Jackson and Aiden pulled the twelve-foot Loblolly pine through the front door, a cold breeze rushing in behind them. “Aiden, guide the rear towards the middle, son, so it won’t hit the walls and get damaged coming through the doorway.

“Yes, suh!” The little boy clapped his hands, wearing his biggest smile. “This is so exciting. It’s almost Christmas! We’ve never stuck a tree in the house before! I bet Ella will be surprised when she sees this beaut-i-ful tree. She always wanted a tree.

Bo followed behind them, alternating between tugging and barking at the rope tied to a secured bundle of pine boughs that Jackson and Aiden left on the porch. The pup had dragged them in until they became stuck in the doorway, lodged awkwardly. Bo gave a final tug and the boughs catapulted through the door, causing him to fall backward, sprawling into a landing on his bottom.

Aiden erupted into peals of laughter. “Bo! You are a funny dog. We were gonna get those!

Jackson bent down and loosened the package of boughs. “I’m amazed he got these into the house still in a bundle. I thought we would have to toss the ruined ones and cut more.” He laughed. “Your sister will be surprised—that is, if she didn’t hear us coming with all of our commotions.” He smiled at his little helpers and gently chucked Aiden under the chin, gaining another big smile from the little boy and a bark from Bo.

“Let’s see if Carter can help us get this into the parlor and stand it up. I think a third hand could help us keep it from dragging so we can keep some of those beautiful pine needles on the tree.” He pointed behind him at the trail of pine. “What do you think, little buddy?”

“What’s all the barking about?” A smiling Carter entered the hallway from the back of the house, carrying the newly built tree stand. “Suh, I think dis will work. Here is the twine you asked ’bout to tie it up into place.”

Carter set the tree stand in front of the parlor windows. “Miss Ella always talked ’bout her wanting a Christmas tree right here.” He gazed up and down the tree. “Oh boy! She gonna love des big tree.”

Jackson and Carter finished arranging the tree in the stand with Aiden supervising. Stepping back, they admired their handiwork. “You recommended a fine Christmas tree, Carter. And you did a great job with that tree stand. It should hold it straight.” He pulled the loose twine from his pants pocket. “Can you help me secure it to the window? Let’s try to tie it from the top.” He reached up towards one of the top limbs. “It won’t show if we anchor it from behind. I want to trust it won’t fall.

As they finished their handiwork, Ella walked into the room. “Oh! Don’t want to think of that gorgeous tree falling!” She went to sit down on the couch but was almost mowed over by her young brother and his faithful companion. “There you are. I was worried about my little man. It’s cold out there.” She hugged him and kissed Bo on the nose.

“Looky, sista! Jackson and me, we found our tree for Santa Claus! Don’t you think it’s beaut-i-ful?” Aiden jumped up and down.

“Oh, it is, Aiden. Truly.”

“Hurry! Let’s decorate it!”

“Yes, let’s start with this.” She handed Jackson and Aiden some strings. “I’ll keep stringing.”

She took her seat on the couch and grabbed up a bowl of popped corn and her needle and thread, continuing to string popped corn. “I read about this in Godey’s.” Ella picked up a pile of strung popped corn and showed where she was still working on it. “I can tie this off and start a new string. That might be better. The drawing they had made the tree look pretty. I thought it’d look nice on our tree.

“It will be fine looking,” Jackson agreed. He moved over to the fireplace mantle and withdrew a book-sized box. “It’s a star. I carved it.” He handed it to Ella. “Aiden, do you think you would do the honors and place this on top of the tree when we get all of the decorating done?”

“A new tradition. I love that. The star is perfect!” Ella got up, holding yards of popcorn on the string. We will need something to stand on to hang this.” She pointed to a small ladder in the corner of the room, behind the door.

She stepped back, satisfied with her work. “Now this is done, we just have to finish the cotton angels. Aiden, you can help with these, if you’d like. I’m using this flour paste to glue these little cotton balls into small angel forms. Then I thread a string through the top and tie them off and we hang them.

The three of them worked together putting the strings of popcorn around it, watching a very festive tree take shape.

“Gee! This tree looks better than any Christmas tree I’ve ever had!” Aiden beamed.

Jackson chortled as he watched Ella and Aiden place the finished angels amid the strings of popcorn. 

Ella tied off the last the few angels and handed them to Aiden to hang.

“Can we put it up there, suh?” Aiden held the angel up, pointing to the top part of the tree.

“Sure, I will be your ladder.” He jovially lifted the little boy on his shoulders and walked around the tree, standing as Aiden hung the remaining angel.

* * *

It’s beautiful. I don’t think I will ever forget this day.” Ella loved watching her little brother’s enthusiasm as he hung the ornaments.

She reminisced as she watched them work, thinking back to the last Christmas her family was together.

Nolan had been home from school. Aiden had been only two. They hadn’t had a tree that year. Instead, she had made stockings. She wondered where the stockings had been stored. Her thoughts turned to Nolan and she pondered what he might be doing and if he was okay.

