Max was finally getting to spend a Christmas Day with Lily. The last one was five years ago when she was only two. Too young to remember.
Emma and Max had quite an amicable split, but Emma insisted that Christmas was her day with her family, which included Lily by default. Max’s compliance was a given.
But not this year. Max had put his foot down and expressed his desire to have his daughter with him for a change.
To Max’s surprise, Emma had agreed. He suspected her decision may have been swayed by the recent arrival of a boyfriend. Her priorities had shifted slightly. But Max didn’t rock the boat by pointing it out.
The end of the work day was drawing near. It seemed like an endless Christmas Eve as he was so excited about leaving his job for an extended Christmas break.
Max cheered as four o’clock rolled around. ‘See you, guys! Merry Christmas and all that stuff. I’m off to see my daughter.’
Max waggled his helmet onto his bald head, kick-started his motorbike and tore down Peninsula Link. He was tempted to break the speed limit, but that could result in more grief. He took the turnoff to Mornington and squinted with the sun in his eyes.
Max parked in the shopping centre car park and walked towards the shops swinging his helmet by its strap like a handbag. He headed into the centre and walked briskly to the toy shop. The friendly shop assistant remembered his purchase of the train set and the music box. Once Max had paid the balance owing, she whisked them out from the back room. She handed them over to Max and wished her a happy festive season. Armed with purchases, Max relaxed slightly. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Lily’s little face when she discovered the train set on Christmas morning. She had been harping on about a train set every fortnightly visit. Emma had given a firm NO to the idea as she didn’t see it as a fit gift for a little girl. Max reasoned that you couldn’t help what Santa arrived with, so the train set would stay. At his place, at least. They would have so much fun setting it up on Christmas morning. The music box from him should appease Emma.
With purchases packed into the motor-bike’s panniers, he made his way to Main Street. With the bike parked in the storage space behind the shops, laden with gifts, he climbed the narrow staircase to his dated apartment above the dress shop.
He sighed as he dumped the load on the kitchen bench. He peeled off his leather jacket to expose a black t-shirt and tattooed arms. The shrill ringtone of his phone made him jump. He smiled as LILY flashed onto the screen. ‘How’s my favourite girl?’
‘I’m good, Daddy. But Daddy, Mummy wants me to have dinner with her before I come over. Would it be alright if I come a bit later? Mummy said eight o’clock. She said I can stay some extra nights. She will pick me up after the Box Day.’
‘It’s Boxing Day, honey. And yes, tell your mum that will be fine.’ Max groaned inwardly as it annoyed him how Emma got to make all the rules, but at least in this instance, there was a bright side. He smiled and punched the air as Lily’s stay would be extended.
‘And Daddy?’
‘Yes, my little darling.’
‘I can’t wait to see your Christmas tree. I hope you have a real one. We have a plastic one, and I don’t like it. But I didn’t tell Mummy.’
Christmas tree! Oh, sh**!
‘A real one it is, honey. See you at eight.’
Max went into full panic mode. He slid the presents under his bed and set off on a Christmas tree mission. He threw on the leather gear, raced down the stairs and stepped on his bike. His mate, Brad, was manning the Scout’s Christmas tree stall with his sons. He rode off and rang Brad on his way down to the Homemaker’s Centre. ‘Hey, Brad. Merry Christmas, mate. Just headed down to pick out a tree from your stall. Wondering if you could then do me a huge favour and drop it off at my place. My mode of transport just doesn’t cut it for carrying a tree.’
‘Love to help, Max, but we are just closing up. Not a single tree left. Sorry, mate.’
‘Lily is arriving tonight. She expects a tree. A real one. Before you say it, I know I’ve left my run a bit late…’
‘Stuff happens. Hey, maybe you should head over to the Christmas Tree Farm.’
‘Never heard of it.’
‘Up on Moorooduc Road. Hopefully, they are still open.’
‘Thanks, Brad. I’ll give it a shot.’
