Pining For You (Man of the Month Club)

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

ROSEMARY

Alexi agrees with me that we need to find the perfect live tree to be our center focus of the lobby. I want this tree to be a classic Christmas tree. One that invites guests further into the hotel to make them feel like they’re spending the holidays in a home away from home.

Since I have a very specific image in mind, I know it has to be me to find this tree. It must be carefully inspected and hand selected. Nothing can be left to chance.

“This isn’t a task we can trust anybody to go out and do for us.” I tell Alexi as I place my sunglasses over my eyes.

He groans. “It’s a tree. You tell them to go to the tree farm and request their best one. Full. Fluffy.”

“Nobody said you had to come.”

“I’m not about to have your brother kill me because you went trekking through the woods alone. Do you even know who owns this farm?”

“Nope.”

We climb into Alexi’s big black pickup truck. I have to physically hoist myself up. This thing is massive but once inside the black leather seats are soft and smell of him. I lean back and allow the warmth and scent envelope me.

“And we’re trusting who, again? Where did you obtain this information?”

“Mrs. Margie. We were eating cupcakes together in her office. She’s been here forever. If anyone has suggestions and ideas, it’s that spunky little lady. Also, I spoke to Cora from the taco stand. Apparently everyone knows about this place.”

“You’ve asked two people. That’s hardly everyone. But it’s least coming from people we know.”

Alexi types the address into his phone and syncs it to the truck. The tree farm is outside of Magnolia Point. What I didn’t tell him is it’s not actually a tree farm. It’s more like a family farm that has a lot of Pine trees. Which I was assured it’d be fine for us to go and chop down a tree. Alexi doesn’t need to know. Why stress him out?

The farm is further away than anticipated. Alexi has to call to make sure someone can cover his shift tonight because he’s worried that we’re not going to make it back in time. The GPS takes us on a long and narrow gravel road.

“Where in the hell are we?” Alexi looks around at the lack of civilization. Only gravel road, ditches, and trees.

It’s perfect! This is where we’re going to find the most natural and lovely Christmas tree. I can envision it now. We’ll come into a clearing. There it will be. A light dusting of snow on a full deep green pine tree. It’ll be tall and wide. The lobby will smell of pine needles when we have it there taking up a massive amount of space. All the beautiful twinkling lights that’ll cover it. It’s going to be the most magical Christmas ever. The drive will be worth it.

A voice comes through the speaker telling us our destination is on the left. We see a large metal gate that’s open wide. The truck eases over the uneven ground. We bounce along until the road turns into a path that only a four wheeler or ATV could travel on. This must be it because we’re surrounded by beautiful trees. We step out and my boots crunch under the light dusting of snow.

Alexi comes stomping around the truck. “This isn’t a tree farm. This is the forest. Who is going to help us?”

“We can do this. We’re both capable. Let’s prove – ”

“No, no, no.” He chuckles with shake of his head. “You’re not going to twist my words around on this. I want to prove myself on a little things but that doesn’t mean I have to chop down a fucking tree. That’s not part of the plan. Nothing to do with the plan. I know my limits and this is it.”

I walk around the truck and take out the ladder. I wabble a little bit due to its size but I manage to pull it out. “What are you doing?” Instead of answering him, since its obvious what I’m doing, I grab the chainsaw. “Stop. Let’s call for help. Neither one of us has chopped down a tree.” I grab the ax but he runs over and takes it along with the chainsaw. “For the record, the responsible thing to do – the logical thing to do – would be to at least have someone out here to help us. Which is why I agreed to come because I thought we were going to a tree farm where we’d have supervision.”

“We’re losing daylight. Let’s get to it.” I take the ladder and begin charging forward. I’m a badass on a mission.