“Richie already paid for his. It’s in the back of the truck,” Travis said, indicating Richie who sat at the fire pit roasting marshmallows with Yvette.
“Keep it,” Riley said, waving away the money Travis tried to give him back. “At some point I’m sure we’ll be back for more Christmas fun,” he said.
“Can we come back tomorrow, Doddy?! I want to make a wreath. And if it snows, we have to come back! They have stuff to make snowmans!” Cristie said excitedly.
Riley smiled at Travis without looking down at Cristie. “See?” he said simply.
Travis chuckled, putting the money away.
“Can you put these two trees in the back of the work truck with Richie’s?” Maia asked Lucas.
“Sure, I’ll take care of it. And I’ll let him know the two extra trees are for your house and the diner,” Lucas answered, hoisting one tree over his shoulder, and dragging the other behind himself he headed off toward the truck Richie had driven.
“Thank you, Lucas,” Maia said. As he walked away, Maia noticed Constance and Moe walking toward the netting station from the tree line with Roman following them with their tree. “Hey! Ya’ll found one!” Maia called out.
“We did!” Constance said. “It’s not huge, but it’s perfect for my living room.”
“Good. Our treat, we already paid,” Maia said, walking over to them. As she got closer, it was clear that her intent was to corner Roman. “Hey. I’ve been calling you,” Maia said, coming to a stop directly beside Roman.
“I’m sorry, Maia. I left my phone at home,” Roman said.
“Why?” Maia asked.
“Because it’s too frustrating to keep waiting for it to ring, just to have it never ring. So I left it at home. Haven’t had it with me since yesterday,” Roman explained. “It’s sitting on my coffee table.”
“Did you ever think that other people might want to call you?” Maia asked.
Roman shrugged. “No, not really. I don’t get many calls. And all ya’ll know if you can’t get to me to call whoever I’m with. The next few weeks if I’m not at home, I’ll be here, or on the way here,” Roman said.
“Alright. I guess I understand. But I worry about you. Call me once in a while, let me know you’re okay until things get back to normal and I can see you every morning when you go to work with Riley.”
“Aw, you don’t have to worry about me, Maia. I’ll be okay. Always have been,” Roman said, smiling at Maia over her concern.
“I do have to worry. You know why? Because you’re family. And I’d be heartbroken if something happened to you. So, let your family know you’re okay. At least call Riley,” Maia said.
“Will do,” Roman said.
“Okay. Then I’ll leave you alone for now. Gotta get this little one home, cleaned up and in bed,” Maia said, before looking over at Constance.
“Constance, will ya’ll let everybody know we’re headed home?” Maia asked. “They’re all spread out,” Maia explained.
“Of course. Ya’ll go ahead. We’ll be sure everyone knows you already headed home,” Constance said.
Roman looked at Sebastian, sleeping on his mother’s shoulder. “Looks like he ate the paint,” Roman said, chuckling.
“Christmas cookie. Food coloring in the frosting,” Maia said, grinning.
“He must have loved it,” Roman said, reaching out and gently running his hand over the little boy’s head.
“He definitely did. I heard he growled at Riley when he tried to take the cookie from him,” Maia said, laughing a little.
“Even I know you don’t take a man’s cookie,” Roman teased.
“Exactly! That’s what I said. We’re going to go ahead and go. You make sure to find yourself a tree before you come home, okay? We paid for it already — our treat. Make Lucas get one too, and bring one for Lazarus.”
“Where is Lazarus?” Roman asked.
“Said he was going to stay behind to finish up the lights at the trailer park. So, bring him a tree, too?” Maia asked.
“Yeah, I will,” he said, none too excitedly.
“Get in the spirit,” Maia said, bumping Roman’s arm with her shoulder.
“It’s hard,” Roman admitted.
“I know it is. You know what does it for me? Go Christmas shopping. It always helps me get in the spirit. I buy things for everybody I love. Even if I know I won’t see them for a while. It makes me smile thinking of them opening the perfect gift. I even do it when it’s not Christmas time,” Maia said.
“Then you hide them away ‘til Christmas?” Roman asked.
“I do. I’m usually done with most of the gifts by Halloween,” Maia admitted.
“I notice all the packages coming in. You should buy the delivery man a present, too,” Roman said.
“You know? I think I will,” Maia said. “Seriously though, Roman. Take care of you. And check in. I worry.”
“I will. Ya’ll drive safe,” Roman said, leaning over so she could kiss his cheek. Roman waved at Riley who was still over talking to Travis.
Riley waved back, then turned his attention to Maia as she approached. “You ready?”
“Yeah. I think we’ve had enough fun for one night,” Maia answered.
“You make him promise to check in?” Riley asked.
“I did. And he’s gonna bring home everybody else’s trees when he comes home tonight.”
“Alright, let’s get gone, then.”
“Here, ya’ll take some cookies for the kids with you,” Travis said, handing them a couple of more brightly decorated cookies. “And here’s some banana bread slices for breakfast.”
“Nobody told me you had banana bread!” Riley said, trying to push the stroller and eat his banana bread at the same time he followed his family toward where their truck was parked.
“Don’t think you’re eating mine if you eat yours tonight,” Maia teased over her shoulder. She looked down at Cristie following her, positioned between herself and Riley, but still didn’t feel secure enough without holding her hand. “Come on, baby. Hold on to my belt loop so you stay close out here where the cars are parked. I have to use both hands for your brother.”
“Okay,” Cristie said happily, skipping to catch up, and hooking her fingers through Maia’s belt loop.
“Oh, come on! You know it’s my favorite!” Riley said, still munching on his banana bread, while now dragging the stroller behind himself.
Chapter 20
By 10:30P.M., the last family was paying for their tree. Their kids were played out and stuffed full of cookies and smores and their tree was strapped securely to the top of their car. As they walked out beneath the archway that both welcomed and thanked everyone for coming, the father looked up and noticed the back of the sign thanking them for being there, and inviting them back for their fall celebration. “Hey, ya’ll are having a pumpkin patch next year?” he asked.
“We are, and we hope you’ll join us. And this year, even though you already have your tree, you’re welcome to come back just to enjoy the rest of the festivities,” Travis said.