Max rode like a madman along Tyabb Road, then turned right towards the Christmas Tree Farm. As the large property came into view, he wondered how he hadn’t noticed it before. He turned towards the entrance and stopped as a guy was closing the gate.
‘Sorry, we’re shut.’
‘Oh, mate. Can’t you help me out?’ Max pleaded
‘Even if I let you in, we don’t have any more cut.’
‘What if I offer to pay triple? You’ve gotta help me,’ Max said as he poured out the tale of his dilemma with his little girl.
‘Mmm. Okay then. Come in. I’ve got one cut tree left that a customer didn’t pick up. It’s a giant one but all I can offer you,’ the guy said. ‘How are you planning to take it home?’
‘Don’t you deliver?’
‘Arr, no mate. Last run of deliveries was yesterday. And I don’t have my ute today. My wife is picking me up this afternoon.’
‘Wow,’ Max said. ‘You weren’t joking when you said a monster. It’s huge! I’m desperate, mate. I’ll ring around to see who can help me out with pick up.’
‘Look help me whack it across the tracker scoop. I’ll deliver for you. How’s that?’
‘You’re a life saver. I’m Max. I didn’t catch your name.’
‘I’m Ben…Hang on. Where do you live?’
‘Main Street, Mornington.’
‘You’ve got to be kidding. A slow, long journey. Better get started.’
With tree placed across the tractor bucket, secured with rope, they set off. With hazard lights on, Max acted as an escort as he rode at a snail’s pace in front of the tractor.
The duo received some odd stares. Max waved to the gawkers.
As they hit the top of Main Street, Max beckoned Ben to pull over to the side. ‘Might be a bit of an issue ahead. The main street is closed off for the festival.’
‘Something you might have mentioned earlier,’ Ben said with a grimace.
‘Just drive through like you’re part of it. Dropping stuff off.’
‘Yeah, sure. But if there’s a problem, I’m outta there.’
‘I’ll be detouring at the next left so that I can park out the back. Just pull up in front of FRAN’S FROCKS.’
Ben shook his head and headed down the main street.
As planned, Ben was waiting out the front of the dress shop as Max arrived.
Carols belted out from hooked-up speakers and floated through the air a little too loudly. Families wandered over the traffic-free street.
Chatter and cheer spilled out from the pub opposite.
Max smiled at the delighted squeals from little tikes as they bopped up and down on painted ponies.
Many shoes were lined up outside the jumping castle. The enormous dome appeared to be filled to capacity but more kids continued to pile inside.
Main Street was bustling with festive joy.
The pair lifted the huge tree out of the bucket and leant it up against the shop window.
Max looked at Ben hopefully.
‘No, mate. You’re on your own now. I need to get back to work. My wife’s picking me up in forty minutes. We can’t be late for the in-laws Christmas thingy. They’re European so celebrate Christmas Eve. Believe me, you don’t want to get on the wrong side of my wife’s parents.’
‘Thanks for all your help,’ Max said as he handed Ben a large wad of cash.
‘You’re welcome. But I can’t take all that. Fifty is plenty,’ Ben said as he handed it all back to Max.
Max fished out two fifty-dollar notes and placed them in Ben’s palm. He made a mental note to drop a slab up to Ben next week. He waved Ben off and wished him Merry Christmas.
‘Excuse me, sir.’
Max spun around.
A male and a female police officer stood with arms crossed. They weren’t smiling.
‘What are you doing out here with that Christmas tree?’
‘Umm, well. I’ll get it out the way. It’ll be up in my place in a sec. Well, my daughter wanted a real one. I finally got to have her with me with Christmas. First one in years…’
The female officer listened intently. ‘Despite the street festival, we’re a bit slow,’ she said. ‘Come and show me the stairs. I’m Louise, by the way.’
The male officer rolled his eyes but followed.
Max led the way and chatted with her about her kids and their excitement with Christmas coming.
‘Well, it’s not going up there,’ she said adamantly.
‘Why not?’
‘It’ll get stuck. That staircase is way too narrow. And it takes a sharp turn halfway up.’
‘She’ll be right,’ the male officer said.
