Page 154 of On the Double

“That would have cost another fifty dollars.” Even though I was working and saving as much money as possible, I still hadn’t lost my thrifty attitude.

She held out her hand for me and I gladly took it, getting to my feet. “I would have paid the fifty dollars. Well, if I had any money. Come on. Let’s get this inside.”

“I say we leave it right where it is. I’ll just throw some lights over it and call it a day.”

“I hardly think that would bring you much joy as it rotted on your steps. What do you think, Cody?”

“Inside!” he grinned, jumping up and down.

“Well, who can argue with that?” I sighed. “But you have to help me decorate it.”

His eyes widened as he stared up at me. “You’ll let me help?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

His face fell slightly and Willow cleared her throat. “It’s um…not something he gets to do at home.”

“Well, you can decorate as much of the tree as you want,” I said, bending over to talk to him. Cody was four and so freaking cute. Ihoped when my child arrived, I would be able to look at him without thinking about Edu every second of the day, but I doubted that.

“Alright, let’s get this thing inside,” Willow said, getting the heaviest part of the tree. She did most of the work while she let me pretend I was helping her. Mostly, she just had me stand to the side and hold open the door. “Am I clear on that side?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Yes. Can I help yet?”

“This is the easy part,” she said, huffing and puffing as she dragged it the rest of the way inside.

“I’ll grab the ornaments,” I chuckled, heading back outside. I walked carefully down the steps and went to the trunk, grabbing the bags from the box store. I probably bought way too much, but as Willow said, I needed to get in the spirit.

By the time I walked back inside, Willow already had the tree standing upright and was laying on the ground underneath the thick branches, trying to adjust it so it would stand up straight.

“To the left,” I called out. I laughed as she struggled to get it into place.

“How’s that?”

“Um…a little to the right,” I said without even really looking at the tree.

“Which is it? Left or right?” she called out, clearly frustrated.

“Maybe…maybe right.” I bit back another laugh, winking at Cody as he cupped his little hand around his mouth and giggled.

Willow peeked out from under the tree, narrowing her eyes at her son. “Traitor.”

She got up and rushed over to him, swinging him up in her arms. He squealed in laughter as she started zooming around the living room with him. His little screams were uplifting, but I couldn’t help but be sad that my child wouldn’t have the same thing with Edu. I knew he could be so amazing if he gave himself the chance, but since he was adamant that it wouldn’t happen, I’d have to make those memories for myself.

“Willow!”

I could hear his screams even with the door closed. We all stopped, not even breathing as her husband shouted her name from across thestreet. Fear raged through me as I locked eyes with the woman who suddenly lost all joy.

I rushed over to her, grabbing her hands in mine. “Don’t go.”

“I have to,” she said, her voice shaking.

What about Cody? “Leave Cody with me. He can help me decorate the tree.”

Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head slightly. “That would only make things worse.”

She set her son down and quickly grabbed her things and bundled up her son. Then she smiled at Cody, wiping all fear from her face. “Are you ready to go home and see Daddy?”

It was clear Cody didn’t want to go anywhere, but he nodded and looked up at me, trying to be a big boy. “Bye, Harper.”