Free The Christmas Proposition by Cindy Kirk

Waiting until Christmas Eve to decorate a tree was way too long.
    “We can pick up Fred and take him to my place.There’s no reason he can’t come along.” Derek’s tone turned persuasive. “Please, give me this opportunity to return your hospitality.”
    “Yeah, Rachel,” Mickie said. “Give him a chance to return your hos-bis-tality.”
    Rachel smiled. “Okay. We’d love to join you.”
    Something that sounded a lot like “Thank You, God” came from the backseat.
    “Dinner won’t be anything fancy,” Derek said. “How does chili sound?”
    “Sounds good to me,” Rachel said.
    “How ’bout it, Mick? Are you happy?”
    In the backseat, Mickie grinned. “Very happy.”
     
    A peaceful calm settled over Derek’s home. The chili had been polished off, the dishwasher loaded and the dog fed. That only left…the tree. The majestic sixteen-foot Douglas fir stood in front of the great room windows practically begging to be turned into a Christmas tree.
    When Rachel bent over to pull another box of ornaments from the closet, Derek paused to admire the view. Blue jeans hugged her long, slender legs and caressed her firm backside. He let his gaze linger, wishing his body would keep its feelings to itself.
    “I have to tell you something.”
    Derek shifted his gaze and found Mickie with Fred beside her. A tiny frown worried the child’s brow. He crouched down until he was at eye level with her, fending off Fred’s attempt to kiss him. “Tell me.”
    “I don’t know the right way to decorate a tree.” Her frown deepened. “I’m afraid I’ll do it wrong.”
    For a second he wondered if she was joking. Then he saw the flicker of fear in her eyes. They’d told Mickie to share her feelings. Now that she had, Derek was determined to be respectful and not minimize them.
    “Are you saying there’s a correct way to decorate a tree?” He kept his tone deliberately conversational.
    She nodded and chewed on her lip, her gaze focused on her feet.
    As if picking up on her stress, Fred whined and nudged her hand with his nose. Mickie looped one arm around his neck and he quieted.
    Derek waited, knowing she’d tell him more, when she was ready. It didn’t take long.
    “Uncle Wayne used to get angry if I didn’t put the ornaments on the tree the way he wanted. But he wouldn’t tell me what the right way was.” Tears welled in the little girl’s eyes. “I want to do it right. I don’t want you or Rachel to be mad at me. Ever.”
    Out of the corner of his eye Derek saw Rachel straighten and turn.
    He rested his hand on Mickie’s shoulder. “In this house there is no right or wrong way. That goes for stringing the lights or hanging the ornaments. But I’m glad you let me know you were concerned.”
    “I think we should put the ornaments on first.” Rachel placed a box filled with them at his feet.
    “I’ve always put the lights on first,” Derek said. “What do you say, Mick? Lights or ornaments? Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer.”
    His last words were drowned out by the raucous tune “Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead” coming fromRachel’s phone. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her cheeks reddening. “I should answer this.”
    Derek had assumed she’d talk there, but instead, she moved to the kitchen and out of earshot.
    “Do you think something is wrong?” Mickie said. “Rachel looked worried. Don’t you think she looked worried?”
    “Maybe a little bit,” Derek reluctantly conceded, relieved when Rachel returned to the room.
    “Everything okay?” he asked.
    Rachel let her gaze linger on the banister decorated with tiny homemade wreaths made of evergreen tied together with a ribbon garland, not sure what to say. She’d been determined not to bring up Tom tonight. But there was no way around it now. “It was my in-laws’ annual Christmas call.”
    “You’re still in touch with them.” Derek spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, the words more of a statement than a