Page 14 of The Wish List
“Nope. I’ll sit behind you and make sure you’re good.” I winked. “If I hold you, I won’t fall either.”
He grinned. “Let’s go!”
We headed up, pulling the wooden sled behind me. I noticed AJ’s envious looks at some of the newer sleds on the hill, but he didn’t say a word.
“You know,” I confided. “I had a sled just like this when I was your age. Best kind around. The wood goes faster and straighter than some of the slippery ones.”
“It’s all right.”
At the top, I put the sled into position and motioned for AJ to get on. He looked nervous, so I sat at the back, patting the space between my legs. “Sit here.”
He did, and I grabbed the rope. “Hold tight to this. We’re gonna go fast.”
“We won’t fall?”
“Nope.”
I pushed off, guiding the sled down the slope. It was fast and fun, the wind in our faces, my arm around AJ, holding him tight. He whooped and laughed, raising one hand in the air as we hit the bottom, gliding to a stop. He jumped up, no longer afraid, his eyes gleaming with happiness.
“Can we go again?”
“Absolutely.”
* * *
A few runs later, I joined Rosie on the picnic bench as AJ went to the smaller hill, confident on his own there.
I sat down heavily, accepting the cup of coffee she handed me. I took an appreciative sip.
“He was having such a good time,” she observed.
“We both were. He wants to play with his friends for a bit, which is good.” I leaned back with a grimace. “Apparently, I’m old too. My butt is killing me.”
She laughed. “Nothing like an almost five-year-old to make you feel your age.”
I chuckled.
“You’re so good with him.”
“I like kids.”
“I can see that.”
“Am I allowed to buy him a gift, Rosie?”
She frowned. “Allowed?”
“A Christmas gift. I don’t want to overstep. Nothing extravagant.”
“Like?”
“A new sled.”
She smiled sadly. “The one he has is a used one. I’m sure he’d love a new one.”
“I know the perfect one. It’s not over the top or unsafe.”
“If you want to, then yes.”
