We both sat on one of the benches, put on our skates, and joined the crowd on the ice.
A new song started. I reached out, taking Kitty by the hand, skating along with her. It felt like the most natural thing in the world and I realized this is what I loved about Maple Ridge. The small town sense of community.
People laughed and chatted together. We watched Ephram and Lydia skate past us. Mr. Humphrey swung by me with alarming speed, waving cheerfully at no one in particular.
As we made the turn at the end of the rink, we could see people working on snow sculptures and snowmen. A bunch of kids were having a snowball fight on the side.
“They look like they are having fun,” Kitty commented.
Her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks flushed from the cold. I smiled. “They are. So am I.”
“I’m glad that we are doing this, organizing the Winter Carnival. At first, it was really daunting, but it’s been good the past couple of days, planning things together,” Kitty shrugged, glancing at me. “Spending time with you.”
“Does that mean you might like me after all?” I teased, just a little, even while I was precariously aware that her answer mattered to me.
“I might. I suppose we should spend more time together to find out,” Kitty pertlyanswered.
“Maybe we should,” I agreed. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I meant to ignore it but suddenly the music stopped, interrupted by the incoming call. The sudden silence rippled through the rink as skates scraped uncertainly, wondering what was going on. A few kids slowed to a stop.
I fished my phone out of my pocket and quickly declined the call. I set it to block any incoming calls and resumed the playlist. “Sorry about that.”
Music returned on the speakers, greeted by scattered applause.
I stared at the screen. It was a phone number I had never expected to see again.
“Is everything okay?” Kitty asked me.
I shoved my phone in my pocket and gave her a tight smile. “It’s fine.”
Kitty paused as though she wasn’t certain she should press me when Lydia skated up to us.
“It’s time for the kids’ games,” Lydia announced. She grabbed Kitty by the hand, pulling her along.
Part of me was disappointed my moment with Kitty was over. Another part of me was relieved. I didn’t want to have to make up an excuse about the phone call that had just come through. I checked my phone again and saw that there was a voice message.
I should just delete it.
Instead, I put my phone in my pocket and skated over to the edge of the rink where my sister Eva was watching Abby with the other kids be coaxed through a game of Simon Says.
Eva leaned against the rail beside me. “She’s good with the kids.”
I knew exactly who she meant. “She is.”
“She doesn’t hover,” Eva continued. “She notices what each kid needs. They all seem to like her.”
I watched Kitty guide a small cluster of kids through skating around some orange safety cones, her hands moving with calm confidence, her voice carrying clearly even without a microphone as she asked each of them to skate.
Eva smiled and waved at Abby. “I’m enrolling Abby for skating lessons this year. I really hope Kitty thinks about becoming one of the instructors at the rink.”
“You can ask her again,” I mentioned.
“Maybe you could ask her. The two of you seemed pretty cozy a moment ago,” Eva remarked.
I decided to ignore my sister.
“I like her. Abby likes her. It’s about time you started dating again,” Eva gently pushed.
“I’ll think about it,” I muttered.
