“Morning,” he grumbled back. He yawned into the phone, which told her either he’d just woken or he’d recently gotten out of bed.
“Was thinking we should get an early start.”
“Good idea. The hills in the park are sure to be busy.”
Especially in the week between the holidays with a cover of fresh snow. As a teenager, Lindy and her friends spent nearly every day of their winter vacation from school in the snow. Lindy used to ski at Mission Ridge as often as she could. She was eager to introduce Peter to the fun that could be had in this winter wonderland, although she was fairly certain Chad had taken his son sledding more than once.
They set a time to meet. Billy volunteered to drive, and then they would collect Peter together. Lindy connected with Ashley, who promised to have Peter ready before they arrived.
Thirty minutes later, Billy picked up Lindy. He greeted her with a warm kiss and hugged her mother. “My sister Dede’s bringing her two little hellions and will meet us there,” he told Lindy.
“What a great idea.” She wished she’d thought to invite Dede herself. She’d seen Billy’s sister at the Wine Press that one day, but not since then, and was eager to connect.
Her mother followed them to the front door and handed Lindy a thermos of hot coffee. “Have fun and stay warm,” she said, sending them off.
When they collected Peter, the four-year-old was as excited as Lindy had ever seen him, running around Lindy like a cat chasing a mouse. While Billy moved Peter’s car seat into his vehicle, Ashley gave Lindy an extra set of clothes and other essentials she thought Peter might need. Ashley figured Peter’s energy would last until around noon, and then he’d be more than ready for his nap.
“Have a great time,” Ashley said, standing in the doorway, waving to Peter as he dashed to the truck as fast as his short legs would let him.
“You ready for fun in the snow?” Lindy asked Peter, as she strapped him into the backseat.
Her nephew nodded vigorously. “I want to slide down the hill with the big kids.”
“You got it, little man,” Billy assured him.
“Billy,” Peter innocently asked, as they headed across town, “are you going to be my uncle?”
Billy looked to Lindy and smiled. “I think your aunt should be the one to answer that,” he said.
“Is he, Aunt Lindy?”
“Who told you that?” She had no doubt this came from Chad and Ashley.
“Daddy. He said Billy looked at you the same way he looks at Mommy.”
“That’s true,” Billy said. “Your aunt Lindy is beautiful. It’s hard for me not to look at her.”
“I think you’d make a good uncle.”
“Thank you.”
Eager to change the subject, Lindy asked, “Where will we meet Dede?”
“I’ll text her once we arrive at the park.” Billy reached over and squeezed her knee, letting her know he recognized what she was doing.
It was a good thing they left early, as the parking surrounding the city park was at a premium.
Within minutes after their arrival, they found Dede and her two children. Davey was eight and Lily six. Lindy vaguely remembered Dede from her childhood.
“So glad we had a chance to connect,” Dede said, once they were all together.
“I am, too.”
When he was first introduced to the other children, Peter was shy and clung to Lindy. Before long, he was on the large sled with Billy and the other two children, squealing with delight as they soared down the slope. They repeated the ride several more times.
“My turn,” Lindy cried, as she helped Billy haul the toboggan back up the hill. By cramming together, they were able to squeeze both adults onto the sled, along with the three children, with Billy taking up the rear position. When the sled started down the hill, she felt Billy’s arms loosen from around her and then a cold blast of air as he tumbled off the back end, crashing into the dry snow.
Seeing Billy with his entire backside coated with snow had her bending over laughing. Lindy wasn’t the only one who found humor in his predicament. The children and Dede couldn’t contain their amusement, either. Their giggles floated in the air with the light flakes of falling snow.
“Very funny,” Billy grumbled. He had nearly been buried in the white stuff. “You should be thanking me. If I hadn’t let go, I would have taken all of you with me.”
“We’re eternally grateful, aren’t we, kids?” Lindy did her best to look sincere. It had been heroic of him to take one for the team.