The tree lighting has been a tradition for many years around town. The first Wednesday after Thanksgiving the whole town gathers in the park for the special ceremony. I don’t know what came over me asking Juliette here. Okay, I guess I sort of do. The way she comforts Abby is right there on top of what I like about her, but the thing that draws me to her is her genuine smile. These days I find it hard to come across a real smile. People are polite, say hello, and give a small nod. But her smile is so bright, and her entire face glows, her cheeks puffing out, and her nose curling up. She’s sparked something within me, something that makes me think about her all the time, have her star in my dreams, and make my heart beat triple time when I’m around her.

Knowing very well I take the chance of seeming too eager, I arrive downtown early. I don’t care if I have to wait an hour for her in the cold. She’s worth every second. I need to get out of the house, too. My entire day I tried not to be too upset with my sister. I didn’t confront her when I brought Abby home last night though I should have. The way Abby described what’s happening at home, and with Arthur’s reaction the other day, I’m starting to think my sister may be the problem.

My eyes are tired after looking at the computer all day. In between my bouts of anxiety over Courtney, I spent hours losing myself in online job searches. I miss the days when jobs were posted in the old-fashioned newspaper. They still are, but they’re scarce. What seems to be even more difficult is finding something in my field.

The freshly fallen snow is perfect for the occasion, and I use my gloves to clean off the bench. I hope it’s dry enough for her to sit down. I don’t want her to be cold. One more run down the bench with my gloves, and I sit down. The air is crisp, the chill finding its way into my nose, the hope of Christmas coming along with it. The scene on Main Street is picturesque, and I can’t wait to add Juliette to the backdrop.

I’m waiting for about fifteen minutes, wiping her seat down a few times as the snow falls. Even though I know I’m early, I can’t help but wonder if she is standing me up. Any other time I’ve been on a date, the woman has shown up ahead of me. This is new territory for me.

As though it will make any difference, I check my phone about six times in case I misread the time. Perhaps I’m even more early than I thought. I’m not, though. Right when I’m about to accept that I’m being stood up, I see Juliette come out of the coffee shop down the street, a to-go mug in each hand. I smile and jog over to help her.

“Landon, hi!” She says as soon as she sees me. I love how she says my name, the L sliding off her tongue like it was meant for her. If she could repeat it over and over again, I’d listen for hours. “Thank you.” She hands a steaming cup to me, and even through my gloves it’s super hot.

“Dark roast with half and half. I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s perfect.” I’m not talking about the coffee, either. She’s smoking hot with her hair back in a ponytail and the knit cap on her head. Her slick jacket is tight against her body, and even though she’s on the shorter side, her knee-high boots work for her. The only thing missing from her outfit is my arms wrapped around her.

“I have to say that while I hate driving home from work in the dark, and in the snow, on nights like this, I’m grateful for the moon making an early appearance.”

Christmastime in our town is what it should be in every town across the country. Lights wrap around the leafless trees, wreaths hang from the lampposts, and holiday music provides a constant soundtrack. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe it. Breathtaking? No. I don’t think a proper word even exists. Now, with Juliette smiling at me, and the moon glowing behind her, the magic of Christmas has never been more clear.

I offer her a seat at my favorite bench after I wipe it down one more time. It’s not too wet, and I hope she doesn’t mind. She sits and grips her coffee between her hands.

“How was work today?”

“Good. Thanks for asking. Busy. With my recent promotion, they’re piling on the work.”

I realize that I don’t know what she does for a living other than her side hustle as an elf catching puke and breaking up arguments. “I’m sorry, Juliette, but I don’t know what you do.”

“Of course!” She laughs, that beaming smile warming me. “I work at a financial firm, Booker & Smith. I’ve been there for ten, no eleven, years now. My official title is Senior Financial Advisor.” With a shrug she adds, “I like what I do, I guess. I’m good with numbers. How about you? What keeps you busy during the day?”

“A lot of nothing,” I admit sheepishly. “I lost my job the day before Thanksgiving.”

“Oh no! That’s horrible!” She touches my elbow, shooting energy through my body and straight between my legs. “And right before Thanksgiving. That certainly doesn’t leave you thankful.”

