Chapter 20
Me:
Good news. Operation: Jack & Sally has been canceled.
Piper:
You can’t see me but I’m throwing confetti.
We’ve changed it to Operation: Ugly Sweater.
That’s it. I’m catching a flight out there.
Calm down. I’m kidding. No more games. But Nick and I are together—for real.
Really? It’s about time.
What do you mean??
It was sort of obvious, and I’m not even there.
Me:
Ugh. Is there anything you DON’T know?
Piper:
The solution to the Riemann hypothesis.
I don’t even know what that is.
It’s a really hard math problem. Never mind, this is about you.
This might actually be the best Christmas ever.
I’m happy for you…though you do see that you’re still putting pressure on Christmas that it doesn’t deserve?
Don’t worry. I realize Christmas isn’t actually about me.
Do you?
That’s it. I’m returning your gift.
Aww, you actually bought me something this year?
Well, no. I got laid off, remember? But mentally, I totally did.
And now you’re mentally sending it back? Way to save on return postage. I’ve taught you well.
Aren’t you at least happy I’m not the Grinch anymore?
I’m happy that you’re happy.
That kind of makes it seem like you’re not.
I just want my little Grinch to find TRUE peace with the holidays—not because she got distracted by a handsome Who.
Ugh. What did Piper know, anyway? She couldn’t even solve the Riemann hypothesis—whatever that was.
Nick liked me. Enough to shout it out loud over a Christmas marching band.
I still didn’t fully understand how he came to such a realization after the crazy way I’d acted all week, but he had.
And this whole holiday was finally being redeemed.
One subtle little kiss at a time.
Like now. Nick planted a quick peck on the side of my head as we bent to tie our ice skates from a shared bench. I looked up, and we exchanged a smile. His dimple was in full alert—because of me? Warmth flooded my skin under my beanie and ski jacket.
“Ready for this?” Nick stood and reached out his hand.
I took it and wobbled to my feet. “I was born ready, Kinsley.”
Despite my verbal bravado, I penguin-walked to the edge of the ice, clutching Nick’s arm with one mittened hand. A few days ago, I would have been obnoxious about it, really playing it up for Ryan’s sake. But today, the action was real.
We slid carefully onto the ice. Dozens of strands of twinkle lights draped across the open-air rink, which was surrounded by bleachers for the not-so-ambitious observers, and benches for those of us daring to risk the ice—and our ankles.
Christmas music pulsed overhead, occasionally punctuated by the shouts of children and the slush of ice as young adults showed off tricks.
After the half-disastrous and half-amazing Santa outing that morning (each half being for obvious reasons), we’d decided to go ice skating after dinner—largely thanks to Mason and Janie’s pleading that Christmas was “almost over.” Much to the kids’ surprise, the adults had readily agreed.
All except Kat, who claimed another headache—though I think it was just a ploy to have the house to herself again and watch It’s a Wonderful Life.
She was probably going to try to FaceTime Devin again, which was good. She seemed like she could use a boost.
Olivia, who said she was too old to skate and couldn’t break a bone this close to forty, sat out with Mom and drank hot chocolate while Dad helped the grandkids wobble around the rink with a training rig that looked like Great-Grandma Sinclair’s walker.
Ryan and Lydia couple-skated in perfect choreography, like they were starring in an ice version of Dirty Dancing, while nearby, Chloe tried to teach Axel a few basic steps.
“Can I have one of those?” Axel pointed to Mason’s walker and Chloe patiently shook her head.
“If you can surf, you can skate.” She skated backward, holding his hands as he fought to keep his legs under him.
“How do you know that?” Axel tugged one hand free and windmilled, then grabbed back onto Chloe. “You don’t surf.”
Chloe shrugged, blinking her long fake lashes at him. “You use your legs in both, don’t you?”
“Ahh. Smart.” He shook his sun-streaked hair out of his eyes. “Hey, at least there aren’t sharks out here.”
“I see Cowboy Axel must have retired.” Nick grinned at me as we passed them, his free hand loosely wrapped around the one of mine that had a death grip on his bicep. Was he flexing?
He was totally flexing. I smiled back. “Yeah, thank goodness. I think Kat was ready to ‘little dogie’ him all the way back to California.”
“You think he’s growing on your dad?”
