Page 18 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

He pulled into the Christmas tree lot and threw the truck in park.Before he got out, he turned to her, a single question on his mind.“Are you happy?”

If she were happy, then it would all have been worth it.Every night without her, every Christmas that came and went without hearing her laughter, seeing her smile, and feeling her touch.

“What’s it to you?”She slipped out of the truck and slammed the door, leaving him with her orange blossom scent and no answers.

His head fell against the headrest.Lord, give him strength, or he was going to leave her here with the damn Christmas trees.He jumped from the driver’s seat and headed toward Ashley, who was already appraising trees like it was an auction at Sotheby's.

Glen spotted him immediately and called out a hello with a wave.Carter left Ashley to her wandering and turned to the man he had known the majority of his life.More gray had crept into Glen’s beard over the years, but the easy smile was a constant.Glen was fifteen years older than him, married, two kids, two dogs, a cat and a guinea pig, and he never looked happier.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Glen said as he approached, holding his hand out in greeting.“You already got your tree.”

Carter shook his hand.“The Wetherbys are back at Winterridge this year.”

Glen’s eyebrows shot wide.“I never thought that would happen again.”

“Me neither, but here we are.”

“Do you want two ten-footers like old times?”

Carter’s eyes drifted to Ashley, who was circling the lot like a lost Christmas caroler, unsure of the lyrics, unsure of the key, but determined to succeed.

Even when she was unsure, Ashley never did anything half-assed.

He faced Glen.“Yeah, two ten-footers.One for the main hall, the other for the east wing.She’s just… making sure the spirit of Lily Wetherby approves.”

Glen chuckled.“She always did have an eye.Lily, I mean.”

“Yeah,” Carter said, eyes still following Ashley.“She wasn’t the only one.”

Glen gave him a knowing look, then clapped him on the shoulder.“I’ll get ‘em prepped and ready for delivery.You just try not to lose your sanity.”

Carter offered a dry smile.“No promises.”He nodded toward the little red shop.“Send me an invoice.You still have my email on file.”

“I should.”

He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Glen.“I’ll pay it as soon as it hits my inbox.”

Glen let out a low whistle.“Look at you all fancy now.”

“Not fancy, just convenient.”

“So the gold edges are for ‘convenience’?”

“No, that’s to meet Mr.Wetherby’s standards.”

“Enough said.I’ll email you the receipt.”

“Great.Thanks a lot, Glen.”

“Any time, Carter.”

He started toward Ashley, who was now squatting to inspect the bottom branches of a Frasier fir like it was being judged for a magazine spread.She looked over her shoulder at him, a sharpness in her eyes.

“This one’s got a bare patch.We’re not taking a tree with a bald spot.”

“We’re not taking anything,” he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.“I was paying and leaving.You’re the one who turned this into a Hallmark movie.”

Ashley stood, brushing snow off her tights.“I just want to get the best trees.Grandma Lily had the best trees.”