Page 59 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

“Yes, she’s very pretty.” I led her to the counter, where the three of us picked up our skates, and helped Liddy change into hers before lacing up my own.

Chad skated out onto the ice and made a pass around the rink while he waited. Liddy watched him but seemed almost disinterested when he offered to hold her hand. The three of us skated side by side, with Liddy between us.

“Do you remember the first time I took you ice skating?” Chad turned around and skated backward ahead of us. “You’d never been before.” A smile dimpled his cheek. “You got the hang of it in no time. I bet you’re like that too, aren’t you, Liddy? You pick new things up quickly.”

Liddy had her tongue trapped between her teeth as she concentrated on staying upright. When she didn’t answer, Chad turned back and continued to skate side by side with us.

“How long have you been back in town?” I tried to split my attention between the conversation and Liddy. My skating skills came back quickly enough to keep me upright.

Chad swept past us and began skating backwards again so he could face me. “A few months. I’m waiting on Dad to finally give me a spot on the company board. You remember how he is, always harping about earning my keep.” A casual shrug and smile said he’d not changed much since leaving. Maybe he’d not matured after all.

Liddy released my hand. “I can do it by myself.” Her legs swished back and forth, and she picked up speed. “Look!”

“Careful.”

Chad rolled his eyes at my warning. “She’s fine. Look at that. You’re a natural. Just like me.” He twirled around in a tight spin.

Liddy tried to stop and watch, but her toe caught wrong, pitching her forward. Her arms windmilled and she fell backward. I dove to catch her, my arm going beneath her shoulders and stopping her momentum before her head hit the ice.

Tears sprang up in her eyes. “I fell.”

“Ah, that’s nothing. One time, I ran right into the wall and broke my nose.” Chad ran a finger down his perfectly repaired nose. “You should’ve seen the blood.”

Liddy paled. “I don’t want to skate anymore.” She shook in my arms. “Can we leave now?”

“Leave?” Chad stopped so fast his skates sprayed ice chips. “We just got here. Why do you want to leave?”

“She’s scared, Chad.” I helped Liddy stand, and with her fingers locked in a death grip around my wrist, we made our way back to the benches running along the area between the rink and the snack bar.

“It’s okay, Liddy. We’re going to sit down for a few minutes.”

Liddy dropped onto the bench with a loud thud. “No more ice.” The brisk head shake knocked her bow loose again. This time I took it out and tucked it into my pocket.

“Aw, that was nothing.” Chad remained on the ice. “You can’t let fear ruin everything, kid.”

“She’s not.” I cupped Liddy’s chin and brushed the tangled hair from her cheek. “You can try again when you’re ready if you want to.”

“When I’m older.” She kicked her feet back and forth. “Not today.”

“Come on, Hannah. You can’t let her get away with that. She’ll never do anything that scares her if you do.”

“That’s enough.” I glared at Chad over Liddy’s head. “What else did you have planned?”

He shrugged and stomped over to another seat. “This was it. I thought we’d stay here.”

Great. We were off to a fantastic start. “I guess we’ll head out then.”

“No.” Chad stretched a hand toward me. “Let’s take a walk downtown. We can look at the Christmas lights and drink hot chocolate.”

Liddy brightened at that and unlaced her skates. “I like lights. And hot chocolate.”

“Me too.” Chad tried to make it sound engaging, but he ended up reminding me of an overexcited puppet dancing out of sync to the story.

“Come on.” We returned our skates and fixed our boots before joining Chad at the door leading outside. He held it open for us both, and Liddy offered him a shy smile of thanks that he attempted to return.

Chad turned left at the edge of the building. “There are some nice lights this way.” Liddy tucked her giraffe beneath her arm and turned in his direction.

“What else do you like?” Slowing his steps to match Liddy’s, Chad motioned at the lights strung up between the posts. “There are lots of these around here. All the shops are decorated. Butthe really good lights are in the residential areas. We could drive over to my place. All my neighbors have decorated.”

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