it up yet.
Caleb moves out of the way to run water into one of the pots for the pasta. “Thanks, Bree. This means a lot.”