“Nope. Not really.” What I don’t tell her is that I wouldn’t have met her if I hadn’t lost my job. I wouldn’t have been able to take Abby out for such a long day, and we probably wouldn’t have crossed paths. For having met her, I’m thankful. “Before I was let go, I worked in security. Sometimes I think about taking a different path, though, going out on my own.”

“Still doing something in security?”

I pull my shoulders into a shrug. “I’m not sure. I haven’t given it much thought. The past few days I’ve browsed the want ads. Sometimes my mind wanders off, and I think maybe I could do something else and be my own boss.”

“Like a multi-level marketing scheme? You’ll peddle makeup or fitness shakes, maybe some essential oils or erotic toys.”

“Erotic toys? You can sell erotic toys door-to-door?” I imagine her knocking on doors around her neighborhood asking the people behind them if they want to see the latest model in vibrators or flavored lubricant. I can’t help but blush.

“Yep.” Her lips touch the tip of her mug cover as she moves her head back to drink. “My cousin used to be in the business. Sales were pretty good.”

I laugh. “Glad to hear. I won’t be joining up anytime soon though.”

She snaps her fingers. “Darn. And I was going to sign up and add you to my team.”

We share a laugh, my mind wandering again, us working together in a sexually charged environment. I have to change this subject before I lose my mind. “We’ll see what happens. My plan is to have this figured out by the new year.”

“Well, I think you’re brave, either way. I rely too much on stability in my life. Nothing beats a steady paycheck and insurance I can count on. At least most of the time. Every other minute I swear something is changing in the insurance industry. Luckily, it doesn’t affect me too much.”

It affects people like my sister and her family. I don’t worry about insurance for me. I’m relatively young (I’m only forty!), in decent shape, and single. My costs are fairly low. But I worry about Courtney and if she’ll max out her lifetime limits with her treatments. Then what does she do?

We sip on our coffee for a few moments without either of us saying a word. I don’t mind. Sitting next to her is the perfect way to spend my time. Even though it’s cold outside, her warmth permeates the area around me, along with the sweet smell of her perfume. Her breath outlines the air as she lets out a sigh.

“So, I have to ask.” I know what’s coming before she even says it. “About what your niece said…is it your sister who is sick or your sister-in-law? Not that one is more tragic than the other. I’m only curious.”

“My sister.”

“I hope you don’t mind me asking. I know we’ve only just met.”

“No. It’s fine.” We may have only met a few days ago, but I already feel as though I can tell her anything. “Her diagnosis came about a month ago. She hasn’t told Abby yet. Well, at least not directly. She must have overheard them. Courtney, my sister, has been going through a lot, and now she and her husband are discussing separation.”

“That’s terrible.” She puts her hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks. Everyone says that, but it doesn’t change the situation.”

“I know. When my parents divorced, I heard that all the time. If someone wasn’t telling me how sorry they were, they were asking how I was holding up. I was nine, my brother was eleven. It wasn’t easy. And ever since then, it’s been a juggling act.”

“You mean balancing.”

“No, I mean juggling. I would kill for balance. My mom is still in love with my dad, I’m sure, and my dad’s girlfriends keep getting younger and younger. His latest is younger than me.”

“Ouch.”

“I’m so used to it now that it doesn’t faze me.”

I’d be affected by it. I couldn’t imagine my dad dating someone younger, especially someone close to my age. I don’t have to worry about that though. Once Mom died, Dad went to live in his own fantasy land, moving to Minnesota after reconnecting with a high school girlfriend. Courtney took it harder than me, and she misses him sometimes. I try not to. He doesn’t make much an effort to see us, so we don’t bust our butt trying to do so either. He doesn’t even know his grandchildren.

The city representatives take their places around the tree. “It’s about to start,” I lean over and whisper in Juliette’s ear. I pull back, realizing I don’t need to put my lips so close to her to speak, though she doesn’t push me away. I breathe her in while I can. Mmm. She smells like strawberries. I wish I could inhale every part of her. I bet she smells like strawberries all over.

Before I can say anything, I take a drink of my coffee, chugging it like a beer. It’s hot, but so am I, so I don’t take the time to care.

“I’ve never attended one of these.”

