The Christmas Tree Guy

by Railyn Stone

  “Well, nothing’s wrong with having fun…I guess,” Sydnee replied, tilting her head to the side and chewing her bottom lip.

  “Now you’re thinking.”

  ###

  “I’m telling you, this guy’s really sweet and nice. I think you’ll like him,” Mina said as she and Sydnee meandered through the racks of a department store. Both were finishing up their Christmas shopping and Mina was spouting off to Sydnee about all of the single men coming to her Christmas party. She was notorious for setting Sydnee up on dates. It had become a hobby for her since Matt left. While it probably should have annoyed Sydnee, it didn’t, and she appreciated the help Mina had given her. Mina had been a good friend to her, especially during her separation from Matt. No one knew but a few days after Matt left, Mina had shown up at Sydnee’s door. She had arranged for her husband, Aaron, to take the twins and Mina sat with Sydnee for hours, letting her cry in her arms. Once her tears subsided, Mina, in only the way Mina could, provided Sydnee with the name of her attorney and helped her get the best settlement and the fastest divorce she could. It wasn’t that Mina didn’t want her and Matt to get back together, but as Mina put it, just because Matt wanted a different life, didn’t mean Sydnee and the boys had to give up the lifestyle they were accustomed to living. Of course, she’d ended up with the house, the boys and child support. The changes forced Sydnee to make some adjustments, and she had to go back to work on a much more regular basis rather than consulting occasionally.

  “Really?” Sydnee continued looking for a gift for Sara, half paying attention to Mina. Her thoughts lately drifted to Quinn more than anything else. She smiled just thinking back to their conversation during lunch and how easy it was to talk to him. He listened to her talk and seemed genuinely interested in her and her life. Nothing like the blind dates she’d been set up on in the past.

  “Yes, he’s really nice, and handsome. I think you two will hit it off.”

  “What makes you think I’m coming to the party without a date?” She broke her thoughts of Quinn to look at Mina who was steadily looking through the racks. It wasn’t like she had any plans or a date in mind, but it was just like Mina to assume she was coming to the party alone, and to use it to set her up with someone else yet again.

  “Whatever, Sydnee. You haven’t gone on so much as a coffee break with anyone since I set you up with Darren. And exactly why didn’t that work out? He’s a great guy.”

  Sydnee wrinkled her nose at Mina and went back to shifting through some blouses. “Mina, he sat and talked about himself the entire night and then when I told him I had kids, he couldn’t end the date fast enough. Anyway, shows how much you know. I actually had lunch with a very nice gentleman a few days ago.”

  “Really, and who is this guy?” Turning, Mina looked at Sydnee with inquiring eyes and a skeptical eyebrow raised.

  “Oh, just someone I met when we went to get our Christmas tree.”

  “Okay, and what does this guy do?” Uh oh, here comes the status hound. Sydnee knew Mina had good intentions and was only looking out for her, but it could be a bit much at times.

  “I told you I met him while we were getting a Christmas tree.”

  “Oh my, please tell me you did not go out with some guy that sells Christmas trees. Sydnee, are you nuts? He’s probably out on parole or something.” Mina stopped in the middle of the aisle. “Is he some friend of Sara’s?”

  “Mina, it’s okay. It was just lunch. What is it with you and parolees anyway? He was sweet. Young, but sweet.” Shaking her head, Sydnee turned back to look at scarves hanging nearby. She couldn’t understand Mina and her uppity ways. It was amazing to her how she seemed to look down her nose at anyone who wasn’t tooling around in her tax bracket.

  “Are you kidding me? Are you saying you had lunch with some little high school kid?”

  “MINA, no! Are you crazy? The guy is twenty-six, and he was sweet, but nothing happened and it was lunch. Just drop it.”

  “Twenty-six? Seriously Sydnee, you have lost it. You go from no dates whatsoever to being a cougar. This whole cougar trend is so ridiculous. I just don’t understand why women are giving up on mature men for these little boys.” Sydnee was a little tired of defending her choice to have lunch with Quinn. It was bad enough she was defending it to herself, but now it was getting to be a little much trying to defend it against Mina. She should have known better than to tell her she’d gone to lunch with him. What was she thinking? If the man didn’t have the last name Gates or Zuckerberg, then you might as well not mention him to Mina.

  “Mina, it’s not ridiculous and it was just lunch. We sat and talked and that was it. I have no intentions of being serious with the guy.”

  “Well, good. I mean really, how would that look?”

  “Whatever. Did you get Sara something?” Sydnee tried changing the subject to get Mina to think of something else instead of her dating life. Of course, once she started in on the gift she got for her cousin and how much it cost, it was nonstop from there about the gifts she’d gotten her and others. Sydnee thought even though Quinn was younger than her, she really did have a great time with him. But just as she’d feared, Mina’s reaction was nagging at the back of her mind and she wondered how others would look at her dating a younger man. Especially one who just happened to be white.

