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We line up in the bustling heart of the Christmas Market. Norah and me, Isaac and Cobie, Dawn and Daniel, and a few other pairs. We start side by side, our legs expertly bound together by Hal with a festive wreath.
Isaac grins down at his daughter, his eyes twinkling with a mix of determination and playful mischief. “Ready, Cobie? Let’s show these guys what we’re made of,” he shouts.
“Yeah, we’re gonna take you guys down,” Cobie tells Norah.
“A little shit-talker, I see,” Norah mumbles under her breath.
I elbow her in the side, and she grunts.
Cobie’s small hand grips the wreath tightly, mirroring Isaac’s firm hold.
Hoyt’s voice booms through the market, declaring the start of the race.
With synchronized movements, Isaac and Cobie surge forward, their laughter harmonizing with the jingle of the bells on their wreath.
The crowd cheers them on as Cobie’s ponytail bobs with each stride, but Norah and I are close on their heels.
Dodging our way through the maze of market stalls, Norah wills us to pass the father-daughter team.
Cobie’s eyes sparkle with excitement as Isaac shouts uplifting words, pushing her to go faster.
As we approach a tricky turn, Cobie stumbles slightly, but Isaac’s strong grip steadies her.
“You’re doing great, Cobie! Keep going!” I cheer.
“Whose side are you on?” Norah snaps as we power through the turn.
The race continues, each step bringing us closer to the finish line.
The market seems to blur around us as we focus solely on our goal.
With the finish line in sight, Cobie’s energy begins to waver.
The crowd roars with encouragement, urging her forward.
In a burst of speed, wreath still intact, they cross the finish line half a beat before us and nearly two whole minutes before a fumbling Dawn and Daniel.
Breathless and beaming, Cobie hugs her father tightly, their laughter blending with the joyful cacophony of the market.
At that moment, they are a team, and as they catch their breath, Isaac ruffles Cobie’s hair affectionately.
“We did it, Cobie. We make a great team,” he praises.
Cobie beams up at him, her eyes shining with pride and love. “The best team, Daddy.”
It’s the only one they win as we move through the rest of the games, but it doesn’t matter. Watching Cobie fumble with wrapping paper and tape and Isaac repeatedly falling on his bum during a spirited game of limbo as his daughter shrieks with joy is reward enough.
Isaac
The sun begins to set, and we weave our way through the crowd toward the tall blue spruce on the side of the lake.
We gather around as the moon rises in the night sky. I hoist Cobie onto my shoulders so she has a bird’s-eye view as Hoyt leads us in a countdown.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!” He takes the silver arm and flips it.
The branches come to life as a thousand lights begin to blink awake.
Cobie screams her delight as the crowd erupts in cheers.
