5
Jake walked into Phoebe’s house and smiled. She’d put up a small Christmas tree in the corner of her living room, a young balsam fir that she’d plant come spring. Insisting on a live Christmas tree was classic Phoebe. She hated the idea of cutting trees down solely for the sake of decorating them and then watching them wither and die. For as long as he could recall, her Christmas trees were live, their root balls soaking in a stainless steel tub camouflaged with red felt. Every spring, she’d find the perfect spot and plant the tree. Her decorations were simple with holiday lights draped around the tree and nothing more. A fire flickered in the woodstove. He followed the sound of Phoebe’s voice into the kitchen.
While he’d been driving over, he considered that he and Phoebe hadn’t discu
