Page 70 of Stay this Christmas
“Maybe when you’re a little bigger,” Harper said, “Sam will teach you how to rock climb.”
“Will you?” Willa asked.
“Really?” Finn joined in.
“If you want to.” I hadn’t thought to offer, but Harper’s suggestion sounded like an even bigger hit than the wagon ride idea had been.
“We do!” they chorused.
“I’m big enough now, aren’t I, Samuel?” Willa asked.
“You’re too small,” Finn told her. “But I can go, right, Sam?”
“You’re both big enough for the beginner wall if you really want to try.”
They whooped and cheered, talking over each other in their enthusiasm. I got a weird sense of brotherly satisfaction to know they’d be that excited to spend time with me. They’d been game enough so far, but not this overjoyed. And yeah, a fair bit of that was for the rock climbing, but it still warmed me up inside.
I glanced at Harper, whose soft, subtle smile made my heart kick against my ribs.Thank you, I mouthed to her for the second time tonight.
You owe me, she mouthed back.
I sure wouldn’t mind paying that debt in full.
Not ten minutes later, Finn and Willa had lost the camaraderie they’d briefly displayed, and had taken to lightly shoving each other and tossing out mild insults as we waited in line. Wasn’t really sure how to handle the situation, but I probably needed to do something. I only had minimal memories of those years when it was Georgia and me calling each other names behind our parents’ backs, but a spontaneous cease-fire didn’t seem likely.
“If I hear the word ‘booger’ one more time, I’m going to march you two over to Dogeared and we’ll skip the wagon ride.”
I’d never thought I had a dad voice, but they’d brought it out of me.
Harper stifled a laugh, her eyes sparkling at my stern façade. She could laugh all she liked—if it made the kids get along, I’d whip out my dad voice all night. They straightened up, so a solid point for me.
Finally, the Christmas-spangled wagon came back into view. Pulled by two draft horses and led by a man who indeed wore an extra-large elf costume complete with pointy shoes, the wagon had been decked out in red and green garlands and loops of string lights. Not nearly so fancy as the carriages and sleighs that popped up in Durango or Stowe at Christmastime, but it had its magic.
A good percentage of that magic was the Nat King Cole song drifting through hidden speakers, crooning about the wonders of Christmas.
Willa gasped and clapped, practically coming unglued from excitement. Finn looked excited, too, but the crowd around us seemed to put a damper on his urge to jump up and down like his sister was doing. Kid was only eleven—what everyone else thought should have been the least of his concerns.
I whooped and clapped my hands right along with Willa, proving Finn didn’t need to keep a straight face just because he’d reached double-digit age. A few of the waiting families around us joined in, cheering as the last passengers stepped down out of the wagon bed. At last, Finn rolled his eyes but clapped along, giving a self-conscious little whoop of his own.
We climbed aboard, claiming blanket-covered hay bales on one side of the wagon. Wasn’t sure the kids should sit together after all the name-calling just now, but they seemed to have made up for the ride. Harper took her spot next to me, smiling almost as wide as Willa.
Everyone got settled, the driver elf closed up the wagon gate, and we set off. Every last kidoohedandaahedlike we were on a ride at Disneyland. Wasn’t any more than tooling around Magnolia Ridge streets in an old wooden wagon, but with the Christmas music playing and so many shops lit up for the season, it had a certain appeal.
Most appealing of all was Harper sitting next to me. The outside of our legs pressed together, her shoulder against mine as we jostled along the road. If I’d known we’d be so cozy, I would have figured out a way to get two wagon rides tonight.
The wagon jolted over a pothole, bouncing Harper almost into my lap. I snaked my arm around her shoulders, tucking her up against me to keep her steady. In the glow of the string lights, I caught the wash of color on her cheeks and the way she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.
“Okay there, Harps?” I asked softly.
She nodded, her eyes drifting to my mouth before they clocked the dozen or so other people in the wagon with us. For a second, I thought she might push away and wiggle free of my arm, but she relaxed against me, resting one hand on my knee as she turned her attention back to the decorations we passed.
Maybe I’d spent a little too much time enjoying her nearness, because a small voice knocked me right out of my reverie.
“Is Harper your girlfriend, Samuel?”
Willa no longer watched the Christmas goodies on either side of us, but leaned toward the middle of the wagon, angling her body to get the best view of Harper and me. Georgia’s warnings about theK-I-S-S-I-N-Gsong crossed my mind, but those fears weren’t enough to make me let Harper go now.
“We’ve known each other a long time.” There. Diplomatic and concise.
