Chapter Eleven
As Kevin was rounding the corner of Kate’s street, she was coming from the other direction and didn’t notice the Cedar Park Christmas Tree Farm truck.
She pulled into the driveway and bounded up the porch steps. When she opened the front door, all she could see was a tree. A very large one.
“Brian! You under there?” She didn’t know what to make of it.
“Kinda big, doncha think?” Brian was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
“I . . . I had no idea it would be that
big once it was in the house.” Kate was trying to wrap her mind around what had taken place in the few minutes she was gone.
“Yeah. That’s what the guy said.”
Kate gulped. “Which guy was it?”
“I dunno. He was tall, black hair. Oh, and he left this for you.” Brian picked up the squashed remains of the date-nut bread.
Kate looked forlorn and confused as she stared at the mangled lump. “What else did he say?”
“Something like ‘Compliments of Cedar Park Christmas Tree Farm.’ He seemed a little pissy to me.”
“Huh.” Kate wadded the remains of the loaf into a ball and tossed it on the counter. “Now, what in the heck can we do so the living room doesn’t look like a national forest?”
“Maybe that’s where the term ‘tree trimming’ came from?” Brian was noticing Kate’s agitation and tried to make light of the situation. “He did say people usually call for help.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen. We’ll figure it out. I am a surgeon, after all!”
“Tree surgeon, Dr. Arboretum?” Brian teased, and walked over to the refrigerator.
“Well, I do work on limbs!” Kate called back, amused at her repartee.
Brian returned from the kitchen with a refill for himself and a fresh glass of wine for Kate. “Here. You look like you could use something medicinal.”
Kate took the glass and chugged it down, almost choking from the acidity. “Cripes, that’s awful! I should have known better than to buy something we used to drink when we were in med school!”
The daunting task of fitting the huge cedar into the living area was upon them, and Kate made her way to the basement to fetch a pair of shears. Returning, she donned a surgical mask to lighten the mood a little more. “Good thing I don’t have a chain saw!”
It took several hours for them to cut back the branches so the tree didn’t dwarf the room. When they were done, Kate stood back and gave it the once-over. “Tree surgeon, indeed! You up for stringing the lights?”
“Only if you go on a mission of mercy and get us a decent bottle of vino!” Brian had always been a good sport and easygoing about most things. Another reason why he never finished med school.
Kate gave him a big bear hug. “Emma will be thrilled to see the tree with lights! Be back in a flash! Oh, and if anyone comes to the door again, don’t let them in! Especially if they’re from the tree farm!” Laughing, she grabbed her keys and headed to the liquor store. As promised, she was back in ten minutes with two very nice bottles of Lucien Crochet Sancerre.
“Wow!” Brian eyed the wine. “So this is what you get if you finish medical school?”
“See what you’re missing?” Kate teased. “But I’m not about to get used to it. I still have a modest loan to pay. But tonight is special, and you’re such a pal to put up with all of this. Sorry about dinner. Emma did say pizza!”
It was just before midnight when they decided the tree was in acceptable shape. The piles of trimmings from the branches were almost as much as what was left of the mammoth cedar. “At least it doesn’t look like Charlie Brown bought it!”
“Really, Kate. What the heck were you thinking?”
“Like I said, it didn’t seem as large outside with all the other trees.”
“Next year, you may want to take a chaperone.” Brian was picking the needles out of his socks.
Kate thought to herself, Maybe I’ll just skip that farm and get a fake one.
“Listen, it’s really late, and we polished off two bottles of wine. I’m not counting the first one of swill. Maybe you should crash on the couch?”
“Thought you’d never ask! I am bushed. No pun intended!” Brian finally took off his socks, which were sticky with sap, and plucked the last few needles out of them. “I don’t suppose you have a pair of these?” He held out the socks, indicating they were no longer fit to be worn.
“Let me see what I have that isn’t too girly.” Kate went into the bedroom and appeared with a pair of white tube socks, a blanket, and a pillow. “Not glamorous, but neither are your feet! Thanks again, Brian. This would have been a nightmare if I had to do it on my own. Sweet dreams, my friend!”
“Nighty night. By the way, I expect bacon and eggs in the morning. Rye toast, slightly buttered. Coffee. Black.”
“No problem. Everything you need is in the fridge!” Kate gave him her biggest smile and waved good night.