The uneasy feeling I had the other night when I was with my mom, Mindy and Eileen hasn’t gone away. I find myself looking over my shoulder even with Calvin by my side. I haven’t told him about the encounter mostly because I feel like I could be overreacting. Maybe the man was harmless, and I misinterpreted the way he was gazing at me. I’m an actress; it’s my job to be overdramatic at times.

If Calvin doesn’t quit today, he will by the end of the month with all the random things I have planned. When I was growing up, I always worked the local tree stand, helping people find the right tree for them. At first, my job was to clean up and direct people, then it changed to taking payments and helping them carry trees to their car. I’ve always been too short to help anyone strap their tree down, but Dominic, Aiden or any one of their friends would be around to help.

Today, it’s Calvin. As he stands there in the front of my rental, looking entirely out of place, I reach up on my tiptoes and pinch his cheek. He bats my hand away and glares at me. “This will be fun,” I tell him.

“There’s nothing fun about tree sap, pine needles, and cold weather,” he bites back.

“True, but we have hot chocolate, candy canes, and Christmas music. Plus, in between customers you can hang out in the sugarhouse and get to know Mr. Steve. He’s retired and spends his days tending to his garden, boiling sap to make maple syrup and growing Christmas trees. ”

“And snow, wind and acres of trees. I’m not comfortable with you walking through with some unknown person, carrying a saw,” he says.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Then why am I here?” Calvin has a point. I called him here because of the incident at the mall, and while nothing has happened per se, he’s here because I feel safer when he’s around. I nod, agreeing that traipsing through the uncut trees is probably not the best idea. Nor do I remember the lay of the land very well.

“I promise to stay right here.” I turn and look at the rows of split rail fencing and saw horses used to hold the trees up.

“And no carrying any trees. The last thing you need is to get injured before you’re due on set for your next film.”

Internally, I groan. Being home has been incredibly relaxing to the point where I don’t necessarily miss California, except for the weather. I know I have to go back, but the thought of staying here longer is very appealing or at least making sure I’m home in between movies. I could be a diva and demand a small break in between films. It’s not likely I’d do something like that because I don’t want to tarnish my reputation. However, the thought is there, lingering in the back of my mind.

Calvin and I walk down the snow-covered driveway and into the sugarhouse where the wood stove is emitting a bit of warmth. “Mr. Steve!” I don’t give the old man a chance to recognize me before I’m tugging him into an embrace. “How have you been?”

He pulls back and appraises me. I give him my best dazzling smile, praying he remembers me. Maybe this was a mistake. I never thought he’d forget about me, but ten years have passed, and when my dad mentioned volunteering, I jumped at the opportunity.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t little Du Luca. I see your ole man is making you earn your keep.”

“He’s a slave driver, I tell ya.” Mr. Steve hugs me again before extending his hand out to Calvin. “Mr. Steve, this is my friend, Calvin Johnson.”

“So you’re the bodyguard I’ve heard rumblings about around town?”

“Guilty as charged,” Calvin says. “And here to be of service to you.”

“Well, I appreciate the help. The kids these days, it’s hard to find someone willing to be out in the cold for hours on end. They always want to play on their phones or sit in front of the television where it’s warm.”

“I have to say, I agree with them. It’s cold here, Mr. Steve.” Calvin solidifies his comment by crossing his arms and shivering. I know he can’t be that cold since he’s wearing a state-of-the-art-nothing-is-getting-through-parka. In fact, I’m wearing the same type, and I’m toasty warm.

“I’ll keep the fire roaring, the drinks flowing and the college games on the television.”

“Sounds good,” Calvin says just as a car pulls in. I rush outside to greet my first customers in over ten years.

Today’s going to be a challenge, I know this, but am secretly hoping word spreads that I’m here and business is booming. Some would frown on me for having an ulterior motive other than volunteering. I’m okay with that. I want people to flock to the tree farm, to buy local and to have fun. If I have to use my star power to make it happen, I’m going to do it.

The morning starts slowly, but by the afternoon business is picking up. My dad and Dominic are here to help people with their tree selection, and to lend a hand cutting and stocking new trees.

“Couldn’t stay away, huh?”

I turn at the sound of a familiar voice and lay my eyes on Aiden and his daughter. Holly gives me a small wave, which I happily return. “I couldn’t. I love this place.”

“Really? Because I remember someone complaining about getting sap in her hair, breaking her fingernails and smelling like trees back in the day.”

I look away sheepishly. “Sometimes it takes not having something like this to make you realize how much you miss it.”

Aiden leans down and whispers something into Holly’s ear. It seems like his blue eyes never leave mine nor does the smile change on his face.

“I know, Daddy. I already met her,” Holly whispers loudly. Aiden looks surprised by Holly’s admission. I rack my brain, trying to remember if I told him about my involvement with the school play.

