'I know what I'm doing and would be with him the whole time,' she said earnestly, accelerating to keep up with him. 'It's no more dangerous than a lot of other childhood activities; riding a bike, swimming in the sea.'
'I wouldn't know,' he dismissed, then stumbled on a groove in the ice, and started going down, arms flailing. She was there immediately, slipping her right arm around his waist and fitting neatly under his left arm to steady him, as if they were a couple, like they'd been doing this for years. He could feel the warmth of her body up and down his side. Smell strawberries in her blonde hair, her glossy ponytail swinging against his cheek. Their faces were so close he could tilt his head and kiss her if he wanted to. 'Thank you.' He straightened up abruptly, got his balance, feeling his face go red. 'Like I was saying,' he continued gruffly, 'I really don't know that much about kids.'
Holly squinted at the guy, aware of her hand clutching his waist, and the way she could feel his minty breath on her cheek. 'Pardon?' How could he not know about childhood activities, or kids? 'But you're got one!'
'What? What are you-? Ah.' Letting out an exasperated sigh, he gently disentangled himself from her, and hobbled back over to the wall. 'Jasper,' he called, 'come here please.'
Jasper waved, and started back toward them.
Pulling his hat off, Jasper's dad scrubbed a tanned hand through his thick dark hair, which was starting to curl. She did not want to run her fingers through it. Okay, maybe she did a tiny bit, because he was kind of cute when he wasn't frowning, scowling or grumbling, and he had lovely long eyelashes, but he wasn't really her type. She preferred blond sunny guys with open expressions and the preppy college look. Grumps need not apply.
'Well,' she tried to hide her confusion behind an uncertain smile, 'I suppose a lot of parents go through a steep learning curve.' She had two nephews who'd definitely put her older sister through some challenging times.
'He's not mine.' He explained, putting an arm around Jasper's narrow shoulders as the boy appeared beside him. Looking down, his wry smile communicated you little tinker. Jasper pulled a you got me face and smiled back hopefully. 'I'm his godfather, Noel.' He explained, looking back at Holly. 'And while I spend time with him whenever I can, I'm hardly an expert when it comes to kids.'
'Oh, right.' She paused, something in her melting at the affection between them. Noel clearly hated skating but had brought Jasper here anyway. Perhaps he wasn't so bad. Irrelevant, get back on track. 'Well in that case maybe you can ask his dad? Or I can talk to him? If he understands how talented Jasper might be-'
'That won't be possible.' His face settled into a blank Keep Out: This Ski Trail is Closed, expression.
'Why not?'
'He's working.'
'We could call him-'
'Pleeeeasseee.' Jasper tugged on Noel's jacket, eyes wide and bottom lip stuck out. 'Please can you phone Daddy-'
'Nope. Sorry. Not now, kid. He's not available. The best I can do is try and talk to him tonight and see if he'll let you try some stuff tomorrow, if we come back.' He glanced down at the boy, his expression softening. 'Why don't you skate a bit, Jay, while Holly and I talk. Stay close, okay?'
'Kay,' grinning mischievously, Jasper started skating in a semi-circle, pushing himself off the wall behind Noel, flying past them to touch the wall a few feet beyond Holly, turning and launching himself back to the wall beside Noel again.
'Look, I'm sure he'd enjoy learning from you,' dropping his voice, Noel looked down at Holly and she realised with a flutter in her belly that he must be well over six foot, given he towered above her. 'But Ma- my friend isn't usually keen to let Jay participate in risky stuff. He's very protective.'
She gave him a quizzical look.
'Jay's mum died in a car accident.' Noel expanded quietly. 'Jasper and his sister were in the car when it happened.'
'Oh. Wow.' Holly tucked her hands into her trouser pockets. 'Poor things. It must be awful to lose a parent so young.'
Face tightening, Noel's voice dropped a few octaves. 'Yes. It is.'
'Still. It's really not that risky, learning a few spins. He's out on the ice anyway-'
'I get it, but it's not my decision to make.' He cast a look over at Jasper, who was still skating around them, getting closer but still not quite in earshot. 'Like I said,' he spoke quickly, 'I'll talk to his dad this evening and if he's okay with it, I'll bring Jasper back tomorrow and you can show him a few tricks then.' He looked positively depressed at the prospect.
'Thanks, I guess I'll have to be happy with that for now.' She paused, 'I take it you don't like, or enjoy, skating?'
'Hate it,' Noel agreed flatly, staring around the ice rink accusingly like it was a living thing.
'It's not the ice's fault!' she protested lightly.
'Obviously.' He turned his attention back to her. 'But I'm rubbish, that's all there is to it.'
'You're still learning-' she began.
'I know I'm a paying customer,' he said, dark brown eyes amused, 'but come on, be honest.'
'’Ncle Noel, ’ncle Noel