AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I like him too. He’s so sweet and gentlemanly even Dad should approve.”
Her mother sipped her tea. “But you’re leaving soon.”
Sarah sighed. “I don’t know how a long-distance relationship is going to work.” Or even if it should work. She swallowed. “He’s so busy with games and travel and training he won’t have time to miss me.” She bit her lip. Would it be a case of out of sight, out of mind? She’d seen the girls all too keen to get his attention. Would Dan fall when temptation was so blatant?
And what did that mean when the future he wanted wasn’t one she could give? Breath caught.God, give me wisdom. Maybe there’d be a chance to talk when he was in Muskoka.
“Oh, sweetie.” Sarah’s mum smoothed a recalcitrant strand of hair away from Sarah’s face. “Judging from the expression on that man’s face earlier, he’ll be missing you, more than you realize.”
Sarah could only push out half a smile. “I hope so.”
Chapter 23
“So, you’ve never made a snow angel.” Dan chuckled as Sarah danced around in an effort to keep warm in the snow. With five days off before their Boxing Day game in New Jersey, he was glad to be here in Muskoka, glad to have had time with Sam and Sarah and her family before the rest of his family arrived tonight. Especially with Sarah looking up at him like that.
“Of course I haven’t.” She clapped her gloved hands to warm them. “Growing up, I only ever saw snow like this”—she motioned to the idyllic scene around them—“on the movies, so you need to show me what to do.”
Man, he was going to miss her. For weeks now he’d tried to be thankful and make the most of things, and a game every second day had been fairly effective distraction, but it was impossible to ignore the calendar. In ten days she’d be gone. This joy Sarah brought into his world would be so hard to lose. He shook his head. He was going to miss her so much.
“You won’t? Oh.” Sarah’s bottom lip pushed out. “I’ll have to ask Sam.”
Sam. Yeah, Sam’s presence was definitely not required right now. He’d already made his presence felt, wondering aloud yesterday why Sarah wasn’t sharing Dan’s bedroom.
Once her parents and his family had decided to come to Muskoka for Christmas there hadn’t been enough room for everyone to stay. He knew his folks and Luke wouldn’t cope with extra guests interrupting their special Christmas festivities. Having Sarah stay was challenge enough. Having her family visit for a meal was pushing it. Having her family stay with them? Forget it.
So Sarah’s parents were staying next door with Angela and John, while Sarah and Sam had stayed at his place last night. His parents were due later this evening, and Luke and Marguerite came tomorrow. Once upon a time, the confusing transport and accommodation arrangements had made sense, even if his unsaved brother couldn’t understand.
As Dan’s guts had twisted and his sweat glands had worked overtime, Sarah had gently explained something about being a Christian and not sleeping with any man until she was married. Dan had shaken his head imperceptibly as Sam shot him a look.
“But isn’t that old fashioned? Who cares, anyway?”
“I do.”
And Sarah’s smile at Sam had seemed to close that conversation. But who knew what he’d say next time? Nope, Sam definitely wasn’t needed now. Not when Dan wanted—needed—every drop of her attention himself.
He brushed snow off her green toque. “No, I’ll show you. But just so you know, making snow angels is usually more of a little kid kinda thing.”
She grinned. “I promise not to tell, oh great mature one.”
He poked his tongue out at her and flopped on the ground to demonstrate.
“That was so much fun!”Sarah’s face glowed red from the laughter and exercise of the past half hour. “The cold really makes sense if you get to play in lovely snow.”
“It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?”
“It’s Muskoka. Of course it’s nice!” She patted the final creature into shape. “There. You like?”
He laughed. “Princess, that’s kinda freaky looking. What is it supposed to be? A dragon? A squirrel? I can’t tell.”
She pushed him. “It’s a snow kangaroo, of course.”
He snickered. “Of course.”
As she tried to push him again, he sidestepped and caught her around the waist, smiling down into her laughing eyes. “I like making snow angels with you.” He hadn’t had this much fun since he was a kid.
She tilted her head. “And snow animals?”
He kissed her nose. “Even weird snow animals.”
