“I was watching you check the spacing,” she admitted. “The lights are going to be perfect. Turn them on if you don’t believe me.”

“I’ll finish putting the lights on, then we’ll see.”

Sarah lingered over the cookies and milk. Overall, it had been such a good day. She wanted to pause time where it was and not risk ruining it with opening the box of ornaments.

Opening those ornaments shouldn’t be a bad thing. Decorating the tree was her idea. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to walk over to the box.

As excited as she was about the tree, all along she’d been dreading this part. Seeing the ornaments her aunt had made, that they’d made together over the years, and knowing that Aunt Jean wasn’t there this time and never would be again… It wasn’t going to be easy.

She told Bodie a joke she’d heard while out delivering meals. He laughed, finished his milk and cookies, and stood. Although he’d been sleeping on the rug in front of the fireplace, Harry lifted his head to keep an eye on Bodie.

“There’s more if you want another.”

He patted his flat stomach. “I’m good.”

Yes, he was. A good distraction from what she knew was about to happen.

“I need to get back to work.”

Dismay filled her at the idea of being in the room alone, decorating the tree alone when she had so many cherished memories of doing so with her aunt. She wanted Bodie to stay. Yes, he’d already helped her with the lights when she knew he didn’t want to but surely staying a little longer wouldn’t be too much to ask?

“You’ve already done so much to help me today, and I know I’m being silly, but, I… I’d really appreciate it if you’d decorate the tree with me.”

He looked torn, as if everything in him was saying that he should get out while he could, but something held him in place. “It’s been a long time since I’ve helped decorate a tree, Sarah. Hanging the lights is my extent of my tree-decorating abilities.”

He was turning to go, would soon be back in the bathroom working on getting everything ready for her future guests. It’s where he should be. Where she needed him to be. He was her repair guy, nothing more.

“Please don’t go.”

He met her gaze and studied her for long moments, then seemed to see beneath the surface, that this had nothing to do with trying to get him into the Christmas spirit and everything to do with her and what was going inside her head. Inside her heart.