Cozy Hometown Christmas, page 13
Chapter 29
The skating party took place on a clear, crisp winter night, and the skating pond was alive with holiday cheer. A bright crescent moon shone in the sky amid twinkling stars. Kristen and Mason had wrapped tiny white lights around the trunks and branches of the majestic oaks and maples. Ethan had cut some of their mid-sized blue spruces, and those were mixed with the white artificial trees from Tinseltown to form a ring around one side of the pond. More white lights had been draped on the trees. Silver ornaments hung everywhere, reflecting even more light. It looked magical.
The air was filled with the scent of cinnamon and fried dough from the log-cabin-themed food stands at one end of the pond and mingled with the wood smoke from the firepits that blazed on the other end.
Laughter rang out from the ice, which was filled with skaters in puffer jackets and Nordic sweaters. The pond was covered with couples holding hands, kids laughing as they tried to stay upright, and friends skating backward while they talked. It was impossible not to get into the holiday spirit, and Kristen felt happier than she had in a long time.
She spread her arms to indicate the area and did a half twirl. “Can you believe we did all this in two days?”
Next to her, Mason was smiling. “Hard to believe, but it looks amazing.”
Kristen had to agree. She’d been relieved when Ethan had found several trees that could work in their design. Working with Mason had been easy. They’d agreed on practically everything and made a good team. Her father would be proud of her, she thought as she glanced at the sign Irene had put up, which gave credit for the decorating to the Woodward tree farm and the Tinseltown Christmas shop.
They’d worked for two days, putting in almost twenty hours a day, but it hadn’t seemed like work. They’d never argued about anything, each playing off the other’s ideas, and she felt that she and Mason had become close friends. Kristen was wondering if it might turn into something more. She kind of got that vibe, but so far, neither of them had made any advances toward romance.
“Your mom sure made a lot of scarves in a short amount of time.” Mason nodded toward the hot chocolate stand, where her mother was handing a blue scarf to Ida and a green-striped one to Myrtle.
Kristen looked down at her own scarf, done in bright-red yarn. She liked the color, but the scarf left a little bit to be desired. It zigged and zagged, and the ending was a bit abrupt. Of course, she’d gushed about it and put it on because she didn’t want to hurt her mother’s feelings. Mason had done the same with his oddly shaped yellow scarf, and the kind gesture toward her mom had warmed Kristen’s heart toward him even further.
“Even Ethan is wearing his.” Kristen pointed toward her brother. He’d been reluctant to come, but she’d talked him into it. At first, he had just lurked at the edge of the crowd, but now, he was standing in a group with his best friends and laughing. How long had it been since he’d even seen them? He looked at ease and happy, so maybe there was hope for him yet.
“At least your mom didn’t bring George in his Santa outfit.”
“Don’t laugh. She tried to. But when she tried to force him into it, he ran and hid, and she couldn’t find him!”
“Maybe he was the smart one.” Mason glanced over at the food booths. “Do you want hot chocolate?”
“We just had one. I think you’re trying to put something off.” Kristen held up the skates that Ethan had lent Mason. “If you’re going to live in Pinecone Falls, you need to learn how to skate.”
Mason grimaced and took the skates.
“Come on. It won’t be that bad.” Kristen led him over to the bench.
She put on her own skates, showing him how to tighten the laces properly, and then checked his once he was done. She held out her hand. “Come on. It’s easier than you think.”
His first few steps on the ice were shaky, but Kristen held on to him, and it didn’t take long before he was taking a tentative glide.
“Hey, this isn’t so bad.”
Kristen hooked her arm through his. “Let’s try to take a tour around the pond. I’ll hold on just in case.”
They went slowly around the edge. Mason stumbled a few times but did pretty well overall. Julie and Nolan sped past, holding hands and waving cheerily with their free hands. Ivy and Malcolm skated up, and Malcolm executed a hockey stop that sent chips of ice flying at them and almost sent Mason tumbling.
Malcolm grabbed Mason’s arm to steady him. “Sorry, man.”
