“There’s a silver lining in everything.”
It dawned on him that even Gran’s insistence on inviting his parents to their Jasper Lake weekend had a silver lining. That argument with his dad had led to a pleasant evening with Jessa and had been the catalyst for their relationship.Or whatever it was. He wasn’t completely willing to call it a relationship yet. For now, he’d settle for it being a friendship.
Chapter Nine
Jessa walked shoulder to shoulder with Landon to the lake. His fingers intertwined with hers and she memorized every sensation. Even through their gloves, his touch ignited sparks. More at peace than she’d been in months, she breathed in all the smells of the season—fir, holly, cinnamon, brown sugar, and burning wood blended together.
If she could bottle the fragrance and market it, she’d named it after today’s event, a Lakeside Christmas, for that’s exactly what the smells encompassed. She could live to be one hundred years old and not separate a Lakeside Christmas in her memories from the sweet and savory aromas.
Out of nowhere, Landon stepped aside, tugging her with him.
She glanced around, searching for a reason why he’d moved off their path. “What happened?”
His lips curled into an adorable half-grin. “I said your name three times, but you were completely lost in thought and didn’t hear me.”
“Oh.” She leaned into his warmth. “I was thinking how much I love Christmas time here. Most people say Christmas in their hometown is magical, but here, it truly is.”
“Don’t tell my family, but I agree. There’s a slower pace here that allows you to enjoy the holidays without losing your spirit in the frantic pace.”
“Yes. I love it here.” Contentment filled her.
Landon had nothing in common with Chris, the last man she’d dated. Unlike Chris, she could see Landon staying in Jasper Lake long-term—if they began a relationship and it progressed to that point. Landon had his baggage, but he was low maintenance, not requiring much to keep him happy, and he had integrity. It showed in his words, actions, and responses.
She admired that quality, wished she could learn from him. The constant interruptions throughout the day had grated on her nerves, but if they bothered Landon, he never let it show. He took it all in stride, made pleasant conversation with each person he met.
More so, his gentle demeanor attracted her. Despite her initial draw to him, she’d considered he might have a temper based on his attitude toward his parents, but she quickly discovered that was contrary to his personality. The real Landon was a lover, not a hater, but she suspected he hadn’t figured that out yet.
They began to walk again, continuing a straight path until it broke into two paved paths in opposite directions.
“Which way do we go?” He turned his head to the right, then the left.
“The right. We’ll pass four docks, and my parents will be on the fifth.”
“How far off the lake did you live as a child?”
“About five miles. Remember the road you turned on to get to the cabin?” She waited for his nod. “If you take the first right instead of continuing, my parents live off that road.”
“Did you ever wish you lived right on the water?”
“I’m sure I had the fleeting thought at some point, but I loved living on the mountain.” Her mind traveled in time. “Our driveway made the perfect sledding hill. It had two curves to add to the excitement, and since we were the last house on the road, we didn’t have to worry about other cars coming.”
“I loved sledding but haven’t been in years. Growing up, whenever we got a big snow, Granddad would take us to the local college.” His face became animated as he talked. “They allowed the community to sled down their huge hill, and it was a blast. Plus, we were almost guaranteed to run into friends, so that made it even better.”
“The snow can be a pain, but I wouldn’t want to live somewhere without it.”
“I don’t know.” He wrinkled his nose. “It’s pretty, but if I could live in a place with snow that magically never affected the roads, that would be even better.”
She laughed. “If you find that place, let me know please.”
Groups of people surrounded the lake, clogging the path, but Jessa led the way to where her parents waited. She couldn’t wait to see the numbers for today. By all appearances, this year had the biggest turnout in the event’s history. When the committee began planning for next year, they’d have to brainstorm how to accommodate the higher attendance.
She made it to the dock with Landon besides her, thankful her parents had reserved the spot. Otherwise, they’d be crammed with no room to breathe. In the distance, she saw the boats lining up, their strings of lights and décor a blur for now.
Landon slid his hand from hers and drew her dad into a conversation about the types of fishing available from the lake and nearby streams.
Mom’s eyed appeared red-rimmed. “I thought you were coming after you finished with the restroom.”
“We went to the bed and breakfast for a few minutes of privacy while I told him about Hunter and Trixie.”
