Page 61 of Christmas at Valentine Inn

Jameson gave her a big, toothy grin before easily sliding under the stick.

Rory was next, and the showoff went backward. Oddly, I felt super proud of him, especially when he waited for me to take my turn. It made me more nervous that I wouldn’t make it. My hair was a little poofy today. With the limbo music daring me to go lower, I sped up and then crouched when I came to the bar, with little room to spare. When I could return to an upright position, both Jameson and Rory high-fived me.

Patrick came into my line of sight, standing by Charlotte. He wore a look of absolute contentment while watching me and the boys. I was getting an inkling of what life with a family of my own would be like. I wanted it now more than ever.

As we skirted the rink’s edge, making our way to get in line again, I paused to lean over the railing and steal a kiss from Patrick. It felt like every head turned our way to get a good look at our innocent display of affection. Even my own sister clapped. I would roll my eyes at her later.

“You look good out there,” Patrick got in before I had to speed away. Jameson wasn’t thrilled with my stopping for a kiss. He tugged on my arm.

Dating with kids around certainly added a different dimension to it all.

I barely made it two more rounds before I knocked the stick off. Jameson and Rory only laughed a little. It was fine by me. It meant I got to watch from the sidelines in Patrick’s arms. And what a sight it was. Jameson started getting more nervous the lower the bar went. Not only did Rory give him pointers, but he took his hand and together they went under the bar, Rory coaching him every step of the way.

“Go, Jameson and Rory!” a beaming Charlotte shouted.

“You have a good kid there,” I mentioned to Patrick.

He wrapped his arms tighter around me from behind. “I do. Maybe I did something right.”

“I’m sure more than you think.”

We continued to watch as the competition whittled down to a father-and-daughter pair and Jameson and Rory.

Charlotte grabbed my hand, nervous for her baby. I was nervous too. I so badly wanted Rory and Jameson to win. The little girl left standing, Lila, was always trying to beat Jameson. That was, when she wasn’t trying to kiss him. Thankfully, Jameson still found girls to be gross.

“You got this,” I shouted to the boys.

Rory and Jameson did some weird handshake thing that Rory had taught Jameson before they went for it. The stick was almost as low as it could go.

I held my breath the entire time, watching them approach the bar and then slide under sideways. I squinted as I watched them make it. The entire crowd burst into applause. Jameson’s face shone like the sun, so proud. He hugged Rory around the waist. Rory’s wide eyes made it seem like he was caught off guard by the affection, but he reciprocated it. “Good job, little cuz.”

Oh, wow. I loved that so much. Jameson needed some cousins, and seeing as I was his only living aunt or uncle, I was his only hope.

Lila and her dad were up next. Lila was a cute little thing with curly red hair but was as sassy as could be. Not that there was anything wrong with that. I just really wanted her to lose.

Jameson and Rory stood on the opposite side of the rink’s wall from us as we all waited on bated breath to see if they would have to go another round.

Lila stuck her tongue out at Jameson before she and her dad made their approach. I was proud of Jameson when he didn’t return the gesture. For some reason, people sticking their tongues out bothered me. I had taught Jameson not to. Now, flipping people off, I could get on board with. You know, when he was older. The kid had a lot of paparazzi in his life to look forward to, so it was bound to come in handy.

The music got louder the closer the father-daughter pair got. They crouched low to the ground and it looked like they were going to make it, but then Lila’s dad faltered and they both hit the stick and fell down. There were a lot ofahhsto go around, but Patrick, Charlotte, and I joined the boys on the rink, where happy hugging ensued. I was first to Rory. It just seemed natural for me to wrap my arms around him.

“Good job.” I was so proud, and it had nothing to do with winning.

At first Rory hesitated to reciprocate, but I felt him take a deep, brave breath of trust. When he let it out, his arms wrapped around me. “Thanks, Stepmommy dearest.”

I hugged him tighter.

Patrick wrapped his arms around both of us. “I’m proud of you, son.”

“It was no big deal.” Rory sank against us for a moment, seemingly needing this as much as I did. But it wasn’t long before he wiggled out of the embrace. “Enough mushy stuff. J-man and I need to do our victory lap.” He grabbed Jameson and did just that, waving his arms around like he’d won an Olympic gold medal.

I watched them go as I held Patrick’s hand. It was like I was living a dream—or perhaps watching a glimpse of my future. Once their victory lap was almost over, I went to step outside the rink, just as the lights lowered and the disco ball began flashing, immediately changing the mood. I felt like I was in junior high again. “It’s time to slow it down. I’ve had a request. This one is for you, Isabelle,” the DJ announced.

“Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner began to play.

Patrick pulled me to him, smiling, ever so pleased with himself. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

In that moment, I realized that, unbeknownst to me, I had been waiting for him too. With him, I felt whole. Is that what finding your soul mate meant? I wasn’t sure, but I knew I had time to figure it out.

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