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“I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE that your mom never took you skating. Not even once?”
Katrina dug her hands deep into her pockets, trying in vain to warm them up. “Nope. I think she was afraid I’d fall and break my wrist and have to quit practicing.”
Greg shook his head. “Have I told you before your mom’s a little intense?”
Katrina tried to laugh, but she was still wary of talking about her mother after the way the conversation had turned on the drive over here. She was only now beginning to realize how many parts of Orchard Grove she still knew nothing about. A goat farm with a gift shop attached, an abandoned parking lot turned into an ice-skating rink. She and Greg had been out here for a quarter of an hour or longer, watching as people skated in circles and figure eights while a more boisterous group played hockey on the opposite side of the makeshift rink.
“How’d they get so much ice out here anyway?” she asked.
“They just hose it down every winter, let the cold do the rest. Want to give it a try?” His smile was nearly irresistible.
“I don’t have skates.”
He shrugged and pointed to some teenage boys goofing off. “Neither do they. Should we join them?”
Although somewhat tempted by the offer, she shook her head, but he had already grabbed her coat sleeve and was pulling her forward.
“I said I don’t want to.” It was bad enough trying to walk on the ice in the Walmart parking lot. She did that because if she didn’t they wouldn’t have groceries for the week. Why would anybody do this sort of thing for fun?
“I’m not taking no for an answer.” Greg grabbed both her elbows and dragged her ahead. Even where they had been standing, it was slippery enough that she couldn’t find any traction to dig in with her heels and stop her husband.
In spite of how nervous she felt, she let out a giggle. “What are you doing?”
“Enjoying an afternoon out with my wife.” He leaned over as if he were about to kiss her in front of everybody. She tried to dodge and ended up landing on the ice.
Greg’s eyes widened in concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Are you all right?”
She checked both her wrists to make sure they hadn’t been injured in the fall. Aside from a bruised and somewhat sore backside, she would be fine. Of course, Greg didn’t know that yet, and she had to admit that she enjoyed the worried expression on his face.
He reached his hand down. “Here. Let me help you up. Let’s make sure you’re ok. Are your wrists all right? Did you hurt them?”
“I’m fine,” she answered, trying to keep a straight face, “but that’s more than I can say for you.” She grabbed his hand and yanked down. He fell on his knees, and the momentum almost set his face flying straight into her chest.
With a laugh, he seized her around the waist, raised himself partially, and buried his cheek into her neck, burrowing to find her most ticklish spot. “So that’s how you want to play. Now I get it.”
She squealed when his chin dug into her shoulder muscle, and between peals of laughter and her clumsy maneuvers on the ice, she did her best to scoot away from him. Standing up was another matter altogether.
She held up a hand. “Pause. I need a time out.”
He was leaning over her, and at first she was afraid he wouldn’t stop before bursting into another round of playful tickles.
“Pause.” She tried her hardest not to laugh so he’d know she was serious. “This isn’t fair. I can’t even stand up to try to run away from you.”
Greg’s smile was catching. “I know. That’s what makes the game so fun.” In spite of his teasing tone, he stopped pursuing her and helped her to her feet, keeping one arm around her waist and the other hand supporting her elbow to keep her from falling again. “There. You steady now?”
“Hardly.” Katrina looked behind her, surprised to find that they were only a couple feet away from where they began. With as ferociously as she’d been trying to run away from him, she wouldn’t have been surprised to find herself in the middle of the rink.
“Ready for round two?” he asked.
“No, give me another minute.” She was short of breath. When was the last time she and Greg had laughed like this?
He leaned his ear down toward her playfully. “What’s that? I didn’t quite hear you. You said you’re ready to start again?”
“No,” she squealed, but her protest was drowned out when her husband gave a giant roar and lunged toward her. She still wasn’t used to moving on the ice, but she managed to get a foot or two away before he grabbed her around the waist, sat down on the ground, and pulled her onto his lap. Skaters swerved to avoid them while they sat there giggling, and Katrina wondered how much she’d be willing to pay for a chance to bottle up this closeness to guarantee that they’d never let months go by again without sharing in simple joys and healing laughter.