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Jimmy wasn’t sure if he was making the right move when he told Owen he’d come over and hang with him during Brianna’s ice skating party. He still had a lot of work to do, but he was hoping he’d get some great shots to paint.
From what Owen said, he and Brianna threw a lot of these seasonal events for her guests. He still had his job as a PA in town, but he loved being an inn owner and really liked meeting the guests and spending time with them.
Jimmy was happy for him and Brianna and was excited to see the place as he drove up the mountain road to the inn. He pulled into the drive and stared up at the house in awe. He couldn’t believe how beautiful they’d made the old place. There was even a sprinkling of cabins in the woods surrounding it.
Owen and Eric’s family owned the Greenley Christmas tree farm next door. He’d spent a lot of time up there as a kid and recalled Brianna’s house, but he didn’t remember it looking like this.
He turned off the truck and got out, carrying his skates with him, just in case. He didn’t want to break an ankle and ruin his dinner plans with Roni this evening. He was planning to take her to dinner at Charley’s. It had been his favorite restaurant when he’d lived here.
“Hey, Jimmy!” Owen called from the porch. He was carrying a box with a pop-up canopy inside. “You’re just in time. Can you grab some chairs? They’re inside the door.”
Jimmy bounded up onto the porch and through the door to grab a few folded chairs. He followed Owen out to the pond that was now frozen over. “Nice,” he said, looking at the pond. “I don’t remember this being here.”
Owen grinned. “It wasn’t. We put it in last summer. This is our first year being able to skate on it.”
“I like it,” Jimmy said and followed him back up to the house to get more chairs. He was surprised how easily they’d stepped back into their friendship after all these years. It was like neither one of them ever left.
They got the table set up for hot apple cider and gingerbread cookies under the pop-up canopy, with a propane heater set up next to a row of chairs.
“This looks terrific,” Roni said, walking up carrying a pair of skates with Brianna right behind her.
And so did she, Jimmy thought. She was only wearing jeans, but had on puffy white snow boots, a matching white jacket, and a bright-red scarf.
“Do you need skates?” Brianna asked him. “If you do, we have extras. What size are you?”
“I’m good. My parents still had my pair from when I was in high school.”
“After all this time? That’s what you call good parents.” Brianna grinned. “You should have seen the attic in this place. I don’t think my mother ever threw anything away.”
Roni gestured toward the ice. “You ready to go show them how it’s done?”
He laughed, his smile freezing into a grimace. “That also means I haven’t been on skates since I was in high school. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to start now.”
Roni shook her head, smiling. “I don’t remember you being one to run away from a challenge.” Her eyes met his.
He loved the playful look dancing in them. “Oh, are you challenging me?”
She grinned and sat down on one of the chairs to put on her skates. “Maybe.”
He couldn’t help smile as he watched her.
“I think you better hurry up,” Owen said as he grabbed Brianna’s hand and pulled her out on the ice. They skated round and round, holding hands, smiling up at each other.
Jimmy hoped he wasn’t making a mistake as he sat down and quickly put on his skates. “I know a losing battle when I see it.”
“Is that right?” Roni said, standing in front of him and holding out her hand.
He took it and carefully stood, moving toward the ice. “Now remember, it’s been at least ten years since I’ve skated. In fact, I don’t recall the last time.”
“You don’t?” She looked up at him sideways. “I do.”
“You do?”
“Yep. It was junior year after Christmas. A bunch of us went down to Jenkin’s pond.”
He remembered that trip. “You know, I think you’re right.”
“Of course, I’m right. I’m always right.”
