Page 56 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
“I know, but you have to stop antagonizing Barb,” Paige said. “You’re supposed to be winning her back, not pushing her further away.”
“I got to hold my daughter again,” Zac said, his heart filling as he thought about the little princess. “She’s so beautiful.”
“I’m dying to meet her,” Paige said, glancing at Oscar. “I think I should offer to babysit while you take Barb out for dinner totalk.”
“She won’t go for it,” Zac said. “Besides, she has Doctor Charming’s nurse sister as a nanny.”
“Giles Holland hired her,” Paige told her brother. “Her and her brother come from a long line of medical professionals.”
“How do you know?” Zac frowned.
“I did digging,” Paige said, shrugging. “He is gorgeous and has an impressive resume for someone who’s only thirty-four.”
“Do you have a professional crush?” Zac smiled knowingly at his sister. “I thought you were crushing on Doctor Jerk?”
“No, not crushing on Doctor Jerk,” Paige assured him. “I think that’s more a bit of jealousy as the man has some pretty awesome credentials.” She sighed. “Besides, he’s dating Naomi. You know, my good friend in Hawaii?”
“Vaguely remember her,” Zac admitted and watched Oscar laugh at something on the screen. “I missed them so much.”
“Well, let's make the most of today,” Paige suggested. “I believe there’s ice skating on the pond in the center of town.”
“I don’t know if Oscar can ice-skate,” Zacsaid.
“Hey, Ozzie.” Paige leaned forward and pulled one ear of the headset of Oscar's ear. “Can you ice-skate?”
“Are we going ice-skating on the pond?” Oscar’s eyes widened. “My new friend Max is going with Jackie today as well.”
“Huh,” Paige said. “Fancy that. Maybe we’ll meet them there. So buddy, can you ice-skate?”
“A bit,” Oscar said, nodding. “But I haven’t skated in two years.”
“Then, it’s settled,” Paige told him. “We’ll go skating before lunch.”
“Awesome,” Oscar said, grinning before his attention went back to the tablet.
“At least he is on your side,” Paige pointed out. “I don’t think Barb will keep you from your kids. But again, you have to let it be on her terms.”
“I know,” Zac agreed. “It’s just hard keeping my distance. Especially now, there should be nothing standing in our way of being together.”
“Ah, but there is!” Paige reminded him. “You still have a big secret you’ve kept from Barb that you had ample chance to tell her about, as you’ve obviously always known who Oscar’s real father is.”
“I know!” Zac’s jaw clenched. “It’s not easy to bring up in conversation. Hey, Barb, guess what? You know you thought you were continuing Trevor’s legacy…”
“I get it,” Paige told him. “But if you’re going to stand any chance of getting Barb back, you have to.”
Zac nodded. “But not today.” He glanced at his sister. “Today, we’re going to have fun with my son.”
“Agreed,” Paige said, nodding as they pulled into a parking space near the town square.
“This is the best place to park.” Herschel opened thepartition.
Zac stepped out of the limo, taking in the sight of Frisco decorated for the holidays. The town square was a winter wonderland, with lights strung across the buildings and the road. He was sure they would cast a warm glow on the snow-covered streets in the evening.
Wreaths adorned with red ribbons hung from every lamppost, and garlands draped over storefronts while festive displays filled the shop windows. The giant Christmas tree in the center of the square was a spectacle in itself, with thousands of multicolored lights, shimmering ornaments, and a sparkling star at the top. Snowflakes, glowing in soft blue hues, gently swayed above the streets, adding a magical touch to the scene.
Zac couldn't help but smile at the charm of it all. “This place is incredible,” he said, glancing at Paige and Oscar, who was wide-eyed with wonder. “We need to come back here in the evening to see the lights when it’s all lit up. It’ll be even more magical.”
Paige nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the square. “You know, this could be a perfect place to take Barb out for dinner,” she suggested, her voice thoughtful. “You could use the cozy atmosphere to talk about thekids—and maybe even explain yourself. It’s a good setting to tell her the truth, especially about Oscar.”
