Page 44 of Sew Matcha in Love
“You can button my cuffs, Daddy,” Isla said, holding out her wrists. “But leave the braiding to Wynnie. We’ve seen what your hands can do, and it isn’t pretty.”
Kids repeated the darnedest things. Xavier had said those exact words to me when we were discussing shots on goal and debating what constituted a dirty dangle.
I held back a laugh and snuck a sideways glance at Arwyn. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her shoulders shook in a way that indicated she was holding in her reaction.
I buttoned Isla’s cuffs and turned to find Amelie with her arms extended, so I buttoned hers, too. Then she raised her arms high. “Up, Daddy.”
I hoisted her up and held her close. This request was happening less and less these days, and I would never deny it.
She rested her head on my chest and closed her eyes. “You got him good, Daddy. Great job.”
High praise from the babe. I snuck another glance at Arwyn, whose lips were again pressed together, but this time her smile was noticeable. I caught her gaze and coughed.
Isla, not to be out-complimented, gave us a full rundown and her opinions on all of it. “Daddy, that was the best ever! When Percy brought Ridgie the present, we all crowded so close. But then the camera guy said ‘Back up!’ so we gave him space. Then Mr. Jared said ‘you move here’ and ‘you move there’ and we did. And then he said ‘Wait!’ and Miss Mags found a spot and the camera guy got a spot and everyone was guessing what was in the box, but they were all wrong! And then Ridgie pulled the lid off and we were like, whoa! He was so surprised he fellon the floor! Nana Booboo had the best laugh. And then she screamed and said, ‘Don’t poop on me, you pigeons!’ and ‘Who is responsible for this?’ And then the birdies flew away. Daddy, can we have white pigeons forourbirthday?”
I waggled my eyebrows. “Maybe. I also may have, uh, seen to it that the laces to his skates were relocated so that he was a bit late for the second intermission entertainment.” I grinned, remembering Jared and Mags running around trying to find them. “So, the gift was a hit?”
Amelie lifted her head from my chest. “Oh yeah. I can’t wait foryourbirthday, Daddy. To see what you get from Ridgie.”
My smile faded. If things went my way, I’d be a long way out of Colorado by the time my summer birthday rolled around.
The walk to school was rejuvenating. Both girls insisted on holding Arwyn’s hands, and I followed behind, a little insulted but grateful they were taking to her so well.
We walked the girls to the flagpole at the front of the school’s property, and they raced inside, shouting goodbye to us. No doubt they couldn’t wait to recount last night’s antics with their friends.
And I realized I hadn’t had much of a chance to get to know Arwyn below the surface yet, and I wanted to. As we turned to walk back home, I had an idea. “It’s a beautiful morning,” I said to her. “Bright sun. Want to take a detour?”
She looked up at me curiously. “A detour? To where?”
I shrugged shyly. “Coffee Loft. Then along the Creek Walk. It’s been forever since I’ve sat on one of the swinging benches. Unless it’s too cold for you?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay. Sure, that sounds nice. But the creek is frozen over.”
“That’s all right.” I figured it might be. “I thought we could catch up and—get to know each other a little better?”
I held my breath waiting for her answer.
When she tipped her head back to look up at me, she was smiling. “I’d like that.” Arwyn’s arms were crossed, her mittened hands tucked under them. No muff today and no Mary Poppins bag.
I let out a long breath and dared to bend out my elbow. She knew exactly what I was asking without any words, and my heart flipped when she hooked her arm through.
An unexpected tingle fluttered through me like I’d been zapped by a faulty circuit.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
I was falling for Arwyn.
I had to be careful. We could only ever be friends. She had her life and her business here, in her hometown, and I was moving back to Montreal at the end of the season.
But … the thought of her with anyone else—especially that doctor—had me in knots.
Her arm slid away as we approached the entrance to the Coffee Loft, leaving me with my right arm free to open the door for her. It was close to nine o’clock, and I was surprised to find that the line wasn’t out the door.
I followed her inside and scanned the tables as she walked straight to the queue. No one I recognized. Good. Not that I minded, but I didn’t want to be spacey or aloof if someone I knew was here and thinking I was ignoring them. That wasn’t who I was.
I stepped in line behind Arwyn, and we waited quietly until it was our turn.
“Good morning, Arwyn! Zaki, right? Together or separate? Your usuals?” Marie, the owner’s daughter, knew everyone after meeting them once and memorized their orders.
