Chapter 21

21

T he winter wind whipped through the empty rows of stumps where Christmas trees had stood only weeks before. Alyssa’s boots crunched through the fresh snow as she made her final rounds of the season. Her clipboard held the last inventory count - three hundred and twelve trees sold, slightly better than last year despite everything.

Her muscles ached from the physical toll of the season. The constant lifting, hauling, and wrapping of trees had left her body desperate for rest. But it wasn’t just physical exhaustion weighing her down.

She’d spent several nights at the farmhouse with Denise over the past week. It almost didn’t feel real how easily they’d fit into each other’s lives, especially considering how things had started so badly between them.

But as amazing as the last few weeks had been, they’d yet to talk about what it was that they were doing although maybe that was because there was nothing to talk about. The season was over. They’d have to figure out their business arrangements going forward, but either way, Denise had made it clear that she would be leaving in January, and January was fast approaching. The idea of saying goodbye to Denise made Alyssa feel sick.

Just a few more weeks and Denise would return to her life in Los Angeles, leaving Alyssa with nothing but memories and half-ownership of a farm they’d need to figure out how to manage long-distance.

Alyssa trudged back to her truck, her breath forming clouds in the frigid air. She and Denise had planned to celebrate the successful season with dinner tonight, but her heart felt heavy at the thought. The bubble they’d been living in was about to burst.

She climbed into the driver’s seat, resting her head on the cold steering wheel for a minute.

Alyssa had googled Denise’s name last night, something she’d avoided doing since they’d grown closer. The search results painted a picture of a life so far removed from running a Christmas tree farm that it might as well have been on another planet. Designer gowns, Hollywood parties, million-dollar contracts. How could Alyssa possibly fit into that world? She could barely navigate the local county fair without feeling overwhelmed. And what were the chances that Denise even wanted that?

Alyssa started the truck, the engine rumbling to life. She needed to get home and change before dinner, but the excitement she’d felt earlier about celebrating had dimmed considerably. Reality was setting in, and reality meant Denise would be leaving very soon.