Lib Novel Page 23
“I was going to say the same thing,” Jared said.
“You’re smelling the tree, Sylvester,” Cora told him. “It’s nice, isn’t it? And Jared, you’re smelling our famous gingerbread cookies.”
“My cookies,” Sylvester squeaked, looking like he had won the lottery.
“I’ll bet they’ll be cooled off enough for you to offer some to our guest by the time we take this netting off the tree,” Cora told him. “We won’t be able to decorate the tree today. The branches need to stretch out after being bound up like this.”
Sylvester looked really disappointed.
“This is actually the best part,” Jared told him. “When you cut off the netting you get to see the size and shape of your tree. Can you help me do it?”
Sylvester’s eyes lit up and he nodded enthusiastically.
“Okay,” Jared said. “I normally use my pocketknife. But I’d rather you used scissors. Do you have some?”
“Yes,” Sylvester told him, trotting to the kitchen drawer.
“He’s such a good kid,” Jared said, looking after him with something faraway in his eyes.
“He is,” Cora agreed.
A moment later, Jared was lifting him up so that he could start cutting away the netting.
Cora watched them with a lump in her throat. Arthur had been hands-on with Sylvester and adored him, but he didn’t have Jared’s incredible strength. Seeing him lift Sylvester up like that, the boy laughing in his arms, gave her an odd pang.
A moment later, the two of them had succeeded in fully releasing the tree. Its branches let down with a whoosh, and all three of them silently admired it.
“It’s a beautiful tree,” Cora said softly.
“It’s a nice shape,” Sylvester said. “Just like in a book.”
“And the branches are nice and sturdy,” Jared said, nodding in satisfaction. “It will hold all the ornaments you want.”
“I don’t think we have enough,” Sylvester said sadly, looking at the little bin that held plenty of ornaments for their small plastic tree.
“You can make more,” Jared told him. “That’s the best part of Christmas. Then your mom can keep the ones you made, and you can both remember this Christmas every single year.”
“Okay,” Sylvester said, looking excited about that idea.
“I’ll show you how to make some of the ones we used to do at home,” Jared told him. “But first, I have to give your book back.”
To Cora’s surprise, he pulled the tattered copy of The Swiss Family Robinson out of the pocket of his jacket that lay on the back of the sofa.
“Did you read it?” Sylvester asked, sounding almost breathless.
“I did,” Jared said. “And you were right. It was so good. Which of the kids is your favorite?”
Cora listened in amazement as the two of them headed up to Sylvester’s room to put the book back, talking excitedly about the characters and their adventures.
“I have another one you should read next,” Sylvester decided. “Hang on. I’ll find it.”
Jared’s eyebrows went up when he saw the boy trying to dig it out.
“Your books are still in boxes?” he asked, sounding troubled.
“I just have so many of them,” Sylvester said, his head peeking up from the box he was looking through. “It’s okay though. I’ll find it in a second.”
“That will be our next project,” Jared said thoughtfully, as he scanned the walls of Sylvester’s room. “We’re going to put up built-in bookshelves for your library. If it’s okay with your mom, of course.”