Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,50
want her to feel like she had to apologize. He smiled and lifted the soft scarf he’d been holding. “I brought you one of the scarves from the time capsule.”
She took it into her hands. “I love it. Thank you.”
“Thank you for the ornament.”
“It reminded me of that star cookie you made at Megan’s. The falling star.” She mimicked his gesture from that night, his fingers waggling as he’d soared that cookie through the air.
“It’s great.” That had been such a silly antic, but it was so easy to be playful with her. “Are you ready to give this a try?”
“I got Nan’s skates. I hope they bring me some luck.” She spun around. “I’m telling you. No matter how many dance classes, gymnastics, even hours of vigorous Pilates practice I’ve done…I’m going to fall down.”
“That’s okay.” He leaned against the railing next to her. “I’ll be there to help you back up.”
She pushed her hands into her pockets, staring out over the pond. “The view from up here is breathtaking, and this bridge…the heavy timbers. I can’t imagine how it was built.”
“It was built by beavers, y’know.”
“The bridge?”
“No. The pond. Before anyone even lived in this area. I come out here in the summer to watch them work.”
“And then in winter, they huddle into their little beaver shacks and…drink beaver eggnog?”
“Can any of us really know for sure?” He loved how she got his sense of humor. That had to mean something. Was that enough to build something on? They could play, but could they compromise and forgive?
She turned to face him, her back to the railing. “I was a little tough on you before.”
“I was tough on you too. And I’m sorry about that. They were your notes. I had no right to read them, or judge you by them.”
“No, I get it. You really love this place. I get why you’d be protective of it.”
“Well, and I also get how it’d look to someone not from around here. And I don’t believe that all people living in a city are…”
“Cynical?”
“Yeah.”
“Cold?” Katie teased.
“No. Not cold either, or maybe they are when it’s freezing out, but you know what I mean.” He knew she was teasing. “You know, I used to live in Chicago. Five years. I loved living in the city, actually.”
“Really?” She folded her arms across her chest. “So then why did you leave?”
He liked her. If he was even remotely considering pursuing her, she deserved to know about his past. He hoped it wouldn’t make a difference that he’d been married before. He wasn’t sure how to share that.
Before he could respond, Michelle walked up with her skates draped over her right shoulder. “Hey, guys. Are you two heading down to the ice?”
“Yes. About to face my worst fears,” Katie responded. “I see you are too.”
“Yeah, and I had to bring David his hat. He’s always forgetting it.” She lifted the red toboggan, straightening it sweetly in her hand. “Thomas usually does this, but with him gone, I’m filling in.”
Ben noticed the longing in her mannerisms. She was really missing Thomas, and she was such a natural with David. It was hard to believe they’d only been dating a year.
“Michelle!” The voice came from below on the ice rink. There, in the middle of the ice with dozens of people skating around him, Thomas stood on ice skates with his arms flung out wide into a hug.
“Thomas!” Michelle raced to the railing as if proving to herself she wasn’t dreaming. “Thomas! It’s you! You’re early.” She turned to Katie with her mouth and eyes wide. “I can’t believe this!” She turned back, waving madly.
“I wanted to surprise you.” He spread his arms again. “Surprise!”
“All right! Oh goodness. Thomas!” Michelle could barely contain her excitement. “You wait right there. I’m coming down!” She clenched her fists and set off down the bridge to catch up to him. “Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe this. Excuse me.”
“That is so romantic.” Katie held her hand to her heart. Thomas wasn’t waiting; he was already moving across the ice at a high speed toward Michelle.
“Shall we?” Ben asked, nodding toward the couple.
“Yeah. Let’s.”
He grabbed Katie’s hand. They took the stairs like two athletes racing bleachers to the pond level to catch up with Michelle for the reunion.
Michelle raced across the snow to meet Thomas, who was skating through the decorated arches to the edge of the pond. She ran right into his arms, and they kissed.