Page 82 of Eight Days of Christmas
Chapter Twenty-Five
Isabella
The next morning,after a quick breakfast, Finn and Dad tossed the sleds into the back of Landon’s and Leo’s trucks. Isabella knelt in front of Ava, helping her with her gloves and zipping her coat.
“There you go, you’re all bundled up.” Isabella stood and smiled down at Ava.
“Thanks, Auntie Izzy.” She ran outside, clomping toward the driveway.
Isabella laced her boots, grateful Norah had let her borrow her old pair so she didn’t freeze her toes off in her UGGs again. She hurried out the front door, hoping to land a spot in Landon’s truck. The last thing she wanted was her family witnessing her and Leo’s unlabeled relationship and all the sexual tension buzzing between them.
Day six had always been a favorite of Isabella’s. A few hours of sledding at the mountain followed by an evening shopping for gifts for the white elephant gift exchange. Besides racing to the bottom of the sledding hill, there wasn’t much competition on this day.
Scoring a seat in the back of Landon’s truck, Isabella stayed quiet. Norah sat in the front with Landon which left her sandwiched in between Mom and Dad. She checked her phone for any missed texts, surprised Harrison had respected her wishes of giving her time to think.
Isabella set her phone upside down on her thigh and glanced out the window. The views on the way to the mountain were beautiful. Bright white snow covered the road and blanketed the trees. She hadn’t taken this drive for several years, and she missed the way the excitement from it bubbled in her chest.
When they reached the turn off for the sledding hill and all climbed out with their gear, Isabella stared down. She clutched the handle of the sled while the wind whipped at her face and adrenaline pumped through her veins. She didn’t recall the hill being this steep. Or this crowded. Every Pineridge resident along with every single person from here to Denver had to be out sledding today.
“You ready to do this?” Finn asked, standing at her side.
She swallowed and faked a brave face. “Of course.”
“Right on.” Finn smiled. “She’s ready,” he called over his shoulder.
She backed up and turned around, hoping to find some saving grace. But her family, along with the Hoffman’s, looked as if they were a football team ready for game day—maybe the playoffs even. At that moment, she wondered for the first time, probably ever, if her family took their traditions just a little too seriously.
Even Ava was raring to go. There she was, in a snowsuit, puffy jacket, and clumpy snow boots, jumping up and down once again. “I wanna go with Uncle Leo!”
“Fine by me, if it’s okay with your mom and dad.”
“Please, Mommy! Please, Daddy!” Ava pleaded.
“Sure, it’s fine,” Nina said.
Isabella looked at her, slack-jawed. It’s fine? She’s going to allow her five-year-old to go sledding down this steep of a slope?
“Are you sure you want to, Ava? It’s really high,” Isabella said.
“I’m sure, I’m sure.” She bounced around, heading toward the hill’s highest point.
As Leo passed her, he leaned over and said, “She’s in good hands.” He smirked.
“Don’t I know it.” She bit the inside of her cheek.
Leo followed Ava, and Isabella followed Leo, watching with jitters as he set the sled at the top of the hill and sat down. Ava climbed on next, scooting in front of him while he braced them with his hands in the snow.
With a wide, cheesy grin on her lips, Ava shouted, “Ready!”
“You mind giving us a push?” Leo asked.
Isabella wrung out her hands. “It’s not too late to change your mind, Ava.”
“No way, I’m ready!”
“Hey, Izz?” Leo said, his tone smooth and low. “Ava has ridden this hill for a few years now. She’ll be fine.” He gave her a reassuring smile.
Despite knowing she and her siblings were sledding down this exact hill when they were Ava’s age, she still worried. But Leo was right, Ava could do this. And who better than Leo to take her?
