Both her eyebrows shot up. They stared at one another, each waiting to see who would make the next move. Which felt like a first move onto uneven ground.
Forest drew himself up. “Do you want to go ice skating tomorrow night?”
Mitzi blinked. But she was quick to catch on that he was unsteady and vulnerable, and she met him on that unsteady ground with “I’d like that.”
“Great.” It was great. It was so great. He felt like he could fly without Snowflake’s help. “I think we should take Billy.”
“You do?” An adorable line of confusion appeared between her eyebrows.
“Yes. Because you two come as a package. And because I want to get to know both of you.”
The line melted away and was replaced by a look of affection. “Okay.”
He grinned. “Okay then.” He swung his good arm as they looked at each other for long enough that it became awkward. “Um …”
“Should we get back to work?” She pointed to the sleigh.
“Yep. We definitely should.” Man, it was a good thing his brothers weren’t here right now. He’d never hear the end of how dumb he sounded. Thinking of his brothers made him think of growing up with them—and all the teasing. But it also brought him back to the Billy situation. “Will you do me a favor?” he asked as he held the board in place for her, this time letting himself enjoy the process without the guilt nagging at his soul.
“Sure.”
“Don’t talk to Billy yet.” He was on shaky ground here, butting into her parenting. But his heart just wouldn’t let him keep quiet on such an important issue. “Let him believe for just a while longer.”
She bit her lip. “I’ll think about it.”
He nodded, knowing he didn’t even have the right to ask in the first place.
Chapter Eighteen
Mitzi was hyper aware that her blue puffy coat needed white gloves and a matching hat with one of those cute pom-poms on top—and she wore raspberry-pink gloves and a navy hat. Hallmark heroinesalwayshad matching accessories, and theyalwaysgot the kiss under the mistletoe. No matter how much she tried to tell herself it didn’t matter if she got that kiss—her whole being yearned for it tonight.
Forest Nicholas, the boy who’d made her so angry as a girl, was the man who made her heart flutter as a woman. Who knew?
“I can’t believe this setting.” She glanced around them. Snow fell in large, lazy flakes that seemed to float to the earth like feathers. Every now and again, one would brush her cheek like a whisper from a winter fairy.
Carols lifted the air. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “Silent Night” charmed the skaters. The rink was situated on the church lawn—run by the local pastor’s wife as a fundraiser for the Sub for Santa program. A temporary tent was set up where the pastor himself fried fresh doughnuts, which he dunked in a sinful cinnamon-sugar mixture before handing them over to eager patrons of all ages.
There were several groups of great-grandparents who’d brought folding chairs that they set up so they could watch the festivities without worrying about breaking their hips. They kept their grandchildren full of hot chocolate, hugs, and cheers.
Mitzi, Forest, and Billy made their way slowly around the rink. Billy didn’t have his skate legs yet, and neither Mitzi nor Forest were in a rush. They each held one of his hands and listened to him chatter on about Christmas and skating and Snowflake and his school program.
“And then I said that I’d be a reindeer, because no one else wanted to be one and Miss Breaker was really sad.” Billy let go and pushed hard to get a few feet ahead of them. “I’m doing it!” He carefully continued on, doing his best not to watch his feet.
“You got this!” Forest cheered him.
Several of the grandparents on the sidelines cheered for him. Billy grinned at them.
Carla waved. She had a chair hooked over one arm and a portable heater over the other. She motioned to Billy. “When you come back around, I’ll buy you a doughnut.”
“Okay!” Billy pushed to go faster.
Mitzi waved at Carla, who winked in return, making Mitzi’s cheeks burn.
Forest took her hand. “Let’s open this up a little.” He lengthened his stride and glided forward, pulling her with him.
Mitzi wobbled and then righted herself, laughing. She pushed off, and soon they were sliding around the rink at a good clip.
“Hey, you’re not bad.” Forest’s eyes twinkled with delight.
