I nodded and followed her cues.
“We’re in a tree farm. Can you look around and tell me five things you see?”
I did: trees, stars, wreaths, dirt, and … oh no. There was a big man over there pacing. His hands ran through his dark hair. My throat tightened as blood pounded in my ears. “That’s not him. You’re safe. That’s my brother.”
Dizziness hit me.
“No, sweetie, not Levi. He’s my brother, you like him.”
She whistled. The man turned. I blinked.
In the next instant, he squatted in front of me.
His hand reached forward. I shrank away. Mallory smacked it down.
“Are you ok?” His voice was a low rumble, deep and trustworthy.
“This is my brother Alex.”
The twinkle lights behind him cast a glow around his head. “Are you an angel?”
Those dark brows furrowed and the lines around his mouth tightened.
Maybe he wasn’t an angel. Maybe he was a beautiful demon sent to tempt me.
But weren’t demons just fallen angels seeking redemption?
As I examined his worried expression, a hand touched his cheek. When he leaned into it, his stubble tickled my palm. “Are you ok? You look worried.”
“You’re seriously checking on me right now?” Amusement replaced the concern, the left corner of his mouth lifting. “You’re unbelievable, Grace.”
Why was he talking about grace? Mama loved that Scripture, "For by grace you have been saved through faith," but I didn’t see how that was relevant.
Then I realized he was talking to me, calling me Grace …
When my head tilted, Alexander’s smile disappeared, mouth painfully tight.
I wanted his smile back. “You’re irresistible when you smile. You should smile more.”
His cheeks flushed pink as he looked down at the ground, brow furrowed.
A bark of laughter stole my attention.
“Did you just tell him to smile more?” Mallory fell sideways. Her laughter was contagious. I felt dazed, but I grinned back. I liked making her laugh.
“The King of Mansplaining, Captain Masculinity, and you told him to smile more!” She wiped away a tear. He watched her with veiled amusement, the left side of his mouth curling up.
“Well, before you got distracted by his dazzling smile,” she said, wiggling jazz fingers, “you were naming five things you see.”
Trees, stars, wreaths, dirt, and lights.
“Good. Four things you hear.” Cars, crickets, carols, footsteps.
“Three things you smell.” Pine trees. Apple cider. And … what was that?
I lifted the unfamiliar plaid scarf around my neck. “This.”
“What does it smell like?”
I couldn't describe it. Woodsy, but not quite. Maybe minty?
“It smells like hope.”
Alexander tugged on his bottom lip. “Listen, I’m sorry that I —”
“Later.” Mallory grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Is it ok if I touch you, to help you up?” When I nodded, they held out their hands and I stood shakily. “Let’s get you home.”
As Mallory held my hands for balance, my shoulders felt the heavy weight of warm wool, with the same smell as the scarf, but stronger: pine, mint, and … safety. Surprise flickered over her face as her gaze lifted to her brother over my shoulder. His cheeks pinkened from the crisp air, shivering in his thin sweater.
Alexander half-carried me to the parking lot. When I saw my truck, I felt a rush of panic and dropped my hands to my knees to stop the spinning.
Mallory distracted me by pointing out the tree in the truck bed. She said tomorrow, I could come over and make the popcorn garland, even though last year she grabbed the wrong bag and it made the dog sick, but this year she’ll use the unbuttered kind.
While she talked, making plans and telling stories to keep me in the present, Alexander opened the back door and helped me inside. Although my hands were still shaky, as I came back to myself, my confusion was replaced with embarrassment. I tried to protest that I was ok. Mallory assured me that of course I was, but when I lose time like this, I feel exhausted. She was right.
I curled up on my side as she bundled her jacket under my head and he draped his coat over my body. My eyelids felt so heavy, I’d just close them for a second.
Chapter 17Alex
