Dreaming of His Pen Pal's Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,22
have slots that haven’t been filled. I know you’re used to performing in front of people.”
“Playing football is a little different than participating in a small-town contest,” Dante said with a small grin.
The thought didn’t exactly strike fear into his heart, but it didn’t exactly make him eager to get up in front of a bunch of strangers and do something weird.
“You’re not going to ask me to swallow knives or walk on hot coals, are you?”
Pastor Race laughed. “Of course not. It’s a Christmas contest. You swallow Christmas ornaments and walk on burning trees.”
“That makes a world of difference.”
“I’m kidding. I have an odd request, then I have a serious request.” He pulled a notepad out of his paper pocket. “First, the serious request. Don’t feel you have to. But this seemed like a good thing for you to do. I thought maybe the townspeople would get a kick out of it. We have a Not Such an Ironman Ironman Contest, Christmas style, of course.”
“Not Such an Ironman?”
“That’s right. It’s kind of an obstacle course and one of our more popular contests for spectators. You’d be paired up with someone, and instead of running for so many miles or biking and swimming, you do Christmas activities throughout the course. You’re timed, of course, and judges will judge you as well. I just need one more person to complete a pair, and there’ll be five couples competing.”
“Exactly what do we have to do?”
“Nothing too hard. It changes from year to year. Things like build a gingerbread house together, decorate a tree, climb up the chimney, which is probably the most difficult for many of the contestants, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem with it, and make a pumpkin pie. Wrap a present. That type of thing. I’m not even sure if they have the whole contest together yet. My wife is usually in charge of it, and she’s been a little busy with the kids we’re fostering.”
“I see. Sure.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll do it.”
It didn’t sound like anything he’d be totally comfortable doing, but it did sound like fun, and it actually kind of made him feel included in the town to be participating in the festival. Almost like he was a local.
“I’m really curious to find out what the strange request is. Because that didn’t sound too normal to me.”
Pastor Race laughed. “Well, this is actually a personal favor. And I’m thinking that if all goes well, you’ll end up not having to participate. I just need you to be willing.” Race gave him a look that made his insides shiver in fear. Which, considering that he was used to staring down a couple hundred pound defensive lineman eyeballing him on the line of scrimmage, really said something.
“Okay?”
“I am hoping that my daughter and her best friend will be in the kissing contest together. However, instead of asking them directly, since my daughter is a little bit contrary, nothing rebellious—” He put his hand up as though warding off any interruption that Dante might make. “—but sometimes people just need a little nudge.”
He lifted a brow, as though thinking about Dante’s accident as a little nudge.
“Not that I’m playing God, but sometimes, a parent’s perspective is a little different than their children’s perspective, and sometimes, the things I try don’t work. But, I’m not sure if Coach told you, I used to be a cardiac surgeon. Seems like I’ve graduated from that to actual emotional matters of the heart. With my children as my primary studies.”
“No. He didn’t tell me. Should I be calling you Dr. Steiner?”
“Pastor Race is fine. I retired a long time ago. And some days, I miss it. At times, being a cardiac surgeon was a lot less pressure than being a pastor, if you can believe it.”
Dante gave a nod. “I don’t have any trouble believing that. I’d rather operate on someone’s heart than mess with anyone’s feelings.”
He and Race nodded together, totally on the same page.
“Anyway, there’s a kissing contest, and I was wondering if you would partner or agree to partner with Blakely. I’m expecting you to not have to actually enter the contest. I think when she hears that I’m asking her to partner with a football player, she’ll go to her best friend and ask him to partner with her. That’s my expectation.”
“A football player specifically? Is there a problem with football players around here?”
“No. Not around here. Blakely has a thing. I don’t know, I’ve