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“I can’t believe Thanksgiving is in two weeks.” The wedding season slowed for a few weeks and would pick up again around Christmas and New Year’s, then again around Valentine’s Day.
“I love Thanksgiving,” Wren said from the backseat.
“Me too.” Harrison smiled.
I bet his family made it a big production. I usually spent it with my mother because I felt guilty if I didn’t. But she was morose during the holidays since Dad left before Christmas. I couldn’t remember the exact day, just that Christmas had sucked, and it was his fault.
When we arrived, the rink was just opening for the day. Only a few people waited at the shack to rent skates. Harrison asked my size and offered to get them while I helped Wren lace hers.
Returning with skates in his hands, he asked, “Have you skated before?”
“No. Never.” It was something Harrison usually did with Wren alone, and it was a date activity otherwise.
“You’re in for a treat,” Harrison said with a smile.
“I hope so.” Was this part of his fairy-tale plan, showing me how to have fun? I wasn’t against letting go and having fun. Was I? I racked my brain for the last time I did anything out of the norm, and I couldn’t remember anything. I was boring. I’d gotten used to the safety and security of my job and my apartment. I had a few friends, dated occasionally, and dutifully checked on my mom, even though every phone call or visit left me feeling let down.
Wren stood, made her way to the break in the fence, stepped onto the ice, and was off.
I toed off my boots, pulling on the skates. Harrison crouched down in front of me, his cheeks red from the cold. “Let me help you with those.”
“I can do it myself.”
Harrison’s lips twitched as he looked from my laces to my face. “You could. But why should you?”
I shrugged, content to let him help me. “You got me there.”
He laced my shoes, checking to make sure they were snug on my feet.
“I feel a bit like Cinderella,” I said, remembering the scene when the prince fitted the glass slipper to her foot.
Harrison winked as he stood, offering his hand. “That’s the idea.”
I laughed despite my reservations about the whole thing. It was sweet, and Wren was really into it. Who was I to deny them a little fun? It had the added effect of making me forget that this was all pretend and that we needed to meet his family for dinner tonight.
Harrison talked to his parents about me, but I hadn’t seen them since the big announcement. They’d apparently insisted we come over for dinner now that I was settled.
“I don’t want to fall,” I said when we reached the ice. Kids were flying around the rink, and toddlers pushed a penguin device that helped them keep their balance.
“I’ve got you. Don’t worry.”
Harrison was the one person who’d say something like that, and I believed him. That was probably because no one else ever said that to me. I took care of myself.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped onto the ice next to him.
“It’s not hard. Just push off with your blade.”
I mimicked his movements.
“And again, with your other foot. Remember to bend your knees.”
I concentrated on my feet, shuffling along.
“You’re doing it,” Wren cried as she flew past us.
“She had lessons last year,” said Harrison by way of explanation.
“That explains it.”
