Page 40 of Promise Me This Christmas
“I say yes.”Ethel beamed.“At least cribbage is something I can do with my bum hip.”
“You’re going to be back to normal before you know it,” Larkin said encouragingly.“You’re doing so well with your exercises.”
“What about you, Carson?”Amy sought out her brother’s gaze.“Are you working on the renovations again today?”
“This afternoon for sure.But if Ethel’s into reading again this morning, I was going to try and persuade Larkin to come tobogganing with me.All this fresh snow is looking pretty tempting.”
“Yes, I want to read, and yes you should go outside and play in the snow,” Ethel said to her granddaughter.
“I haven’t gone tobogganing since I was a kid,” Larkin said.
“Such talk.You’re young.Have fun while you can.”Ethel patted her hip ruefully.“Never think you’re too old until you really are.”
“Good point,” she conceded.“But where do we get toboggans?”
“We have assorted sleds and toboggans in our garage,” Amy said.“Please help yourself.”
Amy noticed Ethel smiling with approval.This wasn’t the first time Ethel had encouraged Larkin and Carson to spend time together.Amy was glad her brother had Ethel’s approval, but she wasn’t so sure encouraging a romance between him and Larkin was a good idea.She didn’t want Carson to get hurt when Christmas was over and Larkin returned home to Denver.
*
The best tobogganhill around Marietta, bar none, was the long slope above Miracle Lake, Amy had told them, and as Larkin raced Carson down the big hill for the first time, screaming and yelling just as loudly as the kids and teenagers all around them, Larkin knew Amy had been right.
Carson blasted past her for the win, and she rewarded him by shoulder-checking him into the snow.He laughed and pulled her down with him and suddenly it was hard to breathe as they lay there, face-to-face.
“You’ve got a snowflake on your eyelash,” he said.And then he kissed her.
It was a short and sweet kiss, befitting their surroundings and the icy cold wind.Then they were both up on their feet and marching back up the hill for another run.
It felt surprisingly good to be out in this weather.The cold was invigorating, and the beautiful scenery lifted her spirits.At the top of the hill, Carson took her hands and pulled her in close.His deep blue eyes were momentarily mesmerizing, and she thought—hoped—he might kiss her again.Instead, he adjusted her scarf, which had unraveled on her last flight down the hill.
Larkin pointed out the obvious.“Have you noticed we’re the only ones over the age of fourteen out here?”
“Other than parents?Yeah.Too bad all the other grown-ups are missing out on the fun.”
“We should have brought Robin along.”
“Amy says he’s too young for this big hill.Maybe next year we can bring him.”
She glanced at him sharply.Was he suggesting there would be a next year for the two of them?Or was he just making a throwaway comment to keep her off-balance?Well, two could play that game.“Maybe one day you’ll bring your own children as well.”
She could see Carson swallow.Then he met her gaze and said simply, “I hope so.”
At his words and the sincere way he said them, something fluttered inside of her.Was it hope?For a long time she’d doubted that marriage and motherhood could be part of her future.But a lot was changing this week.And yes, those changes were giving her hope.
The wind was howling now, and the snow was dumping thicker than ever, but none of that slowed them down.An hour later, tired and wet, Larkin noticed they were the last people on the hill.“Hm, looks like Amy was right about the weather.”
“At least we’ll have fresh snow for Christmas,” Carson said.“But it’s probably time we headed inside.Some hot cocoa by a warm fire would suit me fine.”
“Agreed.”She felt the fluttering sensation again.Hope.Maybe whatever was kindling between herself and Carson would turn out to be real.Lasting.
They walked hand in hand, pulling their sleds behind themselves, and Larkin felt a wonderful sense of peace and belonging.
“What are you thinking for dinner tonight?”she asked.“How does pizza sound?”
It had felt like a natural question to ask, but as soon as the words were out, Larkin realized she’d made a mistake.She’d felt Carson tense.Now he was taking too long to respond.
“I have something I need to do at six.Can we meet up later, say around eight?”
