Chapter 47: Chapter 47

They skated on for a few minutes, not speaking, as Memory considered how wretched it would be to confess to Dak that she had true feelings for him only for him to say he had to go back to Chicago forever, and she’d have to choose between him and Christmas Falls. The thought of moving to the big city made her stomach queasy. Living anywhere but here was out of the question. She loved this town more than anything, and she wasn’t sure if what she felt for Dak was love or something else. She turned her head back in the direction where she’d last seen him, but he wasn’t there anymore. Looking around, she spotted him talking to Kim on the far side of the lake, and she didn’t like it, even though she knew there was no romantic intent there. Still, she couldn’t stop the tinge of jealousy at seeing him make another woman smile like that.

“Listen, Memory, I just wanted to say... I’m really sorry I’m so bossy to you all the time. I think I’ve always tried to be your mother, to some degree, and without Grandma here to do it, I’ve intensified my attempts. That isn’t fair to either one of us. I’m sorry.”

Memory raised an eyebrow. Her sister had just admitted to exactly what Dak had mentioned was the problem. “You don’t need to apologize for that Kirsten. It’s all right.”

“No, it’s not. I do need to apologize. And... I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day, at the snowball fight. And all of the days leading up to that---with the taunts and texts and all of that. I’ve been acting really immature lately, and I haven’t exactly been nice to you. I’m really sorry.”

“Lately?” Memory said, watching Kirsten’s eyes bulge. She tapped her big sister with her elbow. “I’m kidding. Sort of. No, it’s okay, Kirsten. You’re my sister. That’s what siblings do.”

“Yeah, well, I think I’ve taken it to another level, and I’m sorry about that. Maison and I had a long talk the other night, after he plastered me in the face with that snowball, and he pointed out that I’ve been mean to just about everyone lately, except for my kids and Dad. I think I’ve just had a hard time dealing with this time of year, without Grandma here. And I’m sorry if I’ve been a pain.”

“It’s okay.” Memory patted her sister’s hand where it was tucked around her arm. “I miss her so much.”

“Me, too.” Kirsten’s eyes glistened slightly. “Although having Ellie around has been a blessing.”

“For sure,” Memory agreed. She could see Ellie literally skating circles around the other women who were making their way around the rink even slower than Memory was, Ellie flying around them, talking to this one and then another. “I wish she could stay.”

“I know. I do, too. I begged her to, told her she could live with us rent free. But she said she has to leave on Christmas Eve, that afternoon.” Kirsten shook her head. “She wouldn’t tell me where she is going, though. Just mentioned the beach.”

“She’s such a mystery. But in so many ways, she reminds me of Grandma.”

“They do have a lot in common. There’s just something about the way a hug from Ellie can calm my soul, like Grandma’s.”

Memory nodded but didn’t say more, thinking about what it would be like when Ellie was gone. If Dak was gone, too, the new year would be starting off on the wrong foot. He was headed her way now, and she couldn’t help but smile as she watched him glide around other skaters on his way to her side.

“It looks like your man is back,” Kirsten said, a lilt in her voice.

“My man?” Memory repeated, trying not to laugh herself.

Kirsten leaned over and kissed her cheek, letting go of her arm and propelling herself away, headed toward Maison and Lorelei as Dak stopped in front of Memory, gaining all of her attention. “Hi.”

“Hello. How’s Patches?”

Dak put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “Not good. Apparently, Sheila’s cat doesn’t get along too well with dogs.”

“Oh, no.” Memory could see he was very concerned. He started slowly skating backward, his hands out in front of him, and she realized that meant he wanted her to skate toward him on her own. She took a deep breath and pushed her skate into the ice, propelling herself forward slowly, on shaky knees. He stayed close enough to grab her if she fell again, but he wasn’t touching her, and in a way Memory felt like a horse chasing after a carrot. “What is Sheila going to do?”

“I don’t know. She said she’s going to give it a little more time, but if they can’t get along, she’ll have to find Patches a new home.”

“Poor puppy.” Memory couldn’t imagine how tough it would be for the dog to go back to the shelter.

“I wish there was something I could do.”

It was evident he was upset about it, and Memory agreed—she wished there was something she could do, too, but without her own place, she couldn’t just volunteer to take the dog.

“You’re doing great. Look at you, gliding along like a natural.” His countenance changed as the frown from thinking about Patches lightened. Memory hadn’t even noticed how well she was doing until he pointed it out. She smiled, sort of wishing he would come back and hold her hand again but glad she wasn’t having any trouble at the moment. “What were you trying to tell me before Lorelei ambushed you?”

Memory giggled at his word choice, remembering the serious topic she’d wanted to bring up before her niece had knocked her over. “Oh, yeah. Well, there’s something I want to show you. But I don’t know when would be a good time. My family has plans this afternoon. And tomorrow I’m sure the store will be swamped.”

“What is it?” He turned and came back to her side, not offering his hand but skating alongside her.

Inhaling deeply, she contemplated how to best word what she was thinking. It was complicated. She didn’t want him to buy her grandma’s house—she wanted to keep it. And she didn’t just want him to foot the bill for fixing the roof, either. But she did want him to see if the ballroom would work for his senior citizens center. “I think it would be better if I just showed you.”

“Okay.” He seemed puzzled, but wasn’t pushing it. He scratched his head. “Could you show me at lunch tomorrow?”

“I doubt I’ll even get to take a lunch tomorrow.”

“Of course you will.” Ellie whizzed by, coming out of nowhere, spinning around on one foot a few times before she shot back over. Memory stared, mouth agape, wondering how many years it had taken Ellie to learn how to do all of that. “Come by the store around 11:30, Dak. She can go. I’ll hold down the fort.”

“But Ellie, tomorrow is the day before Christmas Eve....”

“I know, dear. It’ll be fine. I can manage.” Ellie nodded confidently and then raced away again, looking more like a speed skater than a former shop owner in her fifties.

“Well, I guess that’s settled.” Dak smiled and reached for her hand. She slid her fingers into his, not as a lifeline this time, but because he wanted to hold her hand, and she was perfectly content to let him. “So no clues as to what it is you want to show me?”

She grinned, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. “Nope. You’ll just have to be patient.”

“Oh, I am being patient. I am definitely being that.”

She turned to face him, shaking her head. Clearly, he wasn’t talking about her secret plan anymore. He was talking about the fact that he obviously liked her, and she wasn’t exactly making her feelings known. Memory sighed and turned away, but she didn’t let go of his hand.