The next night Gloria and Ivy made their way to the church to help decorate for the Christmas season. Ivy was still trying to overcome the effects of her aunt’s matchmaking scheme. She had dreamt of Dr. McBride all night long, and then had spent most of the day trying not to think about him. She tried to not think about him when she wiped cake batter off her hands as she finished making the neighbors gifts. She tried not to think about him when she took three hot chocolate mugs out of the dishwasher to set back on the shelf. She tried not to think about him when she walked out the door and hit her head on the mistletoe. It took a fair amount of effort not to reach up and tear the cursed plant from the ceiling. Ivy was glad to leave the house and do something for someone else, maybe then she could finally stop thinking of Trey McBride.
Gloria had already gotten the fourth degree for forcing Ivy on the doctor last night so she wisely kept her mouth shut when she noticed how distracted Ivy had been all day. Still she couldn’t help smiling when Ivy stopped to look at the mistletoe on the way out of the house. She was already trying to think of another reason to bring the good doctor back for a visit.
When they got to the church they found a group of people already busy decorating. Gloria squeezed herself between a couple of older ladies at a nearby table making colorful Christmas arrangements. Ivy looked around and saw a man standing on a ladder, struggling to hang garland from the rafters. She walked over and shouted up to him, “Hey there, do you need a little help?” The man slowly turned around. Ivy felt her heart leap up into her throat when she saw Trey McBride smiling down at her. “Well hello there.” He flashed that same self-satisfied grin he had given her the day before. Ivy looked at the ladder, wondering if he would still be smiling if she kicked it out from under him. She smiled innocently back up into his face, “I thought you had plans with some of your friends?” He nodded and gestured to a small group of young men and women putting together a huge Christmas tree, then he shrugged his shoulders, “Okay, you found me out, this was my grand escapade. I know it’s probably not something you would do on a date in Los Angeles, but this is serious fun for us small town folk.” His look was so comical that Ivy couldn’t help but laugh. He pointed to a table with more garland and nails, “Do you think you could get me a few more nails? It seems I am a little better with a stethoscope than a hammer.” Ivy walked to the table and picked up a few nails and some wire laying close by. She handed them to the doctor, “Here, try the wire, it might help.”
After Trey thanked her and went back to work, Ivy made her way to the Christmas tree where the smaller children had taken up putting homemade decorations on the branches. She smiled at the small paper hearts and reindeer made of pipe cleaners. She soon found herself caught up in the excitement the children brought with them, but then she heard someone crying. She turned to find a young girl holding tight to a nativity scene made with Popsicle sticks.
Ivy bent down to peer into the girls face. “What’s the matter sweetheart?” The girl hiccuped and showed Ivy the small decoration. “I want to take it home; I don’t want to hang it on the tree.” Ivy wasn’t sure what she should do. She looked around hoping to find someone more qualified at handling children. She was just about to ask the girl where her parents were when Trey was suddenly by her side. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around the sobbing child. “What’s the problem Shorty?” The girl showed Trey her ornament and explained her predicament to him. He rubbed his chin, looking seriously at the girl. “Hmm…well it would be fun to take it home, but then no one would be able to see what a good job you did. It is probably the prettiest ornament I have ever seen, and it would be so sad if no one else got to see it.” The girl was not convinced, but after a moment more of persuasion she was soon hanging it on the Christmas trees with the other ornaments.
Ivy looked at Trey incredulously as the girl skipped off to the refreshment table. He laughed when he saw her expression, “What, do I have something in my teeth?” This McBride fellow was a complete mystery to Ivy. “How did you do that?” He laughed again, “What? You mean Shorty? She’s a sweetie, but like most girls she needs a little nudge in the right direction once in awhile.” He winked at Ivy and then sauntered off toward the refreshments. Ivy shook her head, wondering who this guy was. Trey McBride was definitely not like anyone she had ever met before. It might be nice to find out why he was the way he was. “What am I thinking?!” Ivy scolded herself. “Things are perfect right now. I’m not going to mess everything up just for some stupid guy!” She stomped her foot to drive home her point, and then she hurried to follow Trey to the refreshment table.
The next few weeks flew by in a flurry of activity. There were Christmas shopping trips, etiquette classes, nightly caroling excursions with the church choir, and Trey was there through it all. After that night at the church, he had shown up at Gloria’s house every day, inviting Ivy and her aunt to anything and everything he happened to hear about. He was using his charms in full force, hoping that he would get under Ivy Porter’s skin. Gloria was thrilled, but Ivy was stubborn. Just when Trey thought he was getting to her, she would stiffen up and give him the cold shoulder. It was starting to wear on him, but there was something about the girl. Even though she tried so hard to discourage him from getting too close, she was easy to talk to. In twenty-six years of living he had never found someone who was so much like him, yet still such a mystery. They were becoming friends despite her opposition. Unfortunately Ivy’s time in Harwinton was swiftly drawing to a close. She was due to head back to Los Angeles at the end of the week, just a couple days after Christmas. Trey was starting to wonder if he would be able to crack the hard shell around Ivy Porter’s heart before then.
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