“I told you, right, because I feel like I did the other day when we were having breakfast.”

He straightens up and ever so slowly, a grin appears. “Are you serious right now? Making me question my sanity on whether or not we’ve had this conversation? You’re lucky there isn’t a snowball in my hand right now.”

Holly giggles, and it’s the best sound in the world. “I hit Daddy with a snowball the other night.”

“You did?”

She nods eagerly. “Yep, we attacked him.”

“Well, I think this is the most amazing news I’ve heard in a long time.” I smirk at Aiden, who rolls his eyes.

“It was so funny. Daddy had snow everywhere.”

I squat down until I’m Holly’s height, which honestly doesn’t take much. I reach for her mitten-clad hand and hold it in mine. “What do you say we go look for your tree and we can talk about how I’m going to seek revenge on your father for making me feel silly?”

“Daddy, may I?” Holly looks up at Aiden, seeking permission. I want to applaud her for not going with me. I’m not so sure I would’ve done the same if my idol were crouched before me, offering to take me someplace.

“Do you mind if I come with you ladies?”

Holly turns to me, and I shrug. “Fine with us,” she says to her father. Still, I don’t let go of Holly’s hand when we start the tour, up and down the rows of trees.

“What kind of tree are you looking for?” I make it a point to ask her.

“I want a big fluffy one that’s really, really tall.”

I look to Aiden for confirmation, but he’s shaking his head. I direct us toward the row where the narrower and shorter trees are, pulling out the first one I see. “How about this one? I named him Arnie.”

“You named the tree?” Aiden questions me.

“I did. I named every tree out here today. It gives them a sense of personality, provides him or her with the hope that they’ll be adopted.”

“Adopted? It’s a tree, Laney.”

“Not just any tree, Fish, but a Christmas tree. It’s going to bring hope, cheer and a lasting impression for years to come.”

“Daddy, why does she call you Fish?”

Aiden and I laugh. I don’t recall when it started, but it was sometime before we started dating. Of course, boys call all their friends by their last name, and I wanted to be different. He, in turn, called me Laney and he’s the only one ever to do so.

“It’s a nickname, just like I call you Punky.” Holly smiles at her dad, making it easy to see how much she loves him. He kneels down and wraps his arm around her waist. “What do you think, Punky? Do you want to take Arnie home?”

Holly gives the tree a once over before shaking her head. “He’s missing some branches, and I really want a girl tree. Can we please have a girl tree, Daddy?”

“Do you have any girl trees?” Aiden asks.

“Sure do, right over here.” The Fishers follow me to another rack where I contemplate which tree to show them. I finally set one up right and introduce them to Gwen. “She was cut this morning.”

“I love Gwen,” Holly says, clapping her hands. The muffled sound is loud enough for me to hear. I start cheering right along the side of her.

“Where will Gwen live in your house?” I ask as I prepare to carry the tree back to the sugarhouse, only to have Aiden stop me in my tracks.

“I got this,” he says as his hand brushes against mine. Gloves or not, I felt something spark between us. My hand stays under his until Holly’s voice breaks the spell.

“… the big window and she’ll have lights and pretty ornaments. We have an angel to go up top.”

“This sounds amazing, Holly. Maybe I’ll be able to see Gwen when she’s all decorated.”

“Oh yes. Daddy, can Delaney come over? I can show her my room, and maybe we can watch a movie together.” Holly looks at Aiden with the most serious expression on her face. I do the same, giving Aiden a stare down, waiting for him to provide us with an answer.

“Well, I’m sure Delaney is busy.”

Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but he’s right. I’m busy. With what, I don’t exactly know, aside from making and eating every cookie that comes out of the oven.

Aiden settles his tab while Calvin puts Gwen into the back of Aiden’s truck. Holly and I look at the wreaths Mr. Steve’s wife has made, and I tell her to pick one. She does and hands it to Calvin, who sets it into the truck.

Aiden gets Holly situated, and comes over to me. “Thank you for this.”

“I didn’t do anything, Fish.”

“No, you did. I didn’t mean to forget about our conversation the other day; it’s just… seeing you here brought up a few memories, and they caught me off guard. I wanted to thank you for the other night. Hanging out with your dad, Dom and Calvin was a lot of fun.

“Calvin said you guys had a good time.”

“We did, but what you did here, with naming the trees and entertaining Holly like that… well let me say this, you took something as mundane as picking out a tree and made it into a production. You’re so good at what you do. You have no idea the effect you have on her. I appreciate this.”

“Fish…” I want to tell him I wasn’t acting, and that I enjoyed every second I spent with him and his daughter, but he doesn’t give me a chance.

He shakes his head and turns toward his truck, leaving me standing there with my mouth open and my thoughts running a mile a minute. My mom and Mindy have both said things have been hard for him. Maybe there’s something I can do to help or bring some cheer to his and Holly’s lives.