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Sylvia laughed. “Fabulous idea. I’ve heard from lots of people what a brilliant teacher you are. I’m not surprised you could figure out how to turn these into a lesson kids will love.”
Rissa’s face flushed at the compliment. How had Sylvia heard anything about her?
Burke turned to Sylvia. “Do you have Christmas plans? Would you like to come to the farm and celebrate with us?”
Sylvia smiled warmly. “Thanks, but I have plans. Squirrel and I are heading out to join some friends in Second Chances for a couple of days.”
“Second Chances?”
Burke grinned at Rissa’s question. “Second Chances is a town just over the mountain. Archie MacPhail, a relative of Troy Phail, is the mayor there.”
Rissa felt her eyes widen. “Phails and MacPhails. Why wouldn’t Troy’s family have changed their name to MacPhail if they’re all related?”
Burke shrugged. “Troy’s family has always enjoyed having a unique name. And he’s used it to his advantage in creating a memorable town.”
She couldn’t argue with that, but personally, she would have struggled with the jokes and teasing if she had a surname like Phail.
Sylvia grinned. “Second Chances is a ski town, so if you ever want to try downhill skiing, that’s the place to go.”
Burke smiled at her. “Sounds like a good idea. We’ll have to try it in the new year.”
Her heart fluttered at the thought of throwing herself down a mountain on two sticks of wood or plastic, but she nodded. “Let me get good at being on level ground first.”
It didn’t take long to pack the trailer. Skis, poles, and boots. One set for everyone and a couple of extras of each. Burke shrugged at her question about them. “It’s always good to have a few different sizes. Charlie’s going to grow into a new size soon, and he might like to have some friends over to ski with.”
She was in love with a wonderful man. Not just in love, but engaged. She was engaged!
Back at the farm, Burke parked his Blazer and the trailer in the lot, and they took their bags full of the other gifts from where they’d stashed them in the back seat.
Apparently, the Malssums had used the farmhouse to celebrate Christmas the previous year, but this time, they wanted to celebrate at the inn.
When they’d learned the baby’s due date, Amber and Gray had blocked out a few weeks with no guests at the inn. The fact that it coincided with Christmas was a bonus.
Seth and Mara hadn’t been at the inn the previous year, so the others had used the farmhouse kitchen and dining room. Now, there were more people, and the food and equipment were all at the inn. While Mara and Seth wanted to do most of the cooking and baking, everyone would help where they could.
Rissa didn’t have any memories of Christmas before her mom died, but she knew she would approve of this one. And of Burke.
He squeezed her mittened hand with his. “What’s got you smiling?”
She laughed. “Everything. You. Our engagement. Our future. Your Santa gifts. Our farm family. I was thinking my mom would be so happy for me. I’ve got more than I ever dreamed possible.”
Burke kissed her. “You deserve every happiness in the world, Rissa.”
His soft words had her blinking back happy tears.
Frizzle barked her welcome bark, and they turned to see the rest of the family who’d slept at the farmhouse coming up the road behind them.
Charlie waved. “Merry Christmas!”
They returned the greeting and exchanged hugs and happy smiles with everyone. Rissa grinned at the boy. “I love your family’s pajama pants.”
They were a deep blue flannel, covered with dragons, brucans, and lagulas, the underwater species Olivia had created for her latest book.
Charlie grinned. “It’s our family tradition. This year, we get the new lagulas as well as the dragons and brucans. They’re awesome.”
They were, and it made Rissa wonder about buying some Christmas-themed PJs for her and Burke for the following year.
In the inn’s mudroom, they changed to moccasins with a lot of laughter and shuffling to make room for everyone. It reminded her of the small back entry of the Malssum’s home in Burlington. Crowded and happy.
