“We could certainly use the help. Don’t know what you expect to be paid,” Travis said, reaching out and putting his arm around Libby’s shoulders when she came to stand next to him.
“Oh, Travis… no man. I don’t need to be paid. Riley pays us well. I just don’t want to sit around the house anymore, and if I watch ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ one more time, I might scream,” Lucas said on a chuckle.
“Well, if you’re willing, we’d certainly appreciate it. Wouldn’t we, love?” he asked, looking down at Libby where she stood in the shelter of his arm around her shoulder.
“Yes,” she answered, smiling up at him warmly, thrilled that Travis would be accepting of Lucas as their friend.
“Well, first things first. We need to put up the parking signs along the length of the fence out front and need that fire pit built somewhere out of the way,” Travis said.
“Naw, that’s not first. First is a huge congratulations to the two of you,” Roman said, stalking toward Libby and hugging her tightly before hugging Travis and patting him on the back so hard it would have bruised a lesser male.
“Thank you, Roman. Very much,” Travis said.
“I’m very happy for you two,” Lucas said, walking over to shake Travis’s hand, then looking at him for permission to hug Libby.
Travis inclined his head, but watched carefully to make sure he was okay with the way Lucas hugged his mate.
“How’d ya’ll know?” Libby asked, beaming a proud smile at them.
Lucas tapped the side of his nose. “Scent. Plus, the huge ass claim mark on each of your necks kind of gives it away. You happy?” Lucas asked, with his hands still on Libby’s arms.
“So happy!” she answered enthusiastically.
“Then so am I,” Lucas answered. He shook Travis’s hand again, then walked over toward the load of stones he’d brought to build the fire pit. “So, where do you want it?” he asked.
“Let’s put it over there, toward the barn a little more where it’s set apart, and we don’t have to worry about kids walking too close to it,” Travis said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Lucas said, taking a hold of the hand truck again and starting in that direction. “Thanks again, for letting me help,” he said over his shoulder.
“Thanks for coming to help,” Travis said.
Libby leaned against Travis. “Thank you,” she said.
“For?” Travis asked.
“For accepting my friend.”
Travis leaned down to press his lips against hers. “Our friend,” he said.
Chapter 18
At 4:55P.M. cars started pulling into the roped off parking area out in front of the fence line right along the highway. Roman had parked his truck there, pulling right up to the fence on a slight diagonal, so hopefully everyone coming would take the hint and park the same way. It worked, and before they knew it, there were half a dozen cars parked out front and kids running in circles around their parents’ legs as they walked beneath the archway.
“Welcome!” Libby called out. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee or hot chocolate?” she asked. “First cup is on us!” she said.
Lucas and Scotty worked with the customers, explaining how the trees were grown in sections according to height, and how much the trees were per foot. If the family wanted, they’d escort them after they shared the type and size of tree they wanted. If the customers preferred, they were welcome to wander through the trees until they found one. Roman and Travis split their time between the tables up front. It took only about half an hour for Travis to decide that he needed to be the cashier and coffee pourer, and Libby needed to be the craft person and manage the tables.
“You don’t have to do anything but point at the samples and tell them anything they could want to use is in the baskets on each table,” Libby had said laughingly. “Even the prices to make a wreath or paint the ornaments are on the signs taped to the front of each table.”
“Yeah, well, it’s still too artsy for me. I’m happy collecting the money, and handing out the orange pieces of twine,” Travis had said with a slight smile. The orange pieces of twine were to be tied to the wreath to provide for hanging once the customers got home, and let everyone know they’d paid for the supplies to make the wreath. And the slender ribbons were threaded through the hole in the top of the ornaments to let them know that the ornaments had been paid for as well.
Libby laughed and kissed him before wandering off to meander through the people looking at the four activity tables and the options they had to offer to see if anyone had questions. It wasn’t hard to watch all four tables since they were set up in a pretty much square pattern and Libby could see all four tables while standing in the center of them. “Roman?” she called out, watching him standing to the side and watching the tables. “If you want to, you could go work with the customers and the trees. I’ve got the tables.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Really,” she answered.
“Thanks, Libs,” he said as he made a beeline for the Christmas trees. He obviously did not want to work the craft tables.
“Libby!” she heard a child scream and turned to find Cristie racing toward her.
“Hey!” Libby called out and hurried to catch Cristie in a hug. “How did you get here? Did you walk all the way here all by yourself?” Libby teased.
“No. I could. But my Doddy wouldn’t let me. I came with Doddy and Mama and Bastian in Mama’s truck,” she said. “But Richie and Yvette came in Doddy’s work truck. And Ms. Constance and Mr. Moe came in Mr. Moe’s truck.”
“Oh, well it sounds like everybody’s here now!” Libby said, kissing her cheek and hugging the little girl that had stolen her heart the first time she’d met her.
“We are!” Cristie shouted excitedly.
“Dude!” Riley cried out, scenting Travis the minute he got within ten feet of him. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” Travis said, shaking Riley’s hand.
“On what?” Maia asked, walking up folding a baby blanket she planned to tuck around Sebastian who was riding in the stroller Riley was pushing. Then she caught a whiff, and she spun on her heel, looking for Libby who was coming toward them leading Cristie by the hand. “Oh my gosh! You did it! Ya’ll are official!” she said, doing a little happy dance before handing the blanket to Riley and dashing off to hug Libby. “When did this happen?” Maia asked.
“This morning,” Libby said, grinning ear to ear.
“I’m so excited for the both of you. Congratulations, Libby,” Maia said, hugging her again.
“Can I go paint?” Cristie asked, pulling on Maia’s coat.
“Yeah, and we need to pick a tree, too. Hang on just a minute, baby. Aunt Libby and Uncle Travis are mated now!” Maia said excitedly.
“Are you going to get married, too?” Cristie asked.
Libby opened her mouth to answer, but wasn’t sure how to answer. “Umm, I guess, maybe. I mean, we didn’t…”
“Doesn’t matter. Mating is stronger anyway. So he’s her husband, and she’s his wife,” Maia said, saving Libby from further unsure explanation.