“I’m learning.”
“That’s how it works,” he replied as he followed Lucy out of the kitchen.
Then it was just Caleb and me again, standing in the suddenly too-quiet kitchen.
“You didn’t have to be here but I really appreciate that you are,” I said, meaning everything.
He met my gaze evenly. “I wanted to.”
I smiled because I believed him.
Chapter Twelve: The Rink
Caleb
The town rink sat in the middle of the park with wooden benches available for changing into skates or watching a pick up hockey game. Maple Ridge had an ice rink, but it wasn’t the same as being outdoors on the much smaller pad of ice. I arrived early, the way I always did when sound was involved, because there were too many ways for things to go wrong if you rushed the beginning.
The speakers went up without any issues, which felt like a small miracle. I tested the playlist once, then again, adjusting the volume until it carried across the ice without echoing off the trees. The microphone crackled, then after a few adjustments was clear. I exhaled slowly and made sure I had enough battery on my phone so I could use it for the play list I had put together with the Bennet’sapproval.
Kitty arrived, boots crunching over the packed snow, clipboard tucked under her arm. She paused at the edge of the rink and scanned the space the way someone did when they were mentally placing people before they arrived. She spotted me and lifted a hand in greeting, relief flickering across her face before she smoothed it away. I had the strange thought that she was practicing not letting herself lean too hard on anyone. I wondered why she was trying so hard to be independent when itwas obvious she had a family that loved her so much and wanted to help her.
“Everything okay?” she asked when she reached me.
“So far,” I said. “Which is the best possible answer.”
She smiled, quick and grateful, then checked something off on her clipboard. “We have volunteers for check-in, skate helpers, and hot drinks. Lucy’s handling safety signs. Lydia has her announcements written and says there is a lot of interest in the event.”
“Do you have the judges and prizes?” I wondered. “I could donate something from the shop.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said in surprise.
“How about three free music lessons?” I suggested.
“That would be great. I’ll write that down,” Kitty scribbled something on her paperwork. “We are also giving away a free night at the SnowDrop Inn, and I got a gift certificate for the local flower shop.”
“Nice. Are those all for the skate? What about the snowsculpting?” I questioned.
“We have some other businesses who were kind enough to give some prizes so we are actually in good shape,” Kitty revealed. “As for judges, that was a little more difficult but it’s taken care of.”
Lydia arrived next, wearing a sweater so aggressively festive it looked like she had sewn over a hundred ornaments to it. She carried a cardboard box. “Okay, Ephram has the other boxes and we are going to decorate. We grabbed anything not already used at the inn, plus the community center. It’s going to look so good!”
Ephram followed along, holding three boxes. He peeked around them. “Where do you want these?”
“Here is great. I’ll help,” Kitty said, grabbing the teetering staple gun on top of Lydia’s box. The next half hour saw us alldecorating while Jane and Lucy set up for the hot drinks and water.
More people filtered in as the sun dipped lower. Families, couples, and kids dragging skates behind them, each wearing holiday sweaters, onesies, and some Santa hats. The rink filled faster than I expected, which I could see Kitty clocking immediately. She adjusted without comment, redirecting volunteers, moving the check-in table farther back, opening a second line.
I watched her from the edge of the ice as she worked, aware of how different this felt from the first time I had seen her with a clipboard in her hands. Then, she had lookedlike she was bracing for impact. Now, she looked like she was comfortably in charge.
Grabbing my skates, I walked over to her. “Kitty, it’s time to put the clipboard down.”
“What?” she looked up at me in surprise.
“You brought your skates and everything is going great. Now is your chance to take a small break,” I offered.
For a moment she looked conflicted, then she smiled. “It really is under control, isn’t it?”
“It is. Now lace up and enjoy the moment for a little while,” I advised.