Mason held his hand up. “It’s okay. Just getting used to these skates. First time skating.”
“Really? You’re catching on quick. You’ll be playing pond hockey with us in no time.”
Mason laughed. “We’ll see about that.”
“We’re going to go get a firepit with Nolan and Julie in about a half hour. You guys want to join us? Julie has marshmallows,” Ivy said.
Kristen glanced at Mason, her cheeks heating at Ivy’s inference that they were together.
His green eyes were glittering as he nodded. “That would be great.” Then his eyes slid to hers. “I mean if you want to.”
“I’d love to, but first, you have a few more rounds of skating.”
“Darn. I was kind of hoping we could go over there now and save a seat.”
Kristen laughed. “No chance. You’re not getting out of a lesson that easily.”
Ivy tugged Malcolm away. “Come on. Let’s go get some cider.”
As they skated off, Malcolm looked at them over his shoulder and said, “Nice scarves.”
They were on their second trip around the pond when a gaggle of kids flew past them, knocking into Mason. He teetered backward, his legs and arms flailing, then he overcorrected forward and went down, pulling Kristen with him.
They lay there in a tangle of arms and legs. Mason looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
She laughed. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve fallen down, and it probably won’t be the last time you do either.”
Even though they were lying in the middle of the skating pond with half the town around them, the way Mason looked at her made it feel as if they were alone. He brushed a curl away from her cheek, and the air around them became electrified. She could barely catch her breath when he leaned in and kissed her.
It was a sweet kiss—more of a peck that lasted a little bit longer than usual—but when he pulled away, the look in his eyes held the promise of more.
Mason struggled to his feet, pulling her up with him. He put his arm around her and started forward.
“If that’s what happens when you take me skating, I’m going to want to come a lot more often.” Mason winked at her.
Kristen smiled. What could be more perfect than this? The pond looked gorgeous with the decorations she and Mason had done together. Her mom was getting out and starting to live her life, even if that included handing ragamuffin scarves out to the whole town. Ethan was finally socializing with his friends. Ivy, Julie, Malcolm, and Nolan were waiting at the firepit, and Mason was by her side. And even though the tree problem wasn’t exactly solved, she knew Ethan would work it out.
Kristen had a feeling this was going to be the best Christmas season yet.
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I hope you enjoyed your visit to Pinecone Falls! Have you read book 1 in the Pinecone Falls Holiday series?
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Christmas at Cozy Holly Inn (Book 1)
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If you’re looking for something to read next, you might like The Beachcomber Motel - Book 1 in the Shell Cove series of sweet small town women’s fiction with a splash of romance:
Also by Meredith Summers
Lobster Bay Series:
Saving Sandcastles (Book 1)
Changing Tides (Book 2)
Making Waves (Book 3)
Shifting Sands (Book 4)
Seaside Bonds (Book 5)
Seaside Bookclub (Book 6)
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Shell Cove Series:
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Beachcomber Motel (Book 1)
Starfish Cottage (Book 2)
Saltwater Sweets (Book 3)
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Pinecone Falls Holiday Series:
Christmas at Cozy Holly Inn (Book 1)
Cozy Hometown Christmas (Book 2)
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Meredith Summers / Annie Dobbs
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Firefly Inn Series:
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Another Chance (Book 1)
Another Wish (Book 2)
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About the Author
Meredith Summers writes cozy mysteries as USA Today Bestselling author Leighann Dobbs and crime fiction as L. A. Dobbs.
She spent her childhood summers in Ogunquit Maine and never forgot the soft soothing feeling of the beach. She hopes to share that feeling with you through her books which are all light, feel-good reads.
Join her newsletter for sneak peeks of the latest books and release day notifications:
https://lobsterbay1.gr8.com
This is a work of fiction.
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None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.
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COZY HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS
Copyright © 2022
Meredith Summers
http://www.meredithsummers.com
All Rights Reserved.
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No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.
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Meredith Summers, Cozy Hometown Christmas
