“I’ve never been on a sleigh ride before. And honestly? I think it may be a requirement for me having fun this month,” I say.
“Then it’s settled.”
I lean over to give him a kiss when the back doors of his truck swing open, bringing the cold outside with it.
“Dad, can you go sledding with us?” Honey exclaims.
She and Kiki are already bundled in their snow jumpers. Kiki’s is dark purple, and Honey’s is lavender.
“Wait, what were you two doing?” Kiki taps her chin.
“Were you guys—” Honey starts.
“Kissing,” they whisper together.
“No.” Jamie diverts the girls’ attention by handing them the box of donuts.
“Donuts!” The girls break into fits about which flavors they want.
I stare at them through the rearview mirror. If I did stay—if Ireallystayed—would he ever kiss me in front of them? My mom waited a year before I met Frank. He just showed up one day after I came home from middle school and then just never left. My dad paraded seven women past me before marrying Didi.
I don’t know why I’m thinking about this now.
I may be staying in Cranberry Hollow for an extra day, but I’m going to leave eventually.
My eyes dart from Jamie to the girls in the backseat.
“You got the blueberry one! I love you, Dad.” Honey wraps her arms around his neck from the backseat. “Sooo…sledding?”
“There’s fresh powder, Dad.”
“You up for a run?” Jamie asks me.
“Come on, Joy!” the girls sing in a voice I can’t possibly resist.
A month ago, I’d have fought tooth and nail to protect my work hours. But today, I simply say, “Let’s do it.”
We squeeze onto one sled—mein front, Jamie behind—while Honey and Kiki load up on the other like they’ve just been recruited for the Olympic bobsledding team.
The hill sits about a mile from the barn. We snowmobiled out, sun bouncing sharply off the endless miles of fresh snow. The slope is already carved with tracks, ten messy lines zigzagging down into the valley. To the right, a stand of frosted trees leans over us, reindeer heads poking through like curious neighbors.
And then we’reflying, snow spraying and the sled rattling under us. Jamie’s chest is against my back, and his laugh breaks right by my ear, deep and unguarded, and I revel in the sound.
We beat the girls easily because—gravity.Sorry, children, you’ll learn about mass and momentum sometime between now and prom.
“Rematch!” Kiki hollers, already pulling the blue sled uphill.
I collapse into the snow, starfish-style. “I need a break. My lungs are not built for this. You must go on without me.”
“Dad!” Honey groans, yanking at Jamie’s sleeve with all her weight.
He raises his brows at me over her head. “You’re gonna leave me to fend for myself, partner?”
“Sorry, partner,” I croak in a cowboy drawl that’s so bad even I wince. “This old gal needs to be put out to pasture.” I tip my chin toward the reindeer in the trees. “I’ll take website photos. Gives the twins at leasta shotat winning once.”
I pop up, brushing snow off my coat.
“Thanks.” Jamie leans in like he’s about to press his mouth to my cheek. He stops just short, but still close enough that my neck flushes. “Getting hard not to do this all the time.”
