This Christmas by Katlyn Duncan

The trees further into the grove have a lot of pine cones which quickly give me an idea. I collect several before they start to overpower me and fall one by one to the ground. I need at least two dozen to do what I want and the tree we cut down only has a few.
    I unzip my coat and shove the pinecones I already have into it. Snow gets under my sweatshirt and through to my skin, but the sacrifice will be worth it. I have just enough when I hear Will calling for me.
    I meet him by the tree I picked which is on the ground. He lifts it by the trunk and starts walking towards the cabin. He opens his hand at his side and I take it, getting more excited with each step I take.
    ***
    “I did wonder how you managed to gain about ten pounds while we were out there,” Will says as I empty the pine cones onto the kitchen table. “What’re you going to do with those?”
    I smirk. “I thought you weren’t interested in decorating?”
    His eyes narrow in suspicion but he doesn’t say anything.
    “I saw a tree stand in the top box if you want to use that.”
    Will sifts through the box while I remove my coat and boots. I tracked some snow into the cabin, but I plan on making a bigger mess in a little while when I start decorating. Mom and I always made a mess when we decorated for Christmas and I didn’t plan on doing it any differently, especially with the amount of glitter most ornaments and baubles had.
    Will finishes placing the stand and heads for the front door. I follow him, but keep my distance while he lugs the tree over the threshold. A wake of pine needles follows him across the room. He hefts the tree up and I go to the other side and hold my hands up to steady it.
    “Grab it there,” he says and I shove my hands through the branches until I have a good grip on the trunk. He disappears among the low branches and screws the tree into the stand.
    I take a minute and inhale the fresh scent of pine inches from my face. It’s one of those warm reminders of the season that I love.
    “Okay,” he says and stands up, wiping his hands on his jeans. “You can let go now.”
    We back away from the tree and admire it. I glance at Will and smile at the smattering of needles in his hair. I swipe at his head. “I think you should take a shower.”
    He scoffs. “Not before I put the lights up.”
    He hops over the couch, using his hands as leverage. Something he used to do as a kid. Something he did before his mother left and he was a carefree kid. Was my idea of making Christmas for him working? He seems to have let loose since our conversation.
    I don’t want to jinx it so I go over to the boxes to help him find lights.
    ***
    “Is that a wreath?” Will asks, standing over me practically shedding needles as much as the tree is.
    I hold up the wire hanger I used for a base of the pinecone wreath I’ve been working on for the last hour or so. I have enough pinecones to make a thicker one than I intended. It’s actually nicer than I thought it would be.
    “Your powers of observation are keen,” I tease.
    He squeezes my shoulder. “Where did you learn to do that?”
    “Dad created a winter break program for the camp. It was only a few days around Christmas but this was one of the arts and crafts programs.” Only a few of the counseling staff were invited back for the program last year and I helped enough kids making these things that I could do it in my sleep.
    “Impressive.”
    I arch an eyebrow. “I may not be Mr. Handy, but I’m pretty good with my hands.”
    He grins wickedly and kisses me. “I know you are,” he says against my lips.
    A delicious shiver trickles down my spine.
    I open my eyes as a few pine needles fall onto my face. I wipe them away and Will chuckles.
    “I’m taking a shower then I’ll make us dinner.”
    “Sounds good to me.”
    I finish the wreath before Will returns from his shower. I don’t have glue and glitter to really make it crafty, but the plain pinecones add to the rustic look of the