Chapter 15
Oh No, There’s Only One Sled
Seventeen Days Left With Jamie
I hold Jamie’s gaze as I take a tiny bite of the supposed you-haven’t-lived-until-you’ve-tried-it potato donut.
I expect mashed, buttered starch, but instead, sweet maple-vanilla goodness rolls across my tongue.
“I hate it.” I scrunch my nose at him.
Jamie grins. “No, you don’t.”
He grabs a napkin and plucks a chocolate donut from the pink box on the center console of his truck. We’re parked in front of the elementary school, waiting for the school bell to ring.
“It’s like a donut, but also cake at the same time?” I tear off a bigger piece and pop it in my mouth. “Wow. Wow. Wow.”
“Three wows sound like success.”
“But seriously, who looks at a potato and thinks, ‘donut’?”
“Potatoes are Maine’s largest ag crop. Long winters, not much to do.”
“I can think of a few things to do.” I wink at him.
“Wanna try this one? It’s my favorite.” He holds the donut in front of my face, and I take a big bite.
“Mmm.” I gawk at him. “Wait, this one is better!”
“Take it. I can get them all the time.” He swaps the donuts without hesitation. The way he just gives me his favorite thing and doesn’t mind lodges in my gut.
I clear my throat. “I wanted to ask you.” Suddenly, my palms are sweating. “The clinic isn’t opening until the second of January. Maybe I could stay here until after New Year’s? Especially since we still don’t know what’s wrong with the sick reindeer.”
The ones inside get better over four days in their separate stalls, but there are still new reindeer showing up in the barn in the morning, belting and having bowel issues.
“Just staying for the reindeer?” he challenges, looking away.
Maybe he doesn’t want me here.
The memory of his face at the café when he realized I was counting down the days until I left makes me nauseous. I just want more of this. Of him.
“And you,” I add quickly. “Unless you already have big plans I’d be intruding on.”
“No. Girls usually fall asleep before midnight.” His emerald eyes cut back to mine. “Plus, I like having you here.”
“I like being here,” I admit.
“If the weather’s good this week, I want to bring you someplace,” he says.
“I wouldn’t mind another trip into the rafters.” I wink.
He tsks, smirking. “Wasn’t this morning enough?”
“I’ve never liked sex this much.” I bite back my grin.
“Me neither.”
I blink, shaking my head. “Sorry. I was distracted. Where did you wanna take me?”
He lets out a laugh through his nostrils. “After the first snow, I bring the twins on a sleigh ride around the property. We drive around until they find a tree they want to decorate. I want to show you the one we did this year.”
“Wait a minute.” I turn, tugging at the seatbelt. “You have a sleigh?”
“Yeah. I don’t bring it out often, but Calcifer, Ponyo, Miyoko, Spoots, and a few others seem to enjoy the run.
“A sleigh ride.” I repeat, still a little shocked.
“I promise no Santa hats.” His grin is crooked, teasing. I smack his forearm playfully.
I realize I haven’t thought about Parker in days. I almost laughed at myself—at how close I’d come to settling for that asshole when Jamie makes me feel this alive, this seen, this safe. He doesn’t just take me places; he shares pieces of his world, his family, himself. And I want all of it.
“And you better not pull your Grinch costume out either.”
“What about an elf costume?”
“You can bring your cowboy hat.”
“So, you’re up for it?”
“I’ve never been on a sleigh ride before. And honestly? I think it may be a requirement for me having fun this month,” I say.
“Then it’s settled.”
I lean over to give him a kiss when the back doors of his truck swing open, bringing the cold outside with it.
“Dad, can you go sledding with us?” Honey exclaims.
She and Kiki are already bundled in their snow jumpers. Kiki’s is dark purple, and Honey’s is lavender.
“Wait, what were you two doing?” Kiki taps her chin.
“Were you guys—” Honey starts.
“Kissing,” they whisper together.
