Page 29 of A Curvy Carol

The Nutcracker was a tiny shop filled from top to bottom with all sorts of home goods and decorations, mostly for Christmas. There were tons and tons of unique ornaments, wreaths, and even wrapping paper.

“Wow,” I said. “Garland has the best stuff.”

Carolynn smiled. “I thought we could each pick out an ornament. You know, to commemorate your first Garland Christmas.”

“Great idea,” I said. We began looking around together.

It took a while for each of us to settle on a favorite. I wanted to take home about five different ornaments, but I liked Carolynn’s idea of picking one that would always remind me of this year.

Finally, I held up a tiny but spectacularly crafted train. “I’ve got mine.”

She turned around and held up a tiny snowman. “Me too.”

We didn’t have to explain each other’s choices. That was the beauty of it. I knew what hers meant, and she knew what mine meant.

A charming old lady named Ms. Merriweather wrapped up our ornaments, and we were on our way.

“I guess this is it,” Carolynn said when we left. The way she said it made me think (and hope) that, like me, she was kind of bummed that this whole adventure was coming to an end.

“I guess you’re right,” I told her, trying to muster up the courage to tell her that I didn’t want this to mean that we would no longer hang out.

But before I could, she took something out of her crafting bag. “Here,” she said, handing me a cross-stitch. “I didn’t wrap it, but this is for you.”

I took it, holding it carefully so I could look at all the details on it. There was a train on there, with a mountain in the background. There were snowflakes all around. “Carolynn, this is great. Thank you.”

She shrugged, not quite meeting my eyes. “It’s no big deal. I’m glad you like it.”

It was a big deal to me though. I already knew where I wanted to hang it in my room. Another idea popped into my head too, though.

“Actually, there’s one more thing I want to add to the list, before we officially complete it.”

Carolynn’s brow furrowed. “What’s that?”

I grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

17

CAROLYNN

Whit wouldn’t give me a single hint about what he wanted to add to the list. He just kept dragging me along behind him.

The only clue I had was that it involved the lodge because that’s where we were headed.

I was out of breath by the time we got there, and so was he. But he had me wait in the warm lobby before I looked through the windows and saw him pull around a shiny blue snowmobile.

My mouth fell open, and I stepped outside. “A snowmobile?”

“Come on,” he said with a grin, reaching his hand out to help me get on.

I hesitated. “I don’t know about this, Whit.” There wasn’t a lot of room on that seat.

“Trust me,” he said.

And I couldn’t say no to that smile.

He helped me on before climbing on himself. He sat in front of me, with his hands on the handlebars. And I realized just how close we were.

My front pressed to his back, and I tried to reach back to give him room. But he glanced over his shoulder at me, eyes heated, and said, “Don’t make me beg to have your arms around me.”

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