The banging sound on a bright Saturday morning disturbed Riley’s slumber as she stumbled upon the pillows that were covering her face to block the sun away out of her face. She groaned while slightly lifting her head to check the time. The clock showed 10:44. It’s been a while since Riley has slept that late into the morning. Her usual morning starts at the break of dawn, what made her sleep in, she didn’t know. She lifted her aching body out of the bed as she began to daily morning routine so that she could head down and find out what the fuss was about.

After a few minutes, Riley walked down the stairs only to find Nick struggling to fit a fresh pine tree through the small front door.

“What the…” she said with her jaw wide-opened in surprise. “A Christmas tree?”

Nick shifted his head around to look at Riley as he hugged a part of the tree. “You feel like being a doll and helping me out here?” he groaned in pain

Riley quickly made her way down and took a chunk of the tree to help Nick pull it through the door. “Where did you find a fresh pine tree this side of the country?” she asked in curiosity as her voice strained

“Good connections, there’s more to this place than just endless counts of palm trees, I would have you know!” he informed as he and Riley took one final pull until the tree finally gave way and broke free from the tight space of the door and into the house.

“Ha, we did it!” Riley said in excitement while getting up from the floor. She looked over to where Nick was only to find him buried under the pins of the tree.

“A little help,” his voice mumbled under the pine.

Riley quickly finished getting up as she reached her hand out to Nick and helped him up followed by a short chuckle. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he groaned while massaging his back. “Your laughing isn’t helping though,” he kidded while he picked up the tree in the same spot he was holding it earlier and began to drag it across the floor into the living room. “Where do you think I should put it?” he asked as his eyes, as well as Riley’s, searched the room for the perfect place.

“How about…” Riley began then stopping to think for a second. “Oh I got it, how about in that corner over there?” she suggested, pointing at a small corner across the room right behind where the grand piano was laid. “It will give it that magical essence having it behind some Grande instrument,” she smiled, somewhat proud of herself.

“Good job, chump!” Nick smiled at her while patting her back then pulling the tree up into its proper upright position. “Alright, now you have to help me lift this up and put it in that place”

The 6 feet 5 inches tree was heavier than any of them had anticipated and the waving of the pine needles made it even more difficult to find a balance to carry it into the air and into its new home. “On second thought, right here is just fine!” Riley suggested

“Come on, be strong woman!” Nick screamed out under strained voice. “Oh good god, I’m going to get a hernia from this!”

Riley couldn’t help but burst into laughter from Nick’s outburst of comment. “Thanks for sharing, Nick….ahh!”

“What’s wrong?” Nick stopped to look at Riley to see if she was all right as concerns filled his face through his expression

“Yeah, I just got a splinter from the stupid wood,” she slightly groaned while squeezing the side of her palm where the splinter was stuck at.

Nick let go of the tree as he made his way to where Riley was and grab hold of her hand and squeezed it to take out the small piece of wood, with Riley screaming in pain. “Oh stop, you big baby!” he said. “See, it’s gone now!” then giving the spot a small kiss. “Feel better?” he winked at her while grinning then walking back to his place as he signalled her to carry her side of the tree and readied for the long battle of placing the tree where it rightfully belongs.

Riley got real quiet as her heart soared at the feeling of Nick’s lips against her hand. She felt wonderful and during that moment, she felt some sense of real happiness.