Marshall closed his eyes and for a moment, she thought he was going to ignore the question.
“I just wanted to trust you.”
“You can trust me!”
He turned to her, a world of pain in his eyes. “You know what hurts the most?”
She couldn’t imagine. “What?”
“I let myself believe in you,” he said. “After everything with Olivia’s mom, I told myself I’d never get played again. And then you?—”
“I wasn’tplayingyou!” she insisted in a harsh whisper. “Marshall, listen to me. It was a silly plan, that’s all! A way for us to spend time together?—”
“Why not just tell me?” His voice was as sharp as a skate’s blade. “Why make it a secret?”
“I…” Am shy? Was scared? Secretly wanted the kids’ plan to work? None of her answers sounded right. “I don’t know,” she admitted on a sad sigh. “It wasn’t very smart.”
He shook his head, gaze locked on the ice. “Guess I should’ve known. Everyone always wants something. Fame, followers, the ‘NFL connection.’”
Her breath caught. “You can’t be serious,” she said. “You can’t think I care about anything like that.”
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “I just feel…used.”
Used? “I don’t care about your past or your fame. I care aboutyou.”
He looked away, lips pressed tight. “I can’t do this again, Gracie.”
After thunderous applause, the notes of the next song started and every onlooker—except these two—started to sing.
You better watch out…you better not cry.
Too late, Gracie thought. The tears were already stinging her eyes.
Benny and Red skated onto the ice together and the place exploded as they slid toward the tree. Could anyone else see that Benny’s whole reason for being on the ice was to support—literally and figuratively—his great-grandfather? That he loved the man so much he’d go out in front of the whole town and a couple hundred tourists dressed as an elf so Red wouldn’t fall.
And so his mothermightfall…in love.
“This was the deal,” she said under her breath.
Marshall shot her a questioning look. “What…deal?”
She couldn’t explain it here or try to toss blame on the kids. She just swallowed the lump in her throat, wishing she could be anywhere but where she was.
Then Benny started tossing plush toys and Red gave his grumpiest, “Ho-ho-ho,” and waved his finger and mouthed, “I see you when you’re sleeping!”
Benny glided beside him, working the crowd in the front row.
Gracie tried to focus, but her stomach churned. The music picked up. Doing his best Grumpy Santa, Red had his hand over his chest and frowned while Benny threw his arms wide, grinning like a loon.
The crowd laughed and cheered. For a moment, Gracie almost forgot the ache in her chest as she felt her lips move to the big crescendo…
Santa Claus is coming to…
Red stumbled and Benny swooped in to grab him, something she’d seen a few times in practice. Then Red went all the way down, sprawled on the ice, getting a sudden, “Oh!” from the crowd.
As that quieted, so did the music, and suddenly, Benny’s high-pitched wail of terror cut through everything.
“Grandpa! Grandpa! Help! Someone help my grandpa! Please!”
