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“She held on to her purse the whole time I think she orried I’d steal it”

S, she opened the door and went inside

The cabin smelled like Christmas Dallas had set up a small, perfect tree in the corner near the fireplace and draped several of the leftover boughs along the mantel “Merry Christmas,” he said

Vivi Ann was surprised by his; they’d ed her with presents wrapped by sales-people and paid for by credit cards But this, a simple, sparsely decorated tree, meant more to her than any of that because she knew her husband didn’t care about Christmas He’d done this for her because she cared

“That friend of yours—Trayna at the drugstore—helped me pick out ornaments”

Vivi Ann laughed at the i out angels and elves She loved him so much she couldn’t stand it

“What’s so funny? Did I do so?”

“No, Dallas Raintree You did soht” She took him by the hand and led him into the bedroom, and there she showed him in a dozen ways how much she loved him

Afterward, they lay in bed, staring at each other Through the open door, she could see their first Christ in the darkness

“I thought you’d hate today,” she said

“No”

“Did you do corny stuff like that when you were a kid?”

“No,” he said, and this time his voice was quiet She knew she’d struck a nerve

“Is there anyone you want to invite for Christmas?”

“You keep asking the same question in different ways, Vivi,” he said “There’s no one Just you”