“Can we make them shaped like sleighs?” Katie asked with a grin.
Vanessa laughed. “Absolutely. Sleigh-shaped cookies it is.”
Imogen cut in, a small frown on her face. “Vanessa, are you sure you don’t mind watching Katie? I feel terrible imposing on you like this.”
“Are you kidding?” Vanessa said, standing up and brushing snow off her knees. “I love spending time with Katie. Besides, Jackson’s been complaining that we never have kids over to the house. He’ll be thrilled to have someone to spoil with extra marshmallows and whipped cream.”
“Well, if you’re absolutely sure…” Imogen said, still looking hesitant.
“I’m positive,” Vanessa assured her. “Now go! The horses are getting restless, and you don’t want to keep them waiting.”
Lincoln had been standing quietly through the entire exchange, but he stepped forward with a slight smile. “I have to admit, I’m just as confused about this whole situation as you are,” he said to Imogen. “But if we’re both supposed to be contest winners, I suppose we might as well make the best of it.”
Imogen looked at him, and Vanessa could see something shift in her expression. Maybe it was the way he looked so handsome and slightly windswept in his winter coat, but whatever it was, Imogen’s remaining reservations seemed to melt away.
“You know what?” she said, her voice growing more confident. “You’re absolutely right. When was the last time either of us did something completely spontaneous?”
“Probably not since high school,” Lincoln said with a laugh. “Well, maybe back in college for you and me in my hockey days. But it’s definitely been a while.”
Vanessa could barely contain her excitement as she watched Lincoln help Imogen up into the sleigh. They settled onto the cushions, and Lincoln reached for one of the warm blankets, spreading it across both of their laps. The gesture was so natural and caring that Vanessa felt her heart flutter with hope.
“Have fun, you two!” she called out, waving enthusiastically. “Don’t worry about anything—Katie and I are going to have the best evening ever!”
“Bye, Mom!” Katie shouted, her disappointment forgotten with the promise of cookie baking. “Have fun on your sleigh ride!”
Lincoln picked up the reins, looking slightly uncertain. “I have to admit, I’ve never driven a sleigh before tonight. I hope these horses know what they’re doing.”
“I’m sure they do,” Imogen said, and Vanessa was pleased to hear the laughter in her voice. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“Famous last words,” Lincoln said with a grin, giving the reins a gentle shake.
The horses began to move, their bells jingling merrily as the sleigh glided smoothly over the snow-covered street. Vanessa and Katie stood on the sidewalk, waving until the sleigh disappeared around the corner.
Vanessa felt a mixture of triumph and nervousness. She and Mabel had done everything they could to create the perfect romantic setting. Now it was up to Imogen and Lincoln to recognize what everyone else could see so clearly—that they were meant to be together.
She just hoped this last-ditch effort would work.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
For the first few minutes of the sleigh ride, both Imogen and Lincoln were completely silent. The only sound was the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses’ hooves against the snow-packed pavement and the gentle jingling of their harnesses. She sat stiffly next to Lincoln, a little nervous as she shifted under the blanket, very aware of how close he was to her and the scent of his cologne on his coat mixed with the crisp winter air. The entire setup was very romantic, and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel about that, exactly.
She stole a glance at his profile, which looked very handsome in the streetlights, she thought. He looked confident despite his admission of never having done this before, and she looked at his hands on the reins, remembering how those same hands had felt wrapped around hers on walks after school. The memory came back more clearly than she would have expected it to.
Imogen bit her lip wondering what she should say. She could feel Lincoln glancing at her periodically, probably wondering what she was thinking, probably wishing he was anywhere but trapped in a sleigh with his ex-girlfriend from fifteen years ago. He had to be resentful about this whole situation—clearly he’d been as blindsided by this mysterious contest as she had been.He’d obviously been roped into whatever was going on, and she wasn’t buying how weird Vanessa had been about it all or the story about Fir Tree Grovealwayshaving had this super-surprise-sleigh-ride.
Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She had to say something. Make light of the situation, at least.
“This is pretty ridiculous, isn’t it?” she said with a forced laugh, turning to face him. “I mean, a surprise sleigh ride contest that neither of us remembers entering? You must have a dozen better things to do with your evening than get roped into this bizarre situation.”
Lincoln’s lips quirked up in a half-smile, and some of the tension in his shoulders seemed to ease. “Well, I’ll admit this isn’t exactly how I planned to spend my Friday night,” he said, his voice warm with amusement. “But I’m not unhappy about it either.”
The simple statement caught her off guard, and she felt her cheeks flush for reasons that had nothing to do with the cold air.
“After all,” Lincoln continued, his eyes briefly meeting hers before returning to the path ahead, “we used to enjoy spending time together back in high school. I’m sure we can find something to talk about.”
The flood of memories that rushed through Imogen’s mind was so intense it left her breathless.Enjoyed spending time togetherfelt like putting it mildly. She had a hundred memories of their time together, even more, maybe. Eating lunches together in the grassy square outside of the cafeteria, her watching his hockey games, shared bites of pizza and kisses fizzy from soft drinks. Going to the movies together and barely watching them, afternoons spent wandering through town or going on hikes, Lincoln buying her sunflowers because he knew they were her favorite. Her helping him study in the library, and chiding him for getting distracted and looking at her insteadof his homework. Telling each other all their secrets, even the ones that eventually pulled them apart when it became clear that what they wanted for their lives were two very different things.
She pushed the memories aside firmly, reminding herself that those days were long gone and that dwelling on them served no purpose. Whatever they’d had back then, it was ancient history now. Being shoved together on a sleigh ride definitely didn’t change anything. They were still the same friends that they’d been before this.
