A Will and a Way

and dig one up.”
    “We?”
    “Certainly. I hate it when people cut trees down and then toss them aside after the new year. The woods are loaded with nice little pines. We’ll dig one up, then replant it after the holidays.”
    “How handy are you with a shovel?”
    “Don’t be a spoilsport.” Pandora tossed his coat to him, then pulled on her own. “Besides, it’ll be nice to spend some time outside after being in that stuffy attic. We can have some hot buttered rum when we’re finished.”
    “Heavy on the rum.”
    They stopped at the toolshed for a shovel. Michael picked two and handed one to Pandora. She took it without a blink, then together they walked through the ankle-high snow to the woods. The air had a bite and the scent of pine was somehow stronger in the snow.
    “I love it when it’s like this.” Pandora balanced the shovel on her shoulder and plowed through the woods. “It’s so quiet,so—separated. You know, sometimes I think I’d rather live here and visit the city than the other way around.”
    He’d had the same thought, but was surprised to hear it from her. “I always thought you liked the bright lights and confusion.”
    “I do. But I like this, too. How about this one?” She paused in front of a spruce. “No, the trunk’s too crooked.” She walked on. “Besides, I wonder if it wouldn’t be more exciting to go into the city for a week now and again and know you had someplace like this to come back to. I seem to work better here. Here’s one.”
    “Too tall. We’re better off digging up a young one. Wouldn’t it put a crimp in your social life?”
    “What?” She studied the tree in question and was forced to agree with him. “Oh. My social life isn’t a priority, my work is. In any case, I could entertain here.”
    He had a picture of her spending long, cozy weekends with flamboyant, artsy types who read Keats aloud. “You don’t have to come all the way to the Catskills to play house.”
    Pandora merely lifted a brow. “No, I don’t. This one looks good.” She stopped again and took a long study of a four-and-a-half-foot spruce. Behind her, Michael worked hard to keep his mouth shut. “It’s just the right size for the parlor.”
    “Fine.” Michael stuck his shovel into the ground. “Put your back into it.”
    As he bent over to dig, Pandora scooped up a shovelful of snow and tossed it into his face. “Oh, sorry.” She smiled and batted her eyes. “Looks like my aim’s off.” Digging with more effort, she began to hum.
    He let it go, probably because he appreciated the move and wished he’d thought of it himself. Within fifteen minutes, they had the hole dug.
    “There now.” Only a little out of breath, Pandora leaned on her shovel. “The satisfaction of a job well done.”
    “We only have to carry it back to the house, set it up and…damn, we need something to wrap the roots and dirt in. There was burlap in the shed.”
    They eyed each other blandly.
    “All right,” he said after a moment. “I’ll go get it, then you have to sweep up the needles and dirt we trail on the floor.”
    “Deal.”
    Content, Pandora turned away to watch a cardinal when a snowball slapped into the back of her head. “Sorry.” Michael gave her a companionable smile. “Aim must be off.” He whistled as he walked back to the shed.
    Pandora waited until he was out of sight, then smiling smugly, knelt down to ball snow. By the time he got back, she calculated, she could have an arsenal at hand. He wouldn’t have a chance. She took her time, forming and smoothing each ball into a sophisticated weapon. Secure in her advantage, she nearly fell on her face when she heard a sound behind her. She had the ball in her hand and was already set to throw as she whirled. No one was there. Narrowing her eyes, she waited. Hadn’t she seen a movement back in the trees? It would be just like him to skirt around and try to sneak up on her. She saw the cardinal fly up again as if startled and heard the quiet plop of snow hitting snow as it was shaken from branches.
    “All right, Michael, don’t be a coward.” She picked up a ball in her left hand, prepared to bombard.
    “Guarding your flank?” Michael asked so that this time when she whirled back around, she slid onto her bottom. He grinned at her and dropped the burlap sack in her lap.
    “But weren’t you…” She trailed off and looked behind her again. How could he be here if he was there? “Did you circle