‘Okay,’ Louise said. She threw her hands in the air. as she walked off. ‘But don’t come crying to me…’
‘We’d better take her advice,’ the male officer said. ‘She’s usually right.’
‘Okay. I’m Max by the way.’
‘Charlie.’
Silently, the men wandered back out to the street.
‘You’ve still got that rope out there. It was tied around the tree for the journey,’ Louise said.
Max reddened.
‘Yeah, we saw the tractor,’ Charlie said with a smirk. No drop-offs were allowed after three but we let him get on his way.’
‘It is Christmas after all,’ Louise said. ‘Come on. Go up and open your window.’
‘Okay,’ Max said as he walked off.
‘Take the bloody rope!’ she said. ‘You blokes. I wonder sometimes. Now get up there and chuck the rope down. And don’t forget to tie your end onto something secure.’
‘Yes, mam,’ Charlie said with a salute.
‘Don’t get smart with me. Get up there and help him. Once you chuck some rope down, I’ll tie my end to the tree. Then you two muscles, pull it up. Let’s hope it fits through that window,’ she said as she looked up. ‘Bit tight but I think we’ll manage.’
The men took off to Max’s apartment and followed Louise’s instructions to the letter. With both top and bottom ends secured the process began. The tree scraped along the tin roof with an irritating sound. Green needles showered onto the footpath below.
‘Jeez, Louise! Gonna be a tight squeeze!’ Charlie called down.
‘Enough of the singsong!’ Louise retorted. ‘Keep pulling, It’s nearly through!’
More groans and another tug and the pair had done it. Operation Christmas Tree was successful! The men descended with broad smiles.
‘Well, we’d better get back to the festival,’ Louise said.
‘Thanks a million, officers.’
‘Our pleasure. Merry Christmas.’
Max tore back up the stairs and opened the front windows to expel the suffocating smell of pine. He glanced at his watch and realised that Lily would arrive in less than an hour. He stripped off and hopped into the shower.
As Max buttoned up his clean shirt, he heard a knock on his door. He wondered if Emma had decided to drop Lily off earlier. He swung the door open. His mate, Brad stood in the space holding a large cardboard box.
‘Brad, mate! Good to see you. Come in!’
‘Won’t stay. When we got home from the scout Christmas tree stall the boys told Sarah about your tree dilemma. She insisted that I bring this massive, and heavy I might add, box of decorations over. They were left at her late Aunt’s house. We’ve got more than enough, so these are for you. I’ve got a plastic tree out in the car, too. I’ll just go and grab it.’
‘Thanks, mate. I’m sorted with a tree but these decorations are great!’
Brad slid the box along the floor and looked at the huge pine leaning up against the wall. ‘Oh, and there’s one of those proper tree bases in that box. We’d better prop it up properly and give it a drink.’
Brad and Max secured the tree and filled the base up with water.
‘Merry Christmas, Brad. And thank Sarah for me.’
As Brad departed, Emma and Lily arrived.
‘Daddy!’ Lily said. ‘You got a tree! But it’s not sparkly.’
‘That’s because we are going to decorate it together! You and me!’
‘Oh wow! I wanted to do that at home but Mummy didn’t let me help.’
Emma opened her mouth to speak but shut it as Max piped in. ‘Sometimes, Mummy gets busy but we can spruce up this one. I’ve got more time than Mummy.’
Emma gave Max an appreciative look.
‘See you, Lily,’ Emma said. ‘Thanks, Max.’
‘Merry Christmas, Emma. Have a lovely one.’
With the contents of the box of surprises sprawled over the lounge room floor, Lily carefully chose a spot for each glittery ball, bow and bell. She was overjoyed as Max lifted her up to place the pretty gold angel up on the tip.
Lily fell into bed, close to midnight.
Max prayed that she would not blab to her mum about the indecent bedtime.
‘Daddy, that was the best fun ever!’ Lily said as she struggled to keep awake. ‘Can we decorate a tree every Christmas.’
‘Sure, honey,’ Max said, but his daughter was already sound asleep wearing a perfect smile.