He laughed out loud, seeing Christopher showing off with some elaborate turn, only to be slapped down by karma as he landed hard on his butt. Isabella, Jane, Maddy, and Trinity were laughing so hard at him that they too nearly hit the ice, wobbling dangerously as they tried to catch their breath.
Gabe’s eyes moved to his Aunt Charlie with Logan. The man was a good guy, and Gabe was genuinely glad that Charlie had found him. She was the happiest he had ever seen her, and thatwas saying something. Charlie had always been the serious one, the career-focused one. But Logan brought out a softer side of her that Gabe had not known existed.
Then he looked at his mother with Jack. “Show-offs,” Gabe muttered under his breath as the two of them skated gracefully by, looking like they were doing nothing more than waltzing around a dance floor. His mother had skated as a kid, so she had an advantage. And Jack, apparently, had wanted to play ice hockey when he was younger. That still baffled Gabe. Florida having an ice hockey team when they did not even have snow seemed like some cosmic joke. But Jack had learned to skate well, and it showed.
Now the two of them were ruling the rink with their grace and prowess while everyone else teetered by like newborn deer. But his mother was happy, and that was what mattered. Although the arrival of his father had rolled in a dark cloud over their heads, they were all still trying to do the best they could to not let Simon spoil their magical Christmas.
“Dad!” His thoughts were interrupted by Trinity as she stopped at the side of the rink, slightly breathless. “Please get in the sleigh so we can push you on the ice and you can join us.”
No way. Nope. Uh-uh, Gabe said to himself. That was akin to being in a wheelchair, and he’d had enough of feeling helpless with this broken leg.
“Nah, honey. I’m not big on ice,” Gabe grinned, trying to deflect. “That’s why I live in Florida and enjoy going on desert missions.”
“Ahhhh pleasssse,” Trinity’s face crumpled in that way only a twelve-year-old girl’s could, the disappointment so genuine it physically hurt to witness. “It’s unfair that I don’t get to skate with you. Especially when I haven’t seen you in so long and all I want is to do as much with you this holiday as I can.”
Drat. She played the absent daddy card. Gabe cursed to himself, feeling the guilt settle heavily in his chest. His glance went to Christopher, who was skating the weird-looking sleigh toward where Trinity was standing, a smug look on his face. Isabella, Maddy, and Jane followed him.
“Come on, Gabe,” Jane said, her eyes filled with challenge and something else. Encouragement, maybe. Or understanding. “It will be fun.”
“Yeah, and don’t worry,” Christopher told him cheekily, that grin that made Gabe want to punch him and hug him at the same time. “I’ll be pushing you, so you’ll be in good hands.”
“Sure!” Gabe said resignedly, recognizing defeat when he saw it. Then everyone rushed to help him as he stood and hobbled over to the stupid sleigh. “I’m warning you, Christopher, if I land face-first on the ice...”
“Yeah, yeah.” Christopher grinned wider. “Stop moaning and let’s have some fun.”
And despite his initial reluctance, Gabe had to admit it was fun. The whole group gathered around as they pushed the sleigh across the ice, skating to the music that flowed from the speakers. Trinity stayed close to him, her hand on the edge of the sleigh, her face lit up with pure joy. Christopher wassurprisingly careful with his pushing, and Gabe found himself relaxing into the experience.
It got even better when Jane hopped onto the sleigh beside him.
“My back is really done in from decorating,” Jane used as an excuse, settling beside him with a slight grimace. “So, I’m with you in the sleigh for a while.”
“I’m happy to share my throne with you,” Gabe teased, making room for her.
They glided around the rink together, the others skating alongside them. Holly and Jack performed an impromptu waltz on ice that earned applause from everyone. Logan attempted to dip Charlie, which nearly sent them both tumbling and left them laughing so hard they had to hold onto each other for support. Isabella showed Maddy how to do a simple spin, while Trinity tried to copy them with mixed results.
William and Julie skated by sedately, holding hands like teenagers, their faces glowing with contentment. The older couple seemed to set the tone for the entire evening. This was about joy, about family, about being together.
Christopher kept up a running commentary that had everyone in stitches, narrating their skating adventures like a sports announcer. “And here we see the majestic Gabe Bennett in his natural habitat, the ice sleigh, accompanied by the lovely Jane Christmas. They round the corner with surprising grace...”
“Shut up, Christopher,” Gabe called out, but he was laughing.
As the night wore on, they played games on the ice. A modified version of tag that accommodated Gabe’s sleigh and Jane’s caution. They formed conga lines that inevitably fell apart in fits of laughter. They skated to slow songs and fast songs, Christmas carols and pop hits.
Gabe watched his daughter’s face, memorizing every smile, every laugh. This was what he had been missing during his deployments. These moments. This joy. This simple pleasure of being with the people he loved.
And he watched Jane, too. Watched how she lit up when she successfully completed a circle without holding onto anyone. Watched how gently she helped Maddy when the younger girl stumbled. Watched how she threw her head back and laughed at something Isabella said, the sound carrying across the ice like music.
On the way home, everyone piled back into the shuttle, tired and happy and still humming Christmas songs. Gabe and Jane sat right at the back with Trinity between them. Trinity’s head was on Gabe’s shoulder, and she was fast asleep before they even pulled out of the parking lot.
Gabe looked down at his daughter, at the peaceful expression on her face, and felt his heart constrict. He had missed so much. Too much. And the thought that the PEB might decide he could not return to active duty... It should terrify him. His career was everything. Or at least, it had been.
But looking at Trinity sleeping against him and at Jane sittingon her other side, Gabe wondered if maybe losing his career might not be the worst thing that could happen.
“Are we still on for the hospital tomorrow?” Gabe asked Jane softly, keeping his voice low so as not to wake Trinity.
Jane nodded. “Yes.” She smiled, and even in the dim light of the shuttle, Gabe could see the gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“Pamela is not too happy about it.” Gabe remembered hearing her over the phone earlier that day when Jane had told her mother they would be going to the hospital together for Jane’s testing. Pamela’s voice had been shrill even through the phone, demanding to know who this man was and why he was inserting himself into family business.
