Page 85 of The Christmas Tree Farm

‘Hush your mouth!’ Kira gasped.

And Chloe giggled at the phrase. ‘Well, I declare, sister. You look madder than a wet hen!’

Kira’s laughter joined Chloe’s. ‘Remember how Memaw always used to say that about Mama when we’d get our good shoes dirty?’

‘Oh, I remember.’

‘I remember you always covered for me. Telling Mama tall tales about boys that splashed mud on us even though we had stomped in the puddles on the way home.’

Chloe shrugged. ‘It wasn’t like we didn’t have plenty of shoes. Surely, we could ruin a pair or two.’

Their laughter died down. Maybe there were a few things Kira did miss about home, but it was all wrapped up in her sister. She was sure that wherever Chloe was would feel like home to her. But her sister was married to a Dane who designed those ubiquitous plastic toy building blocks for a living. And she wasn’t coming home anytime soon.

‘Kira, is that a Christmas tree?’ Chloe’s eyes grew in surprise.

‘Oh … yeah… Had to play the part of a Christmas-lover if I’m going to sell Christmas trees.’

Chloe was studying her again like she could tell that a sexy man had cut down that tree for her and helped her decorate it, and that they made love by the glow of its lights every night and that Kira felt like she was building a home with someone else who would leave her.

Instead, she just smiled. ‘I’m really happy you’re happy there, Kiki.’

‘Thanks, Chlo.’

‘Let me let you go.’

Kira smiled at the phrase. Another one from their childhood. ‘Okay, love you.’

‘Love you.’

Kira snuggled into the closest dog, trying to swallow the emotions that always bubbled up after talking to her sister. Her childhood had been cold and strict, in some ways, and incredibly permissive in others. Her parents, mostly her mother, had incredibly high standards for her and Chloe: the way they looked, the way they talked, the way they behaved. Appearances were everything. Which was why Kira had spent so much time and energy doing everything in her power to fight against those restraints. And when she fell, when she screwed up, made a spectacle, her father’s money had always been there to bail her out.

It was a toxic way to grow up.

She didn’t need a therapist to tell her that.

‘Is it safe to come back in?’ Bennett peered in through the blanket door. ‘Or are you still discussing my sexual prowess?’

Kira chucked a pillow at him and he laughed.

‘What?’ he said, rejoining her on the couch. ‘I can’t help it, if I make you glow.’

‘Oh, shut up.’

He grinned.

She grinned back.

Stupid and selfish to her very core.

She gave the dogs between them a gentle shove and they hopped down to find Elizabeth and their doggie bed.

Kira moved and straddled Bennett’s lap, his work put away for the day.

He raised his eyebrows.

‘I have a glow to maintain,’ she said.

He laughed a little, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Good thing your local hookup is here.’