“No.” Jamie diverts the girls’ attention by handing them the box of donuts.
“Donuts!” The girls break into fits about which flavors they want.
I stare at them through the rearview mirror.
If I did stay—if I really stayed—would he ever kiss me in front of them?
My mom waited a year before I met Frank.
He just showed up one day after I came home from middle school and then just never left.
My dad paraded seven women past me before marrying Didi.
I don’t know why I’m thinking about this now.
I may be staying in Cranberry Hollow for an extra day, but I’m going to leave eventually.
My eyes dart from Jamie to the girls in the backseat.
“You got the blueberry one! I love you, Dad.” Honey wraps her arms around his neck from the backseat. “Sooo…sledding?”
“There’s fresh powder, Dad.”
“You up for a run?” Jamie asks me.
“Come on, Joy!” the girls sing in a voice I can’t possibly resist.
A month ago, I’d have fought tooth and nail to protect my work hours. But today, I simply say, “Let’s do it.”
We squeeze onto one sled—me in front, Jamie behind—while Honey and Kiki load up on the other like they’ve just been recruited for the Olympic bobsledding team.
The hill sits about a mile from the barn.
We snowmobiled out, sun bouncing sharply off the endless miles of fresh snow.
The slope is already carved with tracks, ten messy lines zigzagging down into the valley.
To the right, a stand of frosted trees leans over us, reindeer heads poking through like curious neighbors.
And then we’re flying, snow spraying and the sled rattling under us. Jamie’s chest is against my back, and his laugh breaks right by my ear, deep and unguarded, and I revel in the sound.
We beat the girls easily because—gravity. Sorry, children, you’ll learn about mass and momentum sometime between now and prom.
“Rematch!” Kiki hollers, already pulling the blue sled uphill.
I collapse into the snow, starfish-style. “I need a break. My lungs are not built for this. You must go on without me.”
“Dad!” Honey groans, yanking at Jamie’s sleeve with all her weight.
He raises his brows at me over her head. “You’re gonna leave me to fend for myself, partner?”
“Sorry, partner,” I croak in a cowboy drawl that’s so bad even I wince. “This old gal needs to be put out to pasture.” I tip my chin toward the reindeer in the trees. “I’ll take website photos. Gives the twins at least a shot at winning once.”
I pop up, brushing snow off my coat.
“Thanks.” Jamie leans in like he’s about to press his mouth to my cheek. He stops just short, but still close enough that my neck flushes. “Getting hard not to do this all the time.”
My pulse flips. The girls are ten feet away, chanting about rematches, and he almost kissed me again.
“Later,” I whisper.
That wicked twist at the corner of his lips says he’s going to hold me to that.
I lift my phone, snapping photos of the girls charging uphill. Jamie bolts after them, scooping Honey onto his shoulder and stealing Kiki’s sled.
Just for the website, I tell myself. Social media content. Families love this stuff.
But I’m already swiping through the photos, pausing on one where all three of them are mid-laugh, eyes bright, snow sparkling around them like confetti. I favorite it. Then favorite two more.
A low belting sound pulls my gaze back to the tree line. One of the reindeer is stripping bark off a trunk—Jiji, my favorite. A few days ago, she started sneaking into the barn when the lights clicked on, and now I can’t resist slipping her extra alfalfa.
I wander closer, crouching to see streaks of red and green moss running under the bark.
I peel a piece of moss loose, rolling it between my gloved fingers. It’s everywhere out here, blanketing the tree. What if it’s not a virus? What if it’s something they’re eating, something toxic that builds up in their system until they develop gastrointestinal distress?
I tuck the sample into my pocket, my mind already racing through toxicity protocols and lab tests.
Behind me, Honey shouts, “Joy! You missed it! We totally crashed!”
I turn back, and they’re all waving at me, three bundled figures against a backdrop of white and blue sky, looking like they’re waiting for me to come back.
So, I do.