Chapter 4
Chapter Four
CHARLIE
LISTEN TO THE TREES
“ I ’m surprised you’re letting me in on this sacred tradition,” Brooks tells me as he hops out of the truck.
“You’re about the only person I would. And I still have my concerns.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?” Brooks crosses his arms as he leans against the front of the old green pickup truck I use for getting my tree.
I eye him up and down.
The difference between yesterday and today is night and day. Since he moved in, I’ve barely seen him smile. But today? Today there is one sitting on his face.
Bright and happy. A real smile.
Thank God.
I hate seeing Brooks so down. If I have to let him in on my sacred tradition, so be it.
“If you interrupt me while I’m listening to my trees, I’m sending you home. ”
Brooks laughs. “Okay. No talking while you’re listening to the trees.”
“And no rolling your eyes at me if it’s taking too long or asking when we’re leaving.”
“Check and check.” Brooks makes two check marks in the air. “I’ll follow you around like a little puppy and tell Hunter when we’re ready.”
“Ready for what?” a familiar voice calls out.
The man in question greets us at the main gate. A small wooden shack serves as the entrance to rows and rows of trees as far as the eye can see. A welcome sign, painted like a candy cane and lit up with Christmas lights, greets visitors. A little ways down the path is a small train to take kids and their parents on rides throughout the farm.
The Naughty Pine Tree Farm in all her glory.
Hunter’s pride and joy. People from all over southwestern Maine come to get their Christmas trees from Hunter. I don’t know how he grows them, but they are a cut above the rest.
“Ready to cut down our tree,” I tell Hunter.
“You brought Brooks with you?” He raises a brow at me.
“Yes.” I grab Brooks by the arm. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going Christmas tree hunting.”
“Have fun!” Hunter calls out behind us.
After stopping at the small booth to get us hot chocolates, I trudge through the snow with Brooks nipping at my heels.
“Why are we not looking at these trees?” Brooks asks.
“Because there are too many people here.”
I dodge a family with little kids that are eyeing a healthy looking spruce. Something I’ve come to learn over the years of picking out my own trees.
There are so many more varieties than just pine.
“Okay, so where are we going then?” Brooks asks.
“To my spot.”
Brooks doesn’t say anything but just sips his hot chocolate as I lead us farther and farther away from the crowds. The small lights that hang from wooden poles cast each tree in an ethereal glow.
Now that it’s quieter back here, it’s easier to be among the trees. Without as many people, I can examine each tree. See where there are holes. What ones might look sick.
Not that Hunter has bad trees, but sometimes there are ones that aren’t up to par.
“What about this one?” Brooks asks.
He’s standing next to a large fir, full at the base and tapering off to the perfect top. I can see my rainbow angel sitting on top of that tree.
“It doesn’t speak to me.”
“Okay.” I can see him fight a smile. One that says he wants to comment further, but he doesn’t.
I run my gloved hands through the needles on each tree as we walk up and down the rows.
When I stop suddenly, Brooks bumps into me.
“Did you find one?” he whispers into my ear.
I ignore how the sudden warmth makes me feel because the tree at the end of the row is just what I’m looking for.
It’s tall, well past nine feet. It’ll look perfect in my living room with the vaulted ceilings. It’s full at the bottom and the needles are just right to the touch.
Pick me this tree is telling me. It has a smile bursting on my face.
“This is the one.”
“It’s perfect,” Brooks confirms.
I spin around, and Brooks is impossibly close to me. I need some cool air to separate the two of us, so I take a step back. “Make sure no one takes it. I’ll go find Hunter.”
Brooks winks at me, and it does funny things to my insides. “I’ll guard our tree with my life.”
Our tree.
Fuck. I hate this. I really do.
It’s easy to see how this could be our life together. Picking out Christmas trees together. Cozying up in front of the fire with Comet. Getting wrapped up in bed together.
But it’s not.
This is not real life. It’s only a fantasy until Brooks can get his own place and find some stability in his life.
I need to pop this bubble before I get too swept up in it.
“Hey.” Hunter is shaking hands with a family as they set off with their tree. “Can you help us?”
Hunter crosses his arms as he approaches me. “I don’t know. Can I?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means. I think this is a bad idea, Charlie.”
“And I told you, I don’t care.”
Hunter walks away from me, carrying a saw. “Don’t come crying to me when it all goes south.”
“You’re such a grinch!” I tell him, following him to the cart that will take us to where I left Brooks.
“Just trying to keep your feet on the ground.”
I hop up and sit next to him. “My feet are just fine, thank you.”
The wind blows around us as Hunter steers us in the direction I came from. I’m thankful for the distraction and him not pestering me about Brooks.
“You would find the best tree in the entire lot,” Hunter confirms when he sees where Brooks is standing as we pull up to him.
“You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever been back this far,” Brooks tells us as Hunter starts to saw down the base. This far out, the trees aren’t precut.
“We have a lot of space here, with more than just the tree lots.”
“Really?” Brooks asks. “I guess I figured you’re only busy at Christmas time.”
Hunter steps back, wiping his brow. “That’s partially my fault. I don’t do a good job advertising. We get by, but I could do more.”
A light shines in Brooks’s eyes. “You know, I went to school for marketing.”
“Really?” Hunter asks. His eyes flit to mine to confirm, and I give him a nod.
Brooks nods. “I did. If you want some help, I could take a look at your website and offer some advice.”
“Hunter doesn’t have a website,” I offer. “Only social media.”
Hunter cuts me a glare.
“Not one that is public. I don’t understand how to build them and could use the help. I want to expand and do more in the offseason to bring people here and?—”
“Let me help. I’m really good at it. It’d give me something to do, even if it’s only temporary,” Brooks says, eagerness hanging on every word.
“Just like that?” Hunter laughs.
“If it means I’m not sitting on Charlie’s couch every day, I’m game.”
“Great.” Hunter sticks his hand out for Brooks to shake.
“Aww. Look at that. My two favorite people working together.”
“Don’t make it weird, Charlie. It’s a job,” Hunter tells me.
“But you’re helping out Brooks in his time of need. I knew there was a good person under there.” I pat the jacket over Hunter’s heart.
Hunter swats me away. “Fuck you. I’m a very nice person.”
“Just kidding.” I blow a kiss in his direction. “I know you are.”
Brooks goes back around to the tree, grabbing the saw and helping out with cutting it down.
“Thank you, Hunter. I know this means a lot to Brooks,” I whisper .
“And to you.”
“And to me. I appreciate you helping him out.”
Hunter nudges my side. “Look, I might not be on board with your whole plan, but I can certainly help Brooks out.”
“Thank you.”
A light snow starts falling as we load the tree into the cart to take back to the main gate. I watch as Hunter and Brooks chat for a few minutes.
With the Christmas lights sparkling, it’s a magical night.
This is why I love the Naughty Pine Tree Farm and the holiday season.
Because even if you’re going through a hard time, things can still be magical. If only you open your eyes and look for it.