Page 24 of Always and Forever
“It’s too dangerous. You could fall off, especially when you’re learning.”
“Crap, I keep forgetting you’re pregnant.” Rhia lets herself fall back into the snow with a big huff.
“I had this perfect movie playing out in my head… you know, of your grand entrance at the wedding. Your dress and veil bellowing behind you in the wind as you steer these cuties up to our make-shift aisle.”
I want that!
I’m pregnant, not an invalid.
“Well, as long as I go slow, it will be fine. I won’t fall off,” I say, confident in my abilities even though I’ve never tried sledding before.
I look at my husband-to-be, a tinge of challenge hanging in the air.
He closes the distance between us and helps me up from the snow. Taking my face into his rather cold hands, he touches his lips to mine.
Oh! Is he going for the distraction method to get me to agree?
It won’t work.
“I know you want to do this, angel,” he says when he pulls away. “But I’d be worried the entire time.”
Crap!
Not only is he using his proven distraction method, but he’s piling on the guilt too.
And dammit, it’s working.
He knows I wouldn’t want him worried. Especially on our wedding day.
Argh!
“How about El sits on the sled,” Rhia suggests, pointing to the seat that actually looks quite comfortable. “I will drive us… slowly,” she quickly adds when Tiero opens his mouth to object. “It’s most unlikely that she’ll fall off. The risk would be far greater on the snowmobile.”
“The sled is more appropriate for a bride anyway,” Claudette pipes in, having silently observed our interaction.
Tiero’s teeth are still grinding together. I put on my best puppy eyes and blink them rapidly for added effect. He looks from me and my hopeful, overly bright expression to the dogs and the sled.
“Fine,” he grumbles.
Rhia, Claudette, and I jump up and down in triumph.
“But,” he bellows over our excited voices, putting up his index finger, and we quieten for a moment.
“But?” I ask.
“But you’ll only use three dogs, and you’ll be covered in blankets and—”
I throw my arms around him to cut him off before he can add more conditions, and pepper his cold face with kisses.
“Deal.”
Chapter Eleven
Ella
Christmashascomeandgone. Like many families around the world who celebrate this holiday, we spent it eating too much, watching Christmas movies, and playing board games.
There was laughter—so much laughter—and a warm togetherness as we knitted our first holiday memories together.