our boss lady, once Jorry and I tell her what happened, she will be on it, making sure they are taken care of and have the best Christmas ever.”
“This is my fault,” Jorry said under his breath. “All my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” Bruce tugged Jorry around so he was looking directly in Bruce’s eyes. “You had no control over the idiots who stole your car and set it on fire in this place. Now I don’t want to hear you talk like that again.”
Jorry forced a shaky smile to cover his guilt. But you don’t understand. I could have prevented everything if I’d only given in to what Pickworth demanded. I mean, it’s not like I haven’t in the past. It’s just this time…this time I wanted things to be different.
* * * *
Once again, Bruce felt Jorry’s distance but couldn’t understand where it was coming from. Their relationship seemed flawless. Well, not textbook perfect, but good enough for them. Their age difference was not an issue, and they filled a need where the other was lacking.
But for some reason Bruce couldn’t put his finger on, Jorry seemed preoccupied, and that was what was causing the distance.
Could he be having second thoughts about getting involved with me? Naw, it doesn’t ring true in my heart. Hmmm. It could be the new job. It could be losing his car and all his possessions. It could be having a new home or even the pressures of a new relationship. Lord, any one of those things is a major change. Maybe I’ve been too wrapped up in the move and my own duties at work. I’m a little rusty at relationships; perhaps I’m not being attentive enough.
Bruce decided to make it a special night and surprise Jorry by going Christmas tree shopping.
Bruce and Jorry worked the same days and the same hours, so they rode in to work together. When four p.m. rolled around, it was already getting dark outside. Normally chatty, Jorry quietly climbed into the truck and wrapped the seat belt around him.
“Jor,” Bruce started. “Is there something bothering you?”
Jorry stared at Bruce. “Why?”
“Just wondering. You seem like a man with a lot on his mind.” Bruce watched Jorry try to suppress a sad smile.
“I’m tired. Holidays aren’t always the best for me.”
“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll have to make sure you have the best one ever. After all, I have it on the strictest authority you have been awfully good this year.”
Jorry pulled his coat a little tighter and tilted his head down. “If only it were true.”
The tone in Jorry’s voice almost broke Bruce’s heart.
“Let’s get going.” Bruce started up the truck, and at the end of the winding road leading into the resort, instead of turning left to go home, he turned right. Jorry noticed the change and sat straighter in his seat.
“Where’re we going?”
“You’ll see,” Bruce said with a wink.
It took about ten minutes to make it across town, where Bruce pulled into a snow-muddy, crowded Christmas tree lot filled with temporary pole lights decorated with tree bulbs and evergreen wreaths. Bruce parked the truck, and both men climbed out, the smell of fresh-cut pine trees overwhelming.
An older woman came out of a rusty camper, holding a steaming cup of coffee and offering her hand in greeting. “I’m Karen, owner of Karen’s Khristmas Trees. If you can’t find a tree you want, I’ll give you one free.”
Jorry snorted. “That sounds like a deal, but don’t people try to rip you off?”
Karen shook her head. “Me and my late husband have been in the business, me for over forty years. I find if I’m honest about my trees, I don’t run into trouble. Same goes for life. Honesty attracts honesty.”
Again, Bruce picked up on Jorry pulling in on himself. He was definitely hiding something, but what?
“You do have some beautiful trees here,” Bruce said, studying the lot, pleased. “The word of mouth I’ve heard does not give you justice.”
The old lady laughed. “As long as the word was
“This is my fault,” Jorry said under his breath. “All my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” Bruce tugged Jorry around so he was looking directly in Bruce’s eyes. “You had no control over the idiots who stole your car and set it on fire in this place. Now I don’t want to hear you talk like that again.”
Jorry forced a shaky smile to cover his guilt. But you don’t understand. I could have prevented everything if I’d only given in to what Pickworth demanded. I mean, it’s not like I haven’t in the past. It’s just this time…this time I wanted things to be different.
* * * *
Once again, Bruce felt Jorry’s distance but couldn’t understand where it was coming from. Their relationship seemed flawless. Well, not textbook perfect, but good enough for them. Their age difference was not an issue, and they filled a need where the other was lacking.
But for some reason Bruce couldn’t put his finger on, Jorry seemed preoccupied, and that was what was causing the distance.
Could he be having second thoughts about getting involved with me? Naw, it doesn’t ring true in my heart. Hmmm. It could be the new job. It could be losing his car and all his possessions. It could be having a new home or even the pressures of a new relationship. Lord, any one of those things is a major change. Maybe I’ve been too wrapped up in the move and my own duties at work. I’m a little rusty at relationships; perhaps I’m not being attentive enough.
Bruce decided to make it a special night and surprise Jorry by going Christmas tree shopping.
Bruce and Jorry worked the same days and the same hours, so they rode in to work together. When four p.m. rolled around, it was already getting dark outside. Normally chatty, Jorry quietly climbed into the truck and wrapped the seat belt around him.
“Jor,” Bruce started. “Is there something bothering you?”
Jorry stared at Bruce. “Why?”
“Just wondering. You seem like a man with a lot on his mind.” Bruce watched Jorry try to suppress a sad smile.
“I’m tired. Holidays aren’t always the best for me.”
“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll have to make sure you have the best one ever. After all, I have it on the strictest authority you have been awfully good this year.”
Jorry pulled his coat a little tighter and tilted his head down. “If only it were true.”
The tone in Jorry’s voice almost broke Bruce’s heart.
“Let’s get going.” Bruce started up the truck, and at the end of the winding road leading into the resort, instead of turning left to go home, he turned right. Jorry noticed the change and sat straighter in his seat.
“Where’re we going?”
“You’ll see,” Bruce said with a wink.
It took about ten minutes to make it across town, where Bruce pulled into a snow-muddy, crowded Christmas tree lot filled with temporary pole lights decorated with tree bulbs and evergreen wreaths. Bruce parked the truck, and both men climbed out, the smell of fresh-cut pine trees overwhelming.
An older woman came out of a rusty camper, holding a steaming cup of coffee and offering her hand in greeting. “I’m Karen, owner of Karen’s Khristmas Trees. If you can’t find a tree you want, I’ll give you one free.”
Jorry snorted. “That sounds like a deal, but don’t people try to rip you off?”
Karen shook her head. “Me and my late husband have been in the business, me for over forty years. I find if I’m honest about my trees, I don’t run into trouble. Same goes for life. Honesty attracts honesty.”
Again, Bruce picked up on Jorry pulling in on himself. He was definitely hiding something, but what?
“You do have some beautiful trees here,” Bruce said, studying the lot, pleased. “The word of mouth I’ve heard does not give you justice.”
The old lady laughed. “As long as the word was
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