Page 35 of Kit
“Good.”
Before leaving for lunch, we found a few more decorations to fiddle with. We ended up hanging a wreath on the balcony wall and putting a string of lights along the ledge. It was icy cold and I hadn’t worn my gloves, so my hands needed warming afterward.
Parker made us hot cocoa and we held our hands against the mugs to warm them.
When we drove away for lunch, I looked back at the house. The day was gray, so we’d put on the lights, and it all worked so well. It was a total Christmas house.
“Daddy, look, your neighbors have decorations up, too. New ones since yesterday. Look at that giant Grinch. And the blow-up Santa going down a chimney.”
“Probably my favorite thing about the holidays are the lights on the houses,” he said.
I had to agree.
At lunch, we talked about all the things we could do together over the next couple of weeks. Parker had a lot of plans. He was the daddy and that was his role. But I wanted to give back, too, by planning something special and paying for it all.
I didn’t say anything and let the idea percolate.
Ice skating was a disaster. I tried. I really did.
Parker held both my hands as I got onto the ice. He pulled me gently to get me going.
“Okay, I’m going to let you go now.”
I squeezed his hands in defiance, breathing in hard. The air was cold. Christmas music played on echoing speakers, but it was no comfort. The ice was a dangerous plain of whiteness as far as I could see. I was sure I’d be marooned with no way to get back to land.
“Let go, baby. I’ve got you if you fall.”
I shook my head hard.
“Go on. You’ve got this.”
He was very encouraging. Even loving. But I couldn’t do it.
Parker yanked his hands away. I immediately lost my balance, my skates slipping back and forth. He caught me around the waist just before I could fall into him knocking him down as well.
I wrapped my hands around his waist, locking them at the small of his back.
Parker changed tactics. “I’ll skate with you, then, always holding your hand.”
“I can’t, Daddy.” I whispered into his chest.
“Of course you can.”
“I’ll pull you down with me and then we’ll both be marooned.”
He forced my head up with one hand. “Look.” He pointed toward the middle of the ice. There, a teenage boy in all black was doing spins.
“He’s talented,” I said.
“Very.”
“I could never do that.”
“He’s obviously practiced a lot,” Parker said. “You haven’t. Don’t be disappointed. It can be hard at first.”
“Please don’t let go of me, Daddy.”
“I promise.” He patted my back.