“Like a fungus, maybe.” I snorted. “Poor Axel. I think he really likes my sister, but my family can be a hard sell sometimes.” I dared to take my eyes off the ice long enough to glance up at Nick. “Though not with you. They really like you.”
He nodded, though the confirmation didn’t seem to make him as happy as I expected.
“Do you think there’s any reason to tell my family anything about us?” I tightened my grip on his arm as we skated over a bump in the ice. “You know—the new status?”
Nick shook his head. “They thought we were dating, and now we really are.” He shrugged. “The details along the way aren’t important, right?”
“Right.” I frowned, not sure why that answer wasn’t the one I wanted to hear. He was right. It didn’t matter, really.
Nick guided me around a kid in a blue snowsuit who was struggling to get back up on his skates. “Plus, I don’t want to throw Ryan under the bus with the whole story, you know?”
“True.” I huffed. “Though I still don’t think he’s suffered enough for his meddling.”
With one smooth, quick motion, Nick pulled us to the side, near the wall. “He got us here, though, didn’t he?” He smiled down at me—and there was the dimple. My tense shoulders relaxed. All was well.
“I suppose that’s true.” I tilted my head back, hoping Nick would take that as a hint to steal another quick peck.
He did.
“I like this.” Nick, holding both of my gloved hands in his, raised them between us. Another couple skated past, shooting us knowing smiles.
My chest warmed, happiness bubbling inside. “You mean, you like not being Cindy Lou Who’d all over the ice?”
Nick let out an exaggerated shudder as he leaned away. “I can only imagine what Operation: Naughty List would have done to me out here.”
“It’s sad, really, that we’ll never know.” I twisted my lips in a mock pout. “So much wasted opportunity.”
“But now we have other ones.” He leaned back in, eyes dancing as he wiggled his eyebrows. I had a feeling if we hadn’t been in public, I would’ve been kissed again, but good.
Something to look forward to later.
We linked arms and ventured back into the throng of scarfed and mittened skaters. In the safety of Nick’s arms, I tilted my head back and smiled up at the hundreds of stars that seemed to be gliding past me across the black velvet sky. There was a lot to look forward to now—even Christmas.
No matter what Piper said.
What a day. When he’d woken up that morning, Nick sure hadn’t expected the following twelve hours to include a visit to Santa, a punch in the face, a jail cell, an impromptu marching band, and a declaration of feelings with the woman who was quickly becoming everything he never knew he’d missed.
Funny how things worked out.
Breathless, he sat down on the cold metal bench and slipped out of his skates, laughing as Mason and Janie caught Holly by each arm and dragged her back onto the ice.
He’d been sent on a hot chocolate errand, and now, thanks to a couple minions, it looked like he had plenty of time to find a hot dog or something. His stomach growled.
“Nick, join me.” From a few rows up the bleachers, Grace patted the bench beside her. “Olivia went to get me a snack. That girl won’t stop feeding me.”
“I bet it’s nice to be doted on, isn’t it?” Still slightly out of breath, Nick slung his skates over his shoulder and climbed the few rows to join her.
Grace gave him a knowing glance as he settled onto the seat next to her. “Thomas told me about your conversation the other night. It was very sweet of you to be concerned.”
Nick set his skates on the bench. “Well, Olivia seemed pretty stressed about it, more than the others. Though she had all her siblings relatively convinced.”
“She’s always had influence over them. Little mama hen.”
“Are you going to set the record straight?”
“Sure.” Grace bumped his shoulder with hers. “After she brings me this next snack, of course.”
Nick laughed. “I always knew you were a smart woman.”
“I don’t get to see my girls nearly enough. It’s hard not to let them spoil me.” Grace shook back her silvery hair. “I’ll have to ease Olivia’s mind, though. Not fair making her worry just because I get lightheaded when I don’t eat on a schedule.”
“I’m sure the holidays make that a lot more difficult.”
Grace nodded. “Not to mention, there’s so much more sugary temptation this time of year.”
Nick held up both hands. “Don’t get me wrong, but that last batch of cookies might’ve been worth fainting for.”
Grace laughed, the sound so like Holly’s it made him smile. “I’ll have to get you the recipe.” She bumped his shoulder again. “Maybe a certain someone could make them for you.”
