Page 98 of Muskoka Blue

She laughed and took a step back. “I love it, but I’m getting cold. It must be hot chocolate time!”

“Must be.” He held her hand as they slogged through deep snowdrifts to the path that led back home. Warm light spilled through the windows onto the snow-covered deck.

She shook out a glove as she opened the door to the warmth. “I’m sure I’ve got snow in places that I really shouldn’t.” She took another two steps, then stopped.

Dan peered around her. His parents had arrived and were standing by the fire, looking at them in surprised alarm.

Awesome.

He turned to give Sarah an encouraging smile, plucked some sticks and dirty leaves from her hair before turning back to his folks. “Hi, Mom, Dad. You’re early.”

* * *

This was so nothow she’d wanted to appear. Sarah swiped at her messy hair, pushing it off her sweaty brow, wishing once again her skin didn’t glow like hot coals after exercise. Oh well. Little Miss Perfect she’d never be. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Walton. It’s good to see you again.” Not really. Not like this. But a girl had to be polite, especially when crashing her boyfriend’s family’s Christmas.

“Sarah, it’s nice you and your family could come.”

Andrew Walton’s tone didn’t exactly ooze sincerity, but Sarah smiled anyway. “I love Muskoka. It’s such a beautiful part of the world. I can’t believe I’m going to experience my first white Christmas!” She grinned at them, and their faces relaxed slightly.Just be yourself, Dan had said concerning his parents.Just be natural.

“We’ve never spent Christmas away from the city, so this is something different for us too.” Helen looked a little worried.

“I’m sure we’ll all have a lot of fun.”

At Dan’s comment, his father gave Sarah a stiff smile. O-kay. That must be her cue. She made her excuses and left to clean up. After a super quick shower, she returned, pausing at the entrance of the living room to check her appearance in the hall mirror. Dan never seemed to mind what she looked like. It was a shame the same couldn’t be said about his parents.

“And who decorated the tree?” Mr. Walton’s deep voice came from inside the room.

“We all did. It looks great, doesn’t it?” Sam said.

She inched closer and glanced over to the corner of the living room, where Sam had been playing some computer game for ages. What was it with guys and computer games?

“Don’t we have a tradition—? It just looks a little, I don’t know, tatty.”

They didn’t like it? Her heart sank. Yesterday had been so much fun as she, Dan, and Sam had argued about what constituted the perfect tree, eventually finding one in a far corner on Dan’s property, cutting and dragging it in. After finally getting it to stand almost upright, they’d realized there were no decorations. Sarah had suggested making decorations themselves, and she’d painstakingly written each family’s name on a cheap bauble from town. She’d thought it’d looked festive and cheery, particularly once they’d added the popcorn strings. Obviously not everyone agreed.

She entered the room and stood near the roaring fire, trying not to feel like the intruder she really was as all eyes swung to her. “I’m going to duck next door so you can all catch up. I’ll see you later.”

With a smile but unable to meet anyone’s eyes, she’d almost made it to the front door when Dan hurried over, grabbing her hand. “Hey, Sar, don’t go. Mom and Dad need to taste your shortbread.” He turned back to his parents. “Sarah’s a great cook.”

She glanced over. They didn’t look convinced. Maybe Dan thought that too, for he slung an arm around her shoulders, murmuring in her ear, “Please don’t go. They just need some time to adjust.”

“I don’t want to stay if I’m not welcome,” she whispered.

“I want you here.”

She gazed up into his steady brown eyes. “Well, I won’t be too long then.”

“Want me to come?”

“I’ll be okay. Besides, I think they need you to stay.”

Regret followed her refusal minutes later. Trudging through the thick snow by herself wasn’t as fun as it looked on TV. Hallmark movies had a lot to answer for. Her boots kept sinking up to her knees, so it was actually kind of exhausting, but the ice-laced trees and the little cottage all cozily aglow with lights were so pretty it almost made her forget the tension at Dan’s.

Breath escaped in a white puff. Thank God for families who were willing to go with the flow. Her parents were reveling in their time with Ange and John, the size of the small cottage meaning Sarah had given up her room so her parents could stay there, while she stayed in one of Dan’s guestrooms. Mum and Ange were enjoying reconnecting, and it was nice they could do so while she spent time with Dan and Sam.

After yesterday’s early start and careful drive on icy roads, they’d bought provisions, done the firewood thing, decorated the tree, then cooked before her family came over for a meal. They’d played some silly board games that had been heaps of fun and finished really late. Today had been a nice chance to relax.Hadbeen. She sighed. She hoped they’d all feel better soon.

* * *

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