“You’ve been talking about buying a sled for months. I did it for you.” Harlow handed him the key. “Take her for a spin.”
“What fun!” Lottie clapped her hands. “She’s a beaut.”
“Yes. Take her for a spin. Lottie would like a ride,” her aunt said.
“This is too expensive.”
“No, it’s not,” Harlow said. “It’s the perfect gift for the best father a daughter could ask for.”
David wrapped his arms around Harlow, squeezing her tightly. “I love the snowmobile, but the best gift you gave me was coming home.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Harlow whispered. “I’m glad I’m home too.”
Chapter 25
“I can’t remember the last time I went cross-country skiing.” Harlow dug her poles into the deep snow, moving her skis forward as she struggled to keep up with Eryn’s quick pace. “Have you been training for the Olympics?”
“No.” Eryn shot a furtive glance over her shoulder. “I thought you and Robert skied at swanky places like Aspen and Breckenridge.”
“Downhill skiing—not cross-country. It’s a lot easier swooshing down the slopes than slogging through deep snow. Remind me again why we decided to do this on New Year’s Eve?” Harlow joked.
“It’s part of our New Year’s resolution to get healthier and spend more time outdoors.”
“Right. You’re right. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining because I love skiing. I guess I’m just out of shape.” Harlow slowed to a more manageable pace. “Hang on.”
Eryn stopped.
“Listen.”
“To what?”
Harlow placed her gloved hand to her ear. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing, with no one around. I figured we would run into hordes of other skiers.”
“If we'd stuck to the main trails, we would have. I stumbled upon this awesome secret trail a couple of years ago. Most islanders don’t know it exists.”
“It’s definitely off the beaten path.”
“But isn’t it pretty?” Eryn wiggled her skis to the right and gazed up at the snow-covered tree limbs. A clump of pine trees, the branches laden with a thick layer of the white stuff, dipped down almost touching the ground. The trail was a scene right out of a movie, except the ones Harlow had worked in were fake…artificial just like Hollywood.
Granted, the scene team made them look real, which is why they were paid the big bucks, to create a make-believe world and transport the audience to a non-existent place.
“It’s magical. Thank you for bringing me here,” Harlow said. “Maybe next time I’ll be in better shape.”
“The family Christmas party was so much fun,” Eryn said. “Judging by the look on your dad’s face, he’s over the moon excited about his new snowmobile.”
“He and Lottie are probably already back. Dad started working on our holiday feast early this morning.” Harlow had awoken to the sound of pots and pans banging and clanging. She found her father in the kitchen, the counters filled with gadgets, gizmos and ingredients.
Harlow promptly offered to help. Her father refused, insisting part of his gift to his family was preparing their special holiday dinner.
After showering and getting ready, Harlow headed into town to coordinate the delivery of the gift she had stashed at a storage building near the dock. It was tricky planning the exact delivery time, making sure no one was around. She considered driving it home, but then she risked her father hearing her and ruining the surprise.
Marty had saved the day and met Harlow at the pier where he hooked her father’s gift behind his wagon and towed it to Wynn Harbor Inn.
As soon as her father and Lottie took off to take a spin on his new sled, Eryn presented her bestie with one last Christmas gift—a brand spanking new set of skis and poles. Which is how the women ended up on a trail in the middle of nowhere.
“This way.” Eryn motioned her toward a path that branched off.
The women slogged through the snow, continuing their tedious trek until they reached a clearing and a small incline.