  CHAPTER 5

  “That had to be one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.” Sydnee laughed as she and Quinn sat talking in a corner bistro. Since the boys were spending the night with Sean, she decided to take him up on the movie and dinner date. They found a quiet corner table near the window and watched people walk by as they sat and chatted. Sydnee opened up to Quinn and told him about her life with Matt and all of the plans they had made to travel and see the world. They had done their share of traveling up until she found out she was pregnant with the twins. She hadn’t been disappointed and had embraced parenthood, while Matt wasn’t quite as excited.

  “I can imagine that was quite a surprise to have twins.”

  “It was, but it was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Twirling her spoon in her cup of coffee, she sighed softly, thinking of just how much she loved her sons. Both were precocious five-year olds. They had so much energy and questioned just about everything put in front of them. It was her single most wonderful honor to be their mother, and she wouldn’t trade them for any amount of money in the world.

  “I can tell you really love them, just by the way you talk about them, and that look you get in your eyes.” He dipped his head to catch her gaze.

  “Oh, I do. It’s amazing to watch them learn and grow and their personalities start to develop. Children are amazing creatures and—once again, I’m rambling on and on.” She stopped herself, ducking her head, somewhat embarrassed she was being so open and honest with him, a man she barely knew. Quinn made her feel comfortable and it was nice to be able to talk to him about anything. It was something she’d never really been able to do with Matt, or any other guy for that matter.

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind. I can tell you are very proud of them and that’s pretty awesome. I do hope to have some of my own one day.”

  “Oh, I’m sure one day you will meet the right woman, fall in love and have a few great kids and live happily ever after.”

  “I’ve met a pretty great woman already.” His teasing comment caused a rush of heat to spread from the pit of her stomach to her face.

  “Really? Hmm, does this woman have a name?” Sydnee wasn’t sure, but he seemed to be alluding to her and she was a little taken off guard.

  “I’m looking at her right now.” He was shamelessly flirting with her and the heat continued to radiate through her.

  “Oh wow, that’s flattering, but-”

  “I’ll let you take your time getting used to the idea, but in due time, you’ll see.” Quinn stated, taking a sip of his coffee before grinning at her. The flicker of the candle in the middle of the table bounced around in his eyes and she bit her
lip nervously. This guy was like no one she had ever met before and she wasn’t quite sure how to handle it.

  “I’m just sure of it.” She laughed off his last comment.

  “Sydnee, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I really like talking to you. It’s nice to be able to be so open.”

  “You know, this has been quite interesting.”

  Now it was his turn to raise his eyebrows. “Interesting? Why do you say that?”

  “I don’t know. It’s weird. But it’s like I don’t have to worry about offending you or anything because we can just talk. That doesn’t usually happen in these situations.”

  “These situations?” He paused and she knew she was going to have to explain.

  “You know. The whole black/white issue. I know it’s 2014, but still.” She paused, noticing a lady a few seats away darting glances in their direction. “There are a lot of people out there that still don’t agree with people of varying races going out with each other.”

  He nodded. “I wish more people could just throw all the labels out and talk to each other person to person rather than focusing on age or race.”

  “That would be nice.” Sydnee agreed, thinking about how nice it would be if no one saw color and everyone could live in peace.

  “I mean, think about it, those things people stereotypically think other races’ like or dislike would be thrown out the window.” She nodded and laughed thinking about all of the ridiculous stereotypes and misstatements about other races she’d heard in her lifetime. Especially in her own family.

  “Yeah, like the kinds of foods people like, or the kinds of music they like.”

  “Exactly, and people wouldn’t automatically think I like country music and can’t dance,” Quinn offered.

  Sydnee laughed. “Right, because I actually like some country music,” she added. “Actually, I like a lot of different types of music and I hate, absolutely hate watermelon.”

  “See, yet another thing we have in common,” he laughed, nodding his head in agreement. “It’s sad when people make assumptions about other races without truly getting to know them.” He paused for a moment watching the candle in the middle of the table flicker and dance.

  “I guess we’ve all been guilty of doing that at some point or other.” Sydnee could honestly say she’d never had a conversation like the one they were having and it was refreshing. It was terrible the way everyone made assumptions about others without getting to know them, recalling various conversations that took place in her family’s home. She wouldn’t necessarily consider them racist, but in many ways maybe they were. She knew they had all made assumptions about other races and most of those determinations were based out of popular stereotypes, not facts. It was sad but people did that on both sides of the coin. “It’s amazing how we are so afraid of the unknown, but once we get to know it, it’s something we readily accept and love.” They laughed and talked some more before leaving the restaurant to walk to his car. He drove them to her house and as they walked to the front door, she pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and folded her arms across her midsection. There was a distinct chill in the air and clouds were slowly banking up against one another in preparation for the impending snow forecasted days ago.

  “I really had a great time tonight.” Quinn said, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets as they stood on the front steps.

  “I did too. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time.”

  “So maybe this will lead to another date?” He moved up a step to be closer to her and him being so near made chills shimmy up her spine. She shook her head at his persistence. The man just didn’t give up.

