The Accidental Christmas

One: Cameron

She feared they'd arrived too late, but from the looks of it, they'd made it in time. The lot attendant was about to hang a Closed sign on the gate when a Land Rover parked right in front of him.

"Got a Noble fir?" the man behind the wheel asked. "We need a six-footer."

The attendant set down the sign on a rickety table next to him and dusted his hands against his parka. "Sure do. They're in the back."

The man behind the wheel turned off the engine. "Great. We need one for the kids to decorate," he said before he and the woman sitting next to him got out of the vehicle.

Cameron slipped into the lot behind the couple as they followed the attendant. Behind her, a small group of people walked past the tree lot, talking about the ugly sweater party they were attending. Their laughter brought back memories of the years when Cameron used to host similar parties, but she pushed the thought away. No use in dwelling in the past, she reminded herself. Tonight, she needed to find a tree.

Cameron tightened her grip on her son's hand and approached the attendant who stopped as the couple walked toward a row of tall trees.

"Excuse me, how much for that tree over there?" She pointed to a four-foot tree by the counter where an old-fashioned cash register sat next to a credit card terminal. Two of its branches hung limply to one side.

"Forty bucks," the attendant replied absently, pulling his knit cap lower down his head as he eyed the couple. When Cameron didn't answer, he rubbed his gloved hands together and continued, "I ain't got all day, lady. You want it or not."

"Will you take twenty? It's all I have, and a few of its branches are already broken." Cameron figured she could turn the side with the broken branches toward the wall. The rest of the tree looked good.

The man thought for a moment, exhaled, and nodded as the couple indicated they found what they wanted. "Twenty then. But look, I can't carry it to your car until I help those other guys first," he said. "But if you don't mind waiting right here, I'll come back and help you."

Beside her, Jeremy tugged her sleeve. But I want a big tree, like last Christmas, he signed to her, pointing to one of the bigger trees at the back.

We agreed we're getting one your size this year, remember? She signed back before handing a twenty-dollar bill to the attendant. "My son and I will carry it to the car ourselves. Thanks."

The man glanced at Jeremy. Seven years old and small for his age, he looked too slight to help her, but Cameron couldn't blame the attendant for needing to take care of a bigger sale first. She had no problems carrying the tree to her car. She wasn't as fragile as she looked.

"On second thought, lady, it's free." He pushed her hand away and grinned. "That's why it's over on the corner anyway. Too many broken branches as it is, but you can point that side to the wall. I'll be back to help you when I'm done with–"

"No, no, go ahead and help those other people. My son and I will manage." Cameron tucked the money back in her coat pocket. She should insist he take the money, but she'd learned during the past year to accept such small acts of kindness–or pity–with grace. Besides, she needed the money to buy their food for the week. "Thank you so much, sir."

"Merry Christmas, Miss... and you, too, young man." His face cracked a broad smile. "Stay warm, you two."

As the man walked away, Cameron led Jeremy to the four-foot-tall tree. It was small, but it would still work since she didn't have the room for anything bigger anyway, the converted garage they called home barely big enough to fit both of them. With Jeremy taking over the bedroom, Cameron slept on the futon in the living room which served as the couch during the day. They didn't have much, but for now, it was home. And their home needed a tree.