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As she closed the last of the cupboards and drawers, she heard bells jingling outside. Then footsteps bounded up the stairs and Jack stuck his head in through the doorway. “You ready?”
“For what?”
“A one-horse open sleigh.”
“Really?”
“Well, two horses. We’re going along the river trail.”
The harness bells jingled louder.
Kristy smiled to herself, forgetting about the end of their relationship, forgetting everything but the night stretching out in front of her. A romantic sleigh ride. What a perfect place to tell Jack she was on board, she wanted to pretend their marriage was real for a while.
“Let me grab my coat,” she said.
“I’ve got gloves and a hat waiting for you downstairs.”
Zipping up, she all but bounced down to the driveway where, to her disappointment, she noticed each sleigh held four people.
Cleveland, Aunt Gwen and Melanie were in the front sleigh with Hunter, while Jack and Kristy were riding with his mother and Elaine.
“You’re in for a treat,” said Elaine as Jack helped her up and over the lip of the sleigh. “The neighbors have a decorating competition every year.”
“I can’t wait,” said Kristy, swallowing her disappointment and pasting a smile on her face. “Hello, Liza.”
“I see you’ve been working hard,” Liza responded with formality.
“I have a lot to do,” said Kristy.
“I notice the jet’s been busy—”
“Mother,” said Jack, taking his own seat.
“I’m simply pointing out that Kristy has a fine selection of materials to work with.”
“That I do,” agreed Kristy, deciding to ignore Liza’s jabs. “Thanks to Jack.” She patted his thigh as he spread a plaid wool blanket over their laps.
He shot her a look of surprise. She kept her expression neutral as the horses stepped forward and the sleigh jerked to a glide.
Elaine and Liza were facing rear with an identical blanket covering their legs. A top-hatted driver sat up front on a raised seat, while two tawny-colored, golden-maned Clydesdales shook their heads and jingled the bells on their harnesses.
Settled against Jack’s warmth, Kristy accepted the delay in her seduction plans and sat back to enjoy the view of the Oslands’ gardens as they made their way toward the river trail.
Tiny white lights trimmed the branches of bare oak trees, while swooping ropes of color lined the hedges. Snow-covered spotlights gave the frozen fountains an incandescent glow. And, in the middle of it all, one huge pine tree sparkled color and shine all the way up to a golden star on top.
Kristy rested her head on Jack’s shoulder. In response, he stretched his arm across the bench seat behind her.
“I’ve been thinking about a party,” said Liza.
Jack looked at his mother. “I thought we were doing the big Christmas dinner this year.”
“I don’t mean a Christmas party,” she responded. “I mean a wedding party.”
Kristy straightened.
“People will expect something,” Liza continued. “Perhaps at the Club, after the holidays.”
“Mom, I’m not sure that’s a good—”
“Nonsense.” Liza interrupted. “You cheated Kristy out of a wedding.”
“It wasn’t him,” Kristy put in.
“You told me he talked you into the hotel chapel,” said Elaine.
Kristy glanced guiltily at Jack. She had decided to stick to the truth as much as possible. “But I wasn’t holding out for a big wedding.”
Liza and Elaine waited for her to elaborate.
“It was, uh, more the length of…”
Jack gave her shoulder a squeeze. “She couldn’t decide whether to settle for me.”
Kristy shot a glance skyward. “Nice, Jack.”
“What?”
“You just told your mother I thought you weren’t good enough.”
Liza’s lips pursed.
Elaine started to chuckle. “He’s not.”
“Yeah, right,” said Kristy, with an exaggerated sigh. “Handsome, rich, intelligent and funny. I guess I was holding out for somebody who could also—I don’t know—sing opera.”
Elaine laughed again, and even Liza smiled.
“I can sing,” insisted Jack.
“And that’s what clinched it, darling,” Kristy purred.
“Back to the party,” said Liza. But she seemed more relaxed now.
“Look,” Jack called, pointing across the river to a resplendent Santa display. The lighted reindeer swooped through the air. Santa’s sleigh was festooned with red and green and white lights. The jolly old man himself glowed with tiny red lights that outlined his suit and his sack full of toys. In the background was a lighted Christmas forest—each tree glowing its very own color.