  “Quinn, I don’t know. We had fun tonight, but-”

  “Yes, we had fun. Why does it have to be a problem for us to go out with one another and have fun? Isn’t that what people do?” He dipped his head to look directly into her eyes and she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

  “Yeah, they do, but-”

  “But nothing. Come on, Sydnee. Why are you making this so hard?” Breathing slowly, she tilted her head and sighed. He was such an optimistic and open guy and it was nice to be able to spend time with someone like him, but Sydnee couldn’t get past those nagging feelings about what people would think or say.

  “Quinn, I think you’re a wonderful guy and you have so many great qualities that you should share with someone more your age and who has more in common with you. Someone you can see yourself sharing a life with.”

  “And you honestly can’t believe I feel that person could be you?”

  “Whoa, Quinn, really, that’s ridiculous. We just met and I’m eight years older. You have a whole lifetime ahead of you.”

  “Age is nothing but a number, Syd,” he said playfully. “C’mon. It’s just two people going out getting to know one another and having fun. What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing is wrong with two people having fun, but what you are alluding to is a relationship. I’m just not ready for that.”

  “Why not?” The front porch light reflected in his bright eyes and she groaned at the thought of how nothing bad had touched him yet. He was still young and looked at the glass half full, while she was at the half empty downward slope.

  “You’re too much, you know that?”

  “Exactly, and you’re intrigued by it, so what do you say? Give a guy a chance would you?” He cocked his head to the side eyeing her with those impossible to resist silver dollars sparkling.

  “Quinn…What will people think?” The thoughts of her earlier conversation with Mina, inched their way into her brain and played havoc with her unsettled emotions. She could only imagine what she would say.

  “You seriously care? Come on, Sydnee, who cares what other people think? I don’t.”

  “Clearly. But, it’s not that easy.” She could hear the comments, and she dreaded the looks they’d get walking around together. She’d noticed a few eyes on them that very night in the bistro. He may not have noticed, but she did. And it wasn’t very comfortable to be gawked at like she was doing something wrong.

  “Tell me you didn’t have a great time tonight. If you can tell me that, then fine, maybe we don’t have a future together. But I think you know as well as I do, there could possibly be something between us.” His demeanor changed and the serious look on his face gave her pause. He really was interested in pursuing a relationship with her. He had no qualms with the age difference and especially the race difference. If nothing else, she was impressed with his openness.

  “I just met you.” It was pretty undeniable. She had a great time with him that night. He was attentive, funny and she truly enjoyed herself on this date more than she had on any date in a long time. She continued to stall but it seemed Quinn had an answer to every front she put up.

  “I know people who have known each other for less time and they ended up getting married and having a wonderful life together.”

  “You’re insane and very persistent.”

  “You have to be when you know there’s something you want that’s worth the fight.” He moved slowly to stand in front of her and adjusted her scarf. When he did, his hand grazed the skin directly below her collarbone and sent a flare of fire through her, warming up areas she’d nearly forgotten existed. “Look, I know there’s an age and race difference and that people may talk. But why should that stop two people from being able to enjoy one another’s company?”

  “It shouldn’t, but-”

  “But nothing. Sydnee, if you can’t tell by now, I really like you. And I just want the chance to get to know you better. Is that so wrong?” She paused, looking at the sincerity in his eyes. Damn, he was beautiful. Denying any kind of chemistry between them was futile. She knew it. There was no other explanation for what she felt when she was with him. They talked about everything from her kids to their families. Quinn was so candid with her and was nothing but an exceptional gentleman. And now, here he stood in front of her with those steely hypnotic eyes and she f
elt her resolve weaken.

  “Uh, well, no, Quinn. That’s really sweet, but why would you want to get involved with an older woman with two children? That’s not fair to you.”

  “No, what’s not fair is you punishing me for being born at the wrong time, and for not being the right color. You think I’m young and I can’t handle a mature relationship.”

  Sydnee shook her head at his last comment. “That’s not it at all. I don’t have a problem with interracial relationships.”

  “Oh really, then what is it?”

  Looking down, Sydnee took a deep breath and then looked back at Quinn.

  “It’s because I’m afraid, okay? I’m scared.” She might as well be honest with him. Maybe if she told him how she truly felt he would get the hint and back off. Maybe, just maybe he would understand what she was feeling a little better. Hell, maybe she’d understand it herself.

  “Scared? Of what…me?”

  “Quinn, you scare me. I’m scared of becoming too attached to you and being hurt if things don’t work out.” Don’t you understand you’ve already gotten underneath my skin?

  “Really?” Quinn asked softly, and she could tell he was a little shocked by her response.

  “Yes. I married Matt and pretty much had my life planned out. When he walked out on me and our kids, it just, I just—I’m not ready for that kind of heartache again. It nearly killed me when he left and I had to pick up the pieces. I have two kids to raise and I just can’t deal with any more than that.” She hoped he could understand where she was coming from. The hurt she felt when Matt left still lingered in her heart and soul and she just didn’t want to go through it again. The race and age differences were only adding more fuel to the fire.