Day 22: And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Addison was off in California for two reasons: one because her and Bucky had been selected as guest judges for a cheer competition, and two because Zenia has asked nicely for her mother to help her pack for her winter break at home and the semester she was doing in Spain. It was all well and good, except Zed knew that his wife would really appreciate it if he and Zander decorated the house while she was gone. Which he only knew because she specifically said, "Could you pretty please have all the Christmas shit done before I get back?"
Phase one was getting a tree. With Addison gone, Zed mostly worked from home, giving him plenty of opportunities to take Zander to and from school and make food for the two of them. Three days before Addison and Zenia were scheduled to come home, Zed picked up his sixteen year old son from school and took him to the tree lot.
"I hate this," Zander complained. "How are we supposed to pick out a tree without Mom!"
"It won't be that bad." Zed patted his son's shoulder as they walked through the tree lot. "We pick a tree, take it home, decorate."
"I hate decorating." Zander grumbled.
"It'll make your mother so happy though," Zed pointed out.
Zander continued to complain as they wandered the tree lot. After another ten minutes of looking around, Zander pointed out a tall, sparse tree, long limbs but not much else. "Look how sad it looks," Zander sympathized. "It'll never find a home."
"Not true," Zed said. "Do you think it could hold our ornaments?"
Zander gave his father an excited smile. "Yes. Are we gonna get it?"
"Of course we are."