He followed her gaze to Holly, who seemed to have grown slightly more comfortable on the ice as she held hands with Janie. Though, to be fair, she was using the younger girl’s walker as much as Janie. “Maybe so.”
From the middle of the rink, Mason waved and shouted something up the stands to “Uncle Nick.” Nick’s heart twitched as he waved back. Mason performed a quick double spin, to which Nick gave two big thumbs-up. Mason’s responding grin lit up the ice.
Nick kept an eye on him as he skated. The boy must miss his dad, the way he was clearly hoping to impress Nick. He had Uncle Ryan, of course. But Mason was obviously getting attached.
He grinned as Mason executed another small jump. Maybe Nick was getting attached too. And now, with his and Holly’s new status, maybe he’d get the chance to be around for a while.
“Have you enjoyed your time here?” Grace’s eyes grew serious, more discerning, as she focused on him.
Nick offered a casual shrug. “Well, I’m not the best skater, but it’s going pretty good, I suppose.”
“I meant at the farm.” Then she patted his shoulder and chuckled. “Oh, you were teasing me. I see that now.”
“Sorry, I think your children are rubbing off on me.” He grinned. “In all seriousness, I really have enjoyed it. The property is beautiful, and getting to know Holly has been…well…”
Words failed him as he watched her attempt to skate on her own, her wild red hair a beacon among the pastel jackets.
Complicated? Amazing? Wonderful? Disastrous?
All those words were accurate and yet none of them seemed to sum up his and Holly’s journey, which, for the record, he’d take a dozen more times at least. Frosty the Terrifying Snowman and all.
Grace adjusted the thick plaid scarf around her neck. “Your face says it all, dear.”
“It’s more than that, though…” Nick drew a breath of cold air, rejuvenating his lungs. His hope. “Being with your family has shown me what Christmas could be. What it should be, even.”
“Chaotic?” Grace chuckled.
“Well, that.” Nick grinned. “But also real. Real messy, real fun. Real relationships with real dynamics.” He swallowed. “Real love.”
“I’m glad.” Grace’s voice softened. “That’s exactly the kind of thing I was hoping you’d say. Something to reveal your heart. I know things shifted on you when you got here, with everyone else arriving so suddenly, and we haven’t had a chance to talk as much as I’d hoped.”
“I’m glad you’re getting this time with your family.
That should be the priority. That said, your property does seem like the perfect place for my camp.
” Nick met her gaze, hoping she could read the depths of his promise.
“I can guarantee I’d take great care of it.
I’d love the opportunity to share it with teenagers needing a second chance. ”
“And we’d love to talk numbers.” Thomas clamored over from the row behind Nick. “I’ll need a calculator first and maybe my bank statement.” He grinned. “But let’s do that. Before you go back home.”
Nick’s chest swelled as Thomas slid onto the bench on the other side of Grace. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” Thomas took Grace’s delicate hand in his and beamed at her. “I think it’s pretty clear all of this is working out exactly how it’s meant to.” He watched Holly attempt a shaky spin on the ice, then he shot Nick a smile. “In several ways.”
“That sounds great, sir.” Better than great.
“Of course, we’ve still got to get through the holidays before we tell the kids.” Grace clutched Thomas’s hand.
“Tell us what?” Ryan’s voice sounded from behind Nick.
Grace’s face washed pale. Thomas cleared his throat.
Oh no. Nick slowly turned and looked up at Ryan, who stood holding a funnel cake and a paper carton of nachos.
Ryan’s brow furrowed as his gaze darted between the three of them. “Olivia had to go make a phone call. She told me to bring you this.” He stepped down to their riser beside Nick and leaned across him to hand Grace the nachos. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Um…” Grace exhaled softly as she took the carton and looked helplessly at Thomas.
Ryan gasped. “Mom. Are you really sick?”
The plate in his hand tilted and, as if in slow motion, the funnel cake began to slide down the paper. Nick instinctively moved to catch it, but the powdered dough slipped through his fingers and landed with a splat on his shoes. White sugar poofed like a cloud of smoke around his jean-clad knees.
Sort of like his best-laid plans.
Thomas winced as he looked between Ryan and Grace. He started to speak, then sighed and shook his head. “I think it’s past time for the truth around here.”