Calvin laughs and nods toward Dominic. I turn to find him chatting with a few guys I don’t know. “That’s what I’m talking about. Our suite is private, and they shouldn’t be in here. I should go find our seats before I say something Delaney won’t like.” He gets up and tosses his plate in the trash. I make the quick decision to follow him down. In the corridor, we run into Gio, who tells us he’ll be down soon.
We find our seats quickly, and except for almost zero legroom, which affects Calvin more than it does me, but the seats are fantastic. “Do you like hockey?”
“I’ve only seen it on TV. I stick mostly to basketball and football. Delaney is nice enough to take me to the Laker games and bought season tickets to the Rams.”
“You seem to be more than a bodyguard.”
“Nope,” he says matter-of-factly. “I’m just the guy who doesn’t beg her for attention or disrespect her in the media.”
His jab against the media gives me pause. I feel like I’m missing something, but I’m not sure what. I know I can look her up and see what’s been going on in her life or even listen to the women who gossip like birds on a telephone wire, but I’ve prided myself on staying out of the Ramona Falls rumor mill as much as I can. Being a part of it when Delaney came back was enough to last me a good year or two. Besides, you never know who’s telling the truth.
Dominic and Gio join us in time for the national anthem. Gio’s excited and asks the arena photographer to take our photo. I’m sure for him, being away from his mayoral duties for the night is a reprieve.
Within seconds of the puck dropping, the Bruins score. A majority of the fans cheer, while the rest boo.
“Boston is a tough crowd,” Calvin yells into my ear.
“It’s the rivalry. If you have time, you should have Delaney take you to Montreal. The city is beautiful. It’s a bit cold, but there’s an underground walkthrough, which has shops and restaurants to check out. The Cathedral is a sight to behold during the holidays.”
“She mentioned something about going iceskating at Rockefeller Center.”
“Sounds like Delaney. She loves to skate.”
“So I’ve been told. I think skating extends my guard duty into hazard pay. I believe there has to be some rule about a man my size being on blades.”
I point to defenseman Zdeno Chára. “If he can do it, so can you, big guy.”
Calvin gives me a side glare, making me laugh. I need this, though. I need to feel like I’m free from the stress, even if it’s for a few hours.
Seventeen
Delaney
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 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.
Eighteen
Aiden
The constant chatter about how amazing, cool, super neat and so pretty Delaney is, filled the silent void on the way back to our house. Even if I wanted, I couldn’t find a single point to disagree on with Holly. However, I did want to elaborate on a few, such as how incredible she is. In seconds, she turned what could’ve easily been a boring outing into a fun-laugh filled adventure, making my daughter giggle and smile so brightly that I found myself feeling happy for the first time in a while.
This type of happy is different from what I felt when I was at the hockey game or when there are a few extra dollars in my paycheck. This was one of those moments you don’t forget, and pray can be emulated next year and the year after so it gives you and your child something to talk about and remember as the years go by. Without knowing it, Delaney changed the scope of Holly’s Christmas.
“Look at all the lights,” Holly says, staring out the window at the houses we pass by. There was a time when Heather and I joked about going all Griswold with decorating. Luckily, we came to our senses and went with a more simplistic and understated feel, stringing up white lights along the eaves of the roof and wrapping the shrubs and the base of the large tree in our front yard. “Which house do you like best, Daddy?”
Slowing down, I look out the windows, shocked by how many people have their holiday lights on and it’s barely dusk. The houses near our street are nice, but nothing like what the Du Lucas and their neighbors do. Growing up, everyone flocked to Dominic and Delaney’s street. Not only for their Christmas displays but Halloween as well. I’m tempted to drive Holly over and show her, but it’ll have to wait.
“I think next week, I’ll take you somewhere to show you all my favorite decorations,” I tell her. “There’s a place in town where every house decorates. They play music, and on the weekends, some of the owners will have cookies and hot cocoa for people.”
“Really?” Holly’s voice has a level of excitement that I haven’t heard in a long time.
“Really,” I say back to her, matching her enthusiasm. I stop driving so I can glance at my daughter. She’s oblivious to the struggles I face daily. It’s the way it sho
uld be.
“Can we make cocoa when we get home?”
“Yeah, I think tonight definitely calls for some hot chocolate.”
“With marshmallows?” She looks at me excitedly.
I press the gas pedal to continue our drive home. “What would hot cocoa be at Christmastime without marshmallows? I think tonight calls for the whole bag.” Holly starts clapping, and from my peripheral, I can see her squiggling in her seat. Normally, I limit the amount she can have.
Our house is dark when we pull into the driveway. After I turn off the truck, I find myself staring at it, praying for some Christmas miracle to come along and miraculously fix everything that’s wrong with it. The list of repairs and upgrades is long. The only thing I can do is tackle the smaller projects one at a time.
The opening of Holly’s door shakes me from my dream-like state. I follow quickly, running ahead to turn the lights on for her. As usual, the house is cold, and I don’t hesitate to crank the heat. She turns on the radio and twists the dial, increasing the volume of the Christmas song playing. I cringe, but let it go. She needs this, and honestly, I do too.
Holly and I work as a team to bring our decorations up from the basement. With all our boxes piled up in the living room, I head back out to bring our tree in. Thankfully, it hasn’t snowed in the past few days, so the tree is relatively dry.
“Have you seen the tree stand?” I ask, propping the tree against the kitchen wall.
“Right here, but it has a hole in it.”
Holly brings the stand over, and sure enough, the bottom has rusted out. This is one of those learning moments. Heather told me to buy a plastic one a few years back, but I never got around to doing it.
“What are we going to do?” Holly asks.
The thing is, I don’t know. The hardware store is already closed, and the nearest store is a bit of a drive. Leaving now means we won’t get to decorate until tomorrow evening. Not necessarily a bad thing except I already promised Holly a night of fun.
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