“You haven’t?” The tree lighting is a tradition in our town. Most make it a family outing and stop off to visit Santa after. “I come every single year.”

“You do? Do you usually come alone?”

“Sometimes.” Most times. It’s a time for me to reflect on my mom. She used to come with me all the time. In fact, it was the three of us—my mom, Courtney, and me. Dad used to come with, but once my mom became sick, he drifted away. He didn’t come that last year. He didn’t do too much that year except feel sorry for himself when he should have been spending time with his family. Everyone deals with grief in their own way, though, and I guess that was his. Though I wonder if he knew that denying reality doesn’t change the past.

“Sometimes. So do you normally bring first dates here?”

“Is this a date?” I flirt with her because I’m pretty sure she’s flirting with me. I haven’t been on a date for some time, but I remember what flirting feels like. And this definitely feels like flirting.

Instead of answering me, she shrugs, and her smile tells me everything I need to know.

Mayor Janine Gunderson steps up to the podium next to the large tree. She taps the microphone two times before she speaks.

“Good evening, and welcome as we celebrate the start of the holiday season. Today we’ll light the Oakfield Holiday Tree, but before we do so, I need to thank a few people. First and foremost, thank you to Marie and Martin Meyer for donating this amazing tree and the Chamber of Commerce for donating the lights. The team at Oakfield Electric for making sure we keep the lights on, and all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be here with us today.

“This tree represents the holiday season, but it stands for so much more. Let this tree represent the strength we have as a community, the joys we share as family, and the dedication of each one of you in this outstanding, awesome place called Earth.

“With that, I’d like you to join me as we light for the first time the Oakfield Holiday Tree!”

Mayor Gunderson starts the clapping, and the community follows as they stand on their feet if they already aren’t, the lights brightening up the night sky. A musical rendition begins of “Joy To The World” by the Oakfield High School Band. The blue star on top of the tree is radiant, and as I stare at the tree, I have to catch my breath.

Juliette loops her arm with mine as she looks up at the tree. I wonder how she would react if I reached my hand up and took hers in mine. I don’t though, too afraid I’ll scare her away.

Once the band softens their music and we can hear each other speak again, we sit back down on the bench. I’m disappointed when our arms are no longer touching.

“How’s my favorite little girl doing?”

I can’t believe she is asking about Abby. Any other woman I’ve been on a date with has never asked about anyone in my family. Sure, I never introduced them to Abby, Audrey, Courtney, or Arthur, but they didn’t even take the time to ask if I had family.

“She’s doing awesome. You made her day with the special tour of Santa’s Village. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.”

“Well, I would. She has a tough few months ahead of her.” She doesn’t reply, and I don’t blame her. How is she supposed to react to that? “What about you? You mentioned a brother. What’s he like?”

She inhales deeply, and if she exhales, I don’t see it. “I don’t really know. I don’t talk to him a lot.”

“No?”

“No. He’s been in, um, jail for the past few years.”

That I was not expecting. Maybe an argument years ago that caused them to drift apart, or a genuine dislike for each other. Not jail, though. That’s big.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what’s he serving time for?”

“Murder.”

I gasp, and she laughs.

“Okay, I shouldn’t laugh about murder. Sorry. He forged some checks and got caught. He’s out in about two or three weeks.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t homicide but stealing is a big deal, too. Are you planning on seeing him when he’s out?”

She lifts her shoulders and drops them again. “My mom wants us to. She thinks we should have this Christmas celebration. I have no desire to see him or talk to him though.”

I’m not sure what to say to her. I couldn’t imagine not talking to my sister. If my mother were still around, I’d be sure to grant her every wish she had when it came to me and Courtney. Our bond was always strong, but losing a parent makes it even stronger.

“You’re close with your sister, then?”

“Very. Courtney is an amazing mother, and she’s also a lot of fun. Whenever she goes out, she’s the life of the party. I mean, now that she has Abby and a baby, she doesn’t go out as much. When she does, though, she goes all night.”

“This tree really is something else,” she says as she lowers her head onto my shoulder, her strawberry scented hair overtaking my nose. Every part of this feels natural, and I want to wrap my arms around her. “It’s so massive and powerful. It makes me want to believe in things I’ve never believed in before.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Christmas.”