A couple of hours later, the decorating had been finished except for the lights. Lizzy brought small candles in little wooden holders fastened to clothespins to secure on the limbs.

The help had thinned out. Aiden and Bo had both fallen to sleep in front of the fire. Jackson and Ella admired the tree from their place on the couch, warmed by a crackling fire in the fireplace. The star lay on top of the pianoforte in the far corner of the room, opposite the window.

“We’ll wait to hang the star when they wake up.” Ella laughed. She stared into the fire, mesmerized.

“A penny for the thoughts that have taken you away from this warm fire, darling?” Jackson stood and circled around the tree to her side. “You know, if someone had told me I would find happiness while fighting this war, I’d have never believed it.” He rubbed her shoulders affectionately. “Yet, so much has happened in such a short time. I don’t think I’ll take even a minute of life for granted again.”

“I never expected all of this. It seems like it was meant to be. But I don’t know if it’s fair that so much of our world is embroiled with grief, yet my life—our lives—have gotten better.” She shuddered as she recalled thoughts of her brother and father. The silence was deafening. “I hope they are okay.”

“Who?”

“Nolan and Pa. I wonder if…I think about whether they are safe if they are okay, and...” She couldn’t finish her thought.

“I have heard nothing about Nolan, love, so my thinking is no news is good news. As for your father, I think Nolan mentioned he planned to ask and start searching.”

“I hope he will find him, and that he is all right.” She missed Nolan and her father, but today, her heart was full. She still had her family—Jackson, Aiden, and Bo. Her hand touched her stomach and rubbed it gently. In that moment, she decided.

“Jackson, I think I have the perfect Christmas present for you, but I don’t want to wait.”

“Then don’t!” He laughed. “Surprise is overrated.” 

She leaned into him and ran her hand along the underside of his chin. Her hands moved up and curled in his hair. “Well…first, I should mention we will need to renovate the room next to Aiden.” She bit her lip and waited.

“Why would that be?”

“Well,” she started slowly, “That would be where our son or daughter will sleep.” Ella slowly took Jackson’s right hand and placed it on her stomach, holding her hand over it. She watched his expression change from pensiveness to confusion to wonderment. Waiting, she sucked in her breath, hoping.

A broad smile lit up his face.

“A baby?” He encircled her waist, pulled her closer.

She nodded, smiling.

“When?” He nuzzled her ear, kissing it and moved down her neck.

“Perhaps July, if I have my calculations right.”

A small whimper of contentment escaped him, and he moved to her chest, covering the exposed skin with soft kisses.  

Tingling, she felt a familiar heat ignite her middle. “I missed my monthly and didn’t think about it until a couple of weeks later. I’m two months along, I think. I wanted to keep it until Christmas, but I couldn’t wait another three weeks to tell you.” She rested her head against his chest, breathing in the sandalwood essence of him.

“We will have another addition to our family.” Jackson jumped up and slapped his knee. With giddy excitement, he picked her up, spinning her around. “I hope she looks just like you. Your eyes mesmerized me from the first day I met you. And your spicy, uncompromising spirit is perfectly matched by your beautiful red hair.”

She smiled. “So, you won’t be disappointed if this is a little girl? I was so worried you might be.” A boy or girl would be fine, but she had only had boys in the house. She wanted this child to be a little girl.

“Absolutely not!”

Ella reached up and slanted her lips over his. Her tongue met his in a slow, familiar dance. Jackson moved his arms behind her, pulling up her dress inches at a time and moving her down on the couch. In minutes, low pants were coming from both.

Bo barked, and their kiss met an untimely end.

Ella and Jackson sat up, wordlessly adjusting themselves on the couch.

A muffled grunt sounded from under Bo, who was lying over his young master’s face as if to cover his eyes. Aiden heaved his puppy aside and sat up, wiping the sleep away.

“Bo, you were smuddering my nose!”

Laughing, Jackson reached down and picked up his little buddy. “Aiden, what would you think if we told you we will have a baby?”

It seemed to take a moment for the question to register with Aiden, but the heart-stopping smile on his face gave his answer. “Really?” He squirmed to get down and ran over to hug his sister, touching her stomach.

“Yes, Aiden. Maybe a little niece or nephew,” she whispered, kissing his head. “I will count on your help.” Ella hugged her little brother and kissed Jackson.

This was the start of their Christmas traditions and their family. She had the family she doubted she would ever have. Ella never believed she could have the love she had known her parents to have, but somehow it had found her. It was hard to forget that the war was here, but Jackson was determined to keep as much normalcy as he could at Silver Moon. Fear was still commonplace, but she held on to her faith.

Life had changed so much. Love and contentment had soothed the anger and hatred she once held towards the Yankees, and she looked forward to this new life. It held so much promise with Jackson, Aiden, and this child. She cherished her life.

Hope was what she felt now. Hers was no longer a life touched by embers of anger.