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She chuckled, and when Gracie stopped to look into his eyes, Leo’s heart skipped a beat. “Sure,” she said. “I’ll go with you.”
He broke into a grin. “Great. I’ll— I don’t even know when the party is.”
Gracie laughed softly. “It’s Sunday night.”
“Sunday night then.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “It’s a date.”
“You should really go warm up,” she said.
“Once we get to your car.” He began moving again.
“Leo, you’re going to get frostbite.”
“Nope. I’m good.”
“You’re crazy.” She shook her head. “It’s a good thing I’m right over there.” She pointed to a red Kia wagon.
When they got to her car, he waited until she was safely inside it, and when she motioned for him to go, Leo turned to jog back to the lodge. Even if he hadn’t been a polar bear, Leo wouldn’t have been bothered by the cold, because the warmth of his love for Gracie was rushing through his veins. He laughed at himself because he was as excited as a teenager might be after getting his first date.
He ran back to the patroller garage, and he stepped inside to help Henry finish cleaning up. Leo rubbed his hands together as he walked over to where his friend was sweeping up stray pine needles.
“So?” Henry asked him. “Are the frozen fingers worth it?”
“They are. She said yes.”
“Nice,” Henry said. “I hope it works out for you two.”
“Don’t you worry, it will.” Because Leo wouldn’t settle for anything less.
CHAPTER6
Gracie
Gracie’s heartwas still dancing when she walked into the home she shared with her mother. Her backpack thudded on the floor where she set it by the door, and she heard the sound of the TV playing.
Margo Templeton called out to her from the couch. “Don’t get too comfortable. We need milk.”
Gracie’s good mood began to vanish as she hung her coat on a hook. “Why didn’t you text me before I left? I could have gotten it on the way home.”
“Does it matter?” Her mother turned from the couch to look at her as Gracie walked toward the kitchen. “What are you doing? Go.”
“I don’t have time, Mom. Tonight’s the parade, and I have to shower and eat before I return to the mountain. I’ll stop by the store on my way home.”
“What am I supposed to do for milk until then?”
Gracie had a few things she wanted to suggest to her mother, but even a rational reply wouldn’t be welcome, so she gave the answer she usually gave. “I’m sorry I’ve inconvenienced you, Mom. I’ll do better next time.”
“You darn well better. It’s about time you sacrificed for me instead of the other way around.”
Her mother’s response was a familiar one that barely registered in Gracie’s brain. She and the foster kids that had cycled through the house during her childhood had been brought up to serve the woman who provided them with food and shelter.
Gracie wasn’t sure when she began to realize that her mother did the bare minimum to get by and orchestrated her life to a place where most things were done for her. Once Gracie had graduated from college and had a full-time job, the foster kids stopped coming to live with them, and Gracie became the sole income for her and her mother. She opened the fridge to grab the leftover stew she’d made earlier that week and scooped it into a pot to place on the stove to heat up while she showered.
“That better not be leftovers we’re having for dinner,” her mother said.
Gracie didn’t bother to answer. If she’d made her mother’s favorite dish of chicken parmesan from scratch, her mother would tell her she didn’t feel like eating chicken that night. The woman was never happy, and Gracie had learned a long time ago to not take it personally. She walked to her bedroom to prepare for a shower.
“Gracie!” Margo called out as Gracie got to the bathroom. “My wine!”
