Chapter 19

"Oh no! I did enough of that when I was growing up," Caden objected. He looked up and his mother had already seen him. "Why'd you come here?"

Jocelyn shrugged. "I just thought I'd volunteer. It's my day off and I like to feel useful." Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "Besides, it looks as if your parents could use the help."

Caden sighed, giving her a smile. "Come on. I'll get you some gloves."

"Now, that's the spirit!" she approved, climbing out of the car.

As they walked over to the tree lot, Caden's father walked toward them. "Hello, son. It's good to see you here. Who's your friend?"

Caden smiled. "This is Jocelyn, Mallory's sister."

His father's smile faded, but he quickly recovered himself. For some reason, his parents had never liked Mallory. Although Caden knew they hated for his heart to be broken, he suspected they were secretly relieved when they broke up.

"What brings you two by on such a wonderful day?" Noah asked, motioning around him.

"Well, we'd thought we'd volunteer to help out, if that's okay." Jocelyn was bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, clearly excited.

His father looked at him. "You, too?"

Caden shrugged. "What can I say? I'm along for the ride."

"Well, then, let's find you both some gloves and let's get to work." Noah started giving them instructions, and Jocelyn did everything graciously and without complaint.

Between jobs, Jocelyn walked over to his mother, sitting in her usual lawn chair. "Hello. I'm Jocelyn Taylor, Mallory's sister."

Emma nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "I'm glad you brought my son with you."

"I heard that," Caden teased, smiling.

"You were meant to!" she yelled back.

Jocelyn clasped her hands in front of her. "Well, I think I'd better get to work." She gave his mother a small wave, and his mother smiled and waved in return.

They spent most of the day selling trees. As soon as Caden cut the netting off a tree to replace the ones that were sold, more trees were sold. Jocelyn was about to carry another tree to a car, but Caden ran over.

"I've got this." He picked up the tree with ease and looked at Mrs. Miller, who had just bought it. She was a regular who came back every year. "Where to, miss?"

The woman blushed. "Why, thank you! Right this way." Then she looked around him to Jocelyn and slipped her a bill. "Thank you for your time."

"Thank you, and it was my pleasure." Jocelyn gave her a slight wave. "Come again! I'll see you at church!" Caden was amazed that she knew the woman.

"Oh, I'll be back next year," the lady replied. "I come here for my tree every year."

Jocelyn smiled. "That's good to hear. Have a very Merry Christmas."

"You, too." Then Mrs. Miller walked over to Caden, waiting patiently. "My car's right over here. When did that Jocelyn start working here?"

"Just today." Caden followed the lady and set the tree down next to the car that the lady had indicated, a hatchback Dodge Caravan. "Actually, she's a volunteer."

"Really?" The lady's eyebrows rose almost into her hairline. "How nice!"

"How do you know her, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mrs. Miller smiled. "I'm the choir director at our church and she's in the choir."

Caden nodded, understanding. "Would you like me to put the tree inside for you or tie it to the roof?" Caden asked, noticing the factory luggage rack on the top.

Mrs. Miller clicked a button on her keychain and the back opened up. "No, no. You can put it in the back, if you don't mind."

"Not at all." Once the back was open, Caden slid the tree in with ease and closed it again. "Well, thank you, Mrs. Miller. We'll see you Valentine's Day?" During the Valentine's season, the tree lot became a craft Valentine's Day open-air boutique. But they still had Christmas wreathes and ornaments to sell all year. They left a few artificial trees up all year for the town and sold one or two occasionally in the off season. In exchange for the privilege of selling their trees in town, they had agreed to keep the Christmassy vibe going at the tree lot all year for the benefit of the town.

"Yes, sir. I'll be here." Mrs. Miller walked around to the driver's side. "And I'll be here for the 4th of July, too!"

"Glad to hear it." Caden waved. "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Miller."

"You, too, Caden." Then she leaned in conspiratorially, nodding in Jocelyn's direction, who was already helping another customer. "If I were you, I wouldn't let her go."

"Oh, we're not--"

"Are you sure?" When Caden didn't respond, she raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing look. She handed him some money. "Here's for the tree, and a little something extra for you, too. Merry Christmas." Then she got into her car and drove away, giving him one more wave over her shoulder.

As he watched Mrs. Miller drive away, he knew it was true. He was falling for Jocelyn. He wondered if it was that obvious, or if Mrs. Miller was just perceptive. He hoped it was the latter.

Soon, everything slowed down a bit and Caden's mother motioned him over. Jocelyn was sitting in another lawn chair beside her. "Son, will you go and get us all something to eat? We'd better eat before another mad rush hits again."

"Sure, Mom." Caden smiled. "What would you like? Another bucket of chicken?"

"Um- I was thinking of hamburgers, but that does sound good-."

"I had to open my mouth." Caden laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You and your bucket of chicken."

"Hey! Don't knock it until you've tried it!"

"I have," Caden replied flatly.

Just then, Noah walked up. "So, what's going on?"

"Caden's going to go get us something to eat before the crowd comes back." Emma adjusted herself in her chair.