Pining For You (Man of the Month Club)

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

ALEXI

Do I want to climb this tree? No. It’s the last thing I want to be doing. Yet here we are. Rosemary is so damn stubborn that I’m worried if I don’t figure out a way to get this tree down, she’ll do it and hurt herself. I couldn’t bear to stand by and allow that to happen.

Rosemary comes to look over my shoulder. “What are you doing? It’s starting to get out here. Are you watching a video on chopping down a tree?”

“I’m clueless here. If we’re going to do this I might as well make sure I’m doing it right. Alright, doll. I think I’ve got an idea of what I’m doing.”

I follow Rosemary as she begins walking in search of the only tree that will possibly satisfy her obsession. Quickly I make a cross and say a pray to God that we do in fact find a tree that meets her standards before sunset. Right now the sun is shining on Rosemary’s hair making it shine. Actually all of her is… glowing. She’s smiling so brightly and beaming with happiness while she walks along the path admiring each tree. This might not have originally been my idea of a good time, but I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything. I can’t help but join in her joy as we stroll along in fresh air and nature’s beauty. It’s peaceful.

“This one! Oh, Alexi! Come look!” I’ve already been looking. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off her, but I don’t say anything. I walk and allow her to show me the tree. It basically looks exactly like the others surrounding it. “This is it!” She laughs in excitement. “This is the one! It looks exactly how I imagined it would!”

This tree is massive. Even if we cut at the top, which is a long ass way up. There’s no way I can tell her that. I can’t tell her that her dream tree is too tall for me. If she wants this tree, then dammit, she’s going to have it. I won’t be the reason she loses that smile.

Alright. Here we go. I gulp as I stare up, up, up… I’m going to die. If this is how I meet my death, I should at least get a few things off my chest.

“Rosemary. I might not come back.”

Her eyebrows pinch together and she rolls her lips. “I’m confused.”

“This is dangerous, and it could result in my demise. But that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for you.” I place my right hand on her jaw and cup her cheek. “Because I love you. I’m in love with you Rosemary.”

“What the hell…”

I place my left pointer finger over her lips. “Ssshhhh… Let’s not get into all that. I just needed you to know in case tragedy should come to me.” Her eyes widen. “Now,” I gulp and then lower my voice. “If you let me borrow a kiss…I promise I’ll give you one back when I get back down.”

“Don’t you mean if you get back down.” She deadpans.

“Rosemary,” I sigh. “Your lips look lonely. Let me introduce them to mine.”

“You have five seconds to get your ass up that tree or I’m doing it myself. What’s gotten into you?”

Excuse me for being a romantic. Here we are in a lush forest in the afternoon with rays of sunlight peeking through the trees. It’s almost ethereal. Never mind that one wrong step or slip of the foot I’ll fall to my death. It’s fine. I’m willing to risk my life even after such rude treatment. I can do this despite never having climbed a tree this size.

The metal latter clanks against the tree as I get it positioned. I use the harness that Rosemary gave me to fasten the ax and loop the chainsaw strap to me so I can haul them up the tree. The ladder rattles with each step but I keep my eyes trained ahead. If I look down I’ll faint.

Somehow I manage to make it up a good distance. There’s no way from here that I can’t tell how high I actually am. I yell out to Rosemary. “This high enough? We don’t want the tree to be too tall.”

“Yes! That looks perfect! Are you okay?”

“Yeah!” I yell back.

“Be careful up there!” She yells back. Not sure if it’s the wind or not, but I think she grumbles for me to be careful with her tree.

I can’t get the right angle from my position on the ladder. I pray, again, for my life as I hoist my leg over the giant branch. Once seated I begin hacking away at the tree. Sweat coats my skin within minutes. It’s hard to hear and notice anything with the noise and vibrations from the chainsaw. But Rosemary’s voice breaks through all that to me.

It’s hard to see through so many branches, but I see the ladder shaking and hear Rosemary shouting, “No, no, no. Nope. Not today.”

Then I hear a growl and bark.

“Rosemary!”

“It’s a vicious killer Alexi! It’s out for blood!” Shortly after Rosemary breaks through all the branches.

“What’s down there? A coyote? A wolf?”

“A vicious canine! A rapid dog!”

Carefully, I ease further out on the branch. It creaks under my weight but I’m confident it won’t break. I can barely make out a furry tail wagging. Rosemary is hurrying up the ladder with a wild look in her eyes.

“It’s going to eat me!” She cries out. “Death is upon us! Alexi, we’re in grave danger!”

The ladder is shaking violently. She’s going to fall. Rosemary is panicking and going to hurt herself or worse fall to her death.

“Rosemary. Calm down.” I try to remain calm and use a soothing voice.

She’s crying and talking to herself as she scrambles onto the branch below me. “Get away! Get away!” Before I can stop her Rosemary kicks the ladder.

That was our only way down.

“Rosemary. Rosemary. Rosemary!” I finally get through to her. In a more gentle tone I speak, “We’re okay. I need you to calm down so I can think. Please stop moving so I can see what’s even after us.”

“It’s a killer. A snarling, furry four legged killer,” she hiccups.

I hold on tightly to the branches as I lean down. Now that Rosemary has gone quiet I can hear the snarling little beast. Emphasis on little. And snarling was a stretch, more like a friendly bark to alert his owners they have trespassers. Even though I’m up high, I can tell the dog is a pet. It looks to be a medium size sheepdog, maybe a Sheltie by its white, brown, and reddish coloring and long fluffy tail. He’s probably not actually attacking us but warning us away from his territory.

“Great. We’re stuck in a tree now.” I groan.

“This is not my fault.”

“It’s literally your fault.”

“How is this my fault?”

The audacity. “Who insisted we come to a random location to chop down a tree ourselves? When we lack all knowledge on how to even go about cutting down a giant tree. No experience whatsoever. You wouldn’t hire someone who’s never cooked to run the kitchen or someone who’s never held a tool as your repair man. But sure, let’s tackle lumber jacketing on our own. Then once you got me up here, you come scrambling up here – rather than go inside the safety of the truck – and physically remove our only way down. You actually kicked the ladder away.”

“To scare the predator.”

“The – the – the predator!” I can’t even get the words out I’m so frustrated. “It’s a pet! Rosemary. Please stop and look at him. He’s not foaming at the mouth and his fur is clean. That dog is better groomed than we are.”

Rosemary huffs. “I beg your pardon.”

“He probably doesn’t even come up to my knees.”

“Well you’re up high. Things look smaller from this distance. It’s easy to be brave once you’re out of reach.”

“You’re joking. You’re fucking with me right now, aren’t you? This is all a prank. Alright. Where’s Van and Ava? We all had a good laugh.”

Rosemary begins sniffling again. “It’s not a joke. I’m sorry, okay? I botched this up. I don’t know what I was thinking. I got over excited to do this and then the dog startled me and came charging out of nowhere and then I panicked.”

Guilt creeps in on me. Poor Rosemary. All she wanted to go pick out the hotel’s Christmas tree. “Well…” I sigh. “You can’t say I never went out on a limb for you.”

We both chuckle. I can’t see her face but I can already tell she’s composed herself back into the self-assured woman she typically carries herself as. “He is a cute dog.”

He isn’t even barking any more. Only looking up at us with curiosity or mild concern. I’m too high up to read his expression, but I see his head is tilted up and to the side. “Go get help, buddy.” I yell down to him.

“Yeah, my phone fell when I raced up here.” Rosemary tells me. I left mine in the truck.

“Well this is a pine predicament.” I tease.

“Not the puns. No. Not like this God. Don’t let this be how I die.”

I chuckle at Rosemary’s dramatics. “At least you’ll go down a hero for the resort. On a mission to give the people a Christmas to remember.”

“I think we’re stretching it.”

“Maybe.” We both chuckle, and then fall into easy conversation. Her telling me her dreams of being respected and a more crucial member in the business side of things. I tell her how I’m clueless as to what I want to do, but I do know I need to prove I’m capable of more.

I realize two things in a matter of twenty-minutes. Rosemary and I are similar in many ways, and I’ve fallen for her even more.