Page 65 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
CHAPTER 17
Zac
The crisp winter air of December filled Zac’s lungs as he and Barb positioned themselves on their sled, ready to take on the friendly competition. It was just over a week since Barb had landed in hospital. As they settled in, Zac couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The past week had been full of moments that brought him closer to Barb and their makeshift family.
“Ready for this?” Zac asked, glancing at Barb. Her golden hair peeked out from under her knitted cap, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold.
“Absolutely,” Barb replied with a determined smile. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have another sleddingpartner?” She gave him one last chance to change his mind. “I’ve been told I’m not that good with this.”
Zac chuckled. “Yes, Oscar told me at least ten times that Mom is terrible at sledding.” His eyes held hers. “But I’ll always choose you no matter what.”
Barb smiled as they stared into each other’s eyes, and Zac had to stop himself from leaning forward and kissing her soft pink lips, which were shiny from cherry chapstick.
Their moment was broken when Oscar called out to them, “We’re going to beat you for sure!” His voice was full of excitement as he shot them a mischievous grin.
Paige and Oscar were standing a few feet away from them, buzzing with energy and confidence. Zac laughed, thinking again about how much alike Paige and Oscar were.
“We’ll see about that!” Zac shot back, ruffling Oscar’s hair before the kid darted away to join Paige.
The other teams were equally fired up. Emily and her niece Rose were already settledon their sled, whispering strategies. Daven and Max were laughing together, their sled positioned right next to Paige and Oscar’s.
“Just remember, no cheating,” Zac warned Paige, who responded with an exaggerated look of innocence.
“Cheating? Me? Never!” Paige replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
The race was about to start, and the participants lined up at the top of the hill. The slope was steep, the path carved out and slick from the recent snow. The lodge staff had taken care to pack the snow tightly, ensuring a fast, thrilling ride.
“On your marks… get set… go!”
The signal was given, and with a mighty push, Zac and Barb were off. The sled immediately picked up speed, the wind whipping past them as they descended the hill. Zac leaned into the turns, his muscles tensing as he steered them down the course.
Barb clutched the sides of the sled, laughing as they hit a bump that sent them airborne for a split second before landing back on the track. “This is insane!” she yelled over the rush of wind.
“Hold on tight!” Zac shouted back, a grin splitting his face. He felt a surge of adrenaline as they closed in on Paige and Oscar, who were just ahead of them. The competition was fierce, with each team jockeying for position.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Zac noticed Paige and Oscar’s sled veering dangerously close to theirs. Before he could react, Paige gave a quick nudge with her elbow, sending Zac and Barb’s sled careening off course. The world tilted as their sled flipped, sending them tumbling into the snow.
Barb landed on top of Zac, both of them breathless and laughing as they tried to regain their bearings. The snow was soft, cushioning their fall, and for a moment, they simply lay there, caught up in the excitement of the race and the closenessof the moment.
“You okay?” Zac asked, still chuckling as he brushed a few stray snowflakes from Barb’s hair.
“I’m fine,” Barb replied, her blue eyes sparkling. “But I think your sister just cheated.”
Zac grinned, lifting his head slightly to get a glimpse of the race continuing without them. “Looks like she did. We’ll have to get her back for that.”
Barb pushed herself up and walked over to their toppled sled. “I guess we need to finish this race.”
With a playful groan, Zac stood and helped Barb back onto the sled. They could see that the race was almost over, with Paige and Oscar crossing the finish line in a triumphant cheer.
“Well, look at that, they won!” Barb snorted as Zac pushed them off to finish the race.
Emily and Rose, who had finished just after Paige and Oscar, laughed at the sibling banter. Daven and Max arrived next, looking slightly disappointed but still in high spirits.
Zac and Barb finally joined the others coming last.
“You cheated!” Zac accused Paige, shaking his head in mock disapproval.
Paige smirked. “Prove it!”
