December 20 - Afternoon

Only a few letters arrived in the noon mail. None of them presented any difficulties. Oliver left them in Norman and Rita's capable hands, allowing him and Shane to spend the afternoon buying decorations and choosing a tree.

They purchased the decorations first. Oliver expected Shane to choose contemporary decorations like the ones on the various trees placed around the post office. He'd braced himself to spending an hour or two at WalMart or Target, but instead she directed him to the vintage shop on Larimer Street where she purchased Benjamin Parker's suit.

Christmas tree decorations in a clothing store? Yet Shane had been here before so she knew what types of merchandise were available. They entered the store and Oliver felt like he'd stepped 50 years into the past. The selection of merchandise was fascinating. Oliver saw a large selection of vinyl records and phonographs. A glass display case held formal tea services.

Shane grabbed a cart and tugged on his arm.

"Oliver, the decorations are in the back."

Oliver followed Shane up and down the aisles as she made her selections. She chose the larger lights and ornaments Oliver remembered from the Christmas trees of his childhood, and of all things, tinsel. He shuddered inwardly at the mess that tinsel would make, but Shane was so happy and having so much fun he didn't voice his opinion. She insisted on an angel for the top of the tree. Each time she selected and rejected an angel she sighed, and as time passed without success, the sighs became louder and longer. Half an hour passed. Oliver was about to ask if he could help when she pulled a box from the back of the topmost shelf.

"Yes!" Shane exclaimed.

She handed him the box.

Oliver, look!"

He studied the angel carefully. It looked vaguely familiar. Then he remembered a broken-hearted letter to God. The angel was an exact duplicate of the angel Shane had drawn on top of the Christmas tree. Now he understood why Shane had insisted on buying her decorations here. She was recreating the last Christmas tree her family had trimmed together.

He reached out and pulled her close, placing a kiss on the top of her forehead.

"It's perfect."

They walked to the front of the store. Shane placed everything on the conveyer. Oliver took the money clip from inside his coat and moved forward to pay for everything, when a small item displayed by the register caught his attention.

Shane leaned towards him and whispered "Excuse me for a minute," inclining her head towards the Ladies' room.

Oliver smiled and added one more item to their purchases.

"For the lady?" the clerk asked.

Oliver nodded. "I'll take that one."

The clerk wrapped it carefully and handed it to Oliver. He placed it in his coat pocket just as Shane returned.

"Now to find the perfect tree."

Oliver picked up the bags and followed Shane to the car.

"How much further?" Oliver asked Shane.

She consulted her cell phone. "About 10 miles."

Shane wanted a Colorado Blue Spruce, and refused to settle for anything else, but they had already visited three tree farms without success. Oliver prayed that this next stop would be successful. It would be dark in a couple of hours.

Oliver drove to the entrance and opened the window. A young man approached the car. Oliver consulted his name tag.

"Daniel, please tell me you have Colorado blue spruce trees."

"We do."

"Yes!" Shane exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Oliver parked the car, and Shane jumped out before he could open the door for her. The ground was rough and uneven underfoot. Shane caught the heel of her shoe in a small rut.

Oliver moved quickly and caught her before she fell. He placed her arm into his.

"Let's stay together, please."

Daniel approached them carrying a length of rope and an ax.

"Follow me."

Fortunately, they didn't have to walk far. The wind had picked up, and gray clouds thickened overhead.

They walked up and down several rows and Shane still hadn't chosen a tree. Darkness was coming early with an approaching storm.

"Shane, we may have to come back tomorrow."

"Just a few more minutes, Oliver. Please!"

He sighed and they turned into the next row.

"This one!" Shane released his arm and walked all around the tree, looking at every side. "It's perfect!"

Oliver looked at the tree. He couldn't tell the difference between it and the hundreds of other trees he'd seen today, but Shane was happy and he was thankful she'd finally made her selection.

Daniel held the ax out to Oliver. "Sir?"

Oliver took it from him.

Shane raised her eyebrows. "You? Chopping down a tree?"

"I acquired some experience during the trip to El Dorado Canyon. Stand back, please."

Oliver raised the ax. It only took two or three strokes evenly spaced around all sides of the trunk and the tree fell to the ground. He returned the ax to Daniel and took the rope, securing it fast to the bottom branches. He took Shane's hand with one arm and grasped the tree with the other.

Daniel took the rope. "Help the lady. I'll bring the tree."

Darkness had fallen and it had started to rain by the time they reached the car. Oliver opened the door, but just before Shane stepped inside, she let out a cry.

"Oh no! Oh no no no no no no!"

"What's wrong?"

"We didn't buy a stand."

Daniel smiled. "A stand is included with every tree."

"Shane, please get in the car," Oliver said. "I'll get the stand."

Daniel wrapped the tree in plastic and helped Oliver tie it to the top of the car. He left briefly and returned with the stand. Oliver paid for the tree and stand, put the box in the car, climbed in, and gratefully turned the car back towards Denver.