“Now it’s leaning toward me.” Lauren frowned.
“How about we turn it this way?” Amy pointed toward the door, and Blake laughed.
“How about I tighten the stand first and we see where it leans naturally?” He sat down on the floor, and reached under the tree. “Everybody back up,” he warned as he slowly let go. “I don’t want this to fall on any of you.” The tree leaned to the left slightly, and he pushed it back up and tightened that side of the stand. “This might be it.” He released it again and backed up. The tree wobbled a bit at first, but then settled.
“Yay. You did it.” Amy bounced on her toes as she skipped over to where the box of lights was sitting on the loveseat. “Why don’t you help with these?” She handed me a strand. “Blake can do the top ones since he can reach.” She grinned and then winked at me.
“O- ok,” I stuttered as I stood and made way over toward him.
He smiled as he took an end of a strand. “Just follow me around the tree while I clip them on.” We made quick work of it, and soon the tree was lit up with beautiful colors. They flashed and blinked, turning the room into sort of a disco.
“It’s so pretty,” Amy mused from where she was standing across the room. “Let’s put the ornaments on.” She handed each of us a box, and we carefully began unwrapping them, and hanging them on the tree.
“You guys did a great job picking this one out.” Donna smiled as she stood back to look at the finished product. “It looks beautiful.”
“It does,” Blake murmured. I couldn’t help but feel his eyes on me. When I glanced to the side, he was staring right at me.
“Anyone up for hot chocolate?” Donna clapped her hands.
“Ooh, me.” Amy darted toward the kitchen.
“I think I’m going to bed. I have to be up early tomorrow for an appointment.” Lauren stretched and then headed for the hallway.
“I’m just going to sit here for a while.” I sat down on the couch and just stared at the tree. It was so pretty. I don’t ever remember having a tree look as magical as this one. The lights twinkled and made the glass of some of the ornaments sparkle. Warren would have never been ok with this. Nothing matched. All our trees had a theme and everything matched. oooooooo
“Mind if I join you?” Blake slowly lowered himself onto the couch beside me.
“Not at all.” I scooted over to make room. “It’s really pretty. It’s nice of you to help Donna like this.”
“I enjoy helping, and there’s a perk this year… you’re here.” He winked as he leaned back and draped his arm over the back of the couch.
“I’m not that special,” I mumbled. I wasn’t used to the compliments, and Blake seemed to give them constantly.
“You are to me.” He smiled softly as he shifted closer. The arm that was on the back of the couch slid forward to rest on my shoulders. He tugged gently, causing me to lean against him. As my side rested against his chest, I could feel his heartbeat. His breathing picked up, and he swallowed a few times before he started talking again. “I know you haven’t heard this enough, but you are special, Brooke and I’m going to keep telling you that until you start believing it.”
“You might have to say it a lot then.” I sighed. I could feel tears coming, but I forced them back. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
“What’s wrong?” Blake shifted slightly and pulled me closer. He was now leaning back, kinda half on and half off the couch. Both arms were wrapped around me in a hug, and I was leaning against his chest.
“Nothing. I was just thinking,” I murmured.
“About what?” He started rubbing my back.
“About how pretty this tree is. About how something as simple as a pretty tree is something I’ve never had. About how if I’d decorated a tree like this, I would have been punished.” I swallowed as memories flooded me.
“Why would you be punished for a tree?” Blake’s voice changed from soothing to utterly confused.
“Everything had to match. There had to be order. You know the trees you see in department stores? The ones that have a theme, and the ornaments are all strategically placed? That’s what our trees looked like.” My voice had gone from happy to robotic with just a simple memory.
“That’s crazy. Those trees are nice, but so is this kind. All the ornaments on this tree are handmade. The women who have stayed here over the years have made all of them. I’m sure Donna will have a craft day pretty soon so you can add to it.”
“I remember this one year Warren wanted to decorate the entire house in blue, white, and silver. It was supposed to be a winter wonderland. I didn’t have the correct ratio on the colors for the tree, and I put an angel on the top instead of a star. Warren knocked the tree down, shattering half the ornaments, and then shoved me on top of the wreckage. Not only did I get cuts all over me, but I had to clean up the mess.” I didn’t even realize I was crying at this point.
“What an asshole,” Blake growled. “There’s a special place for men like him.”
“It’s hard for me to look at things like this tree, and not pick apart what’s wrong with it. Warren’s made me think like him. I’m trying to see the beauty in things though, and tonight I do with this, so thank you.” I turned to face him, my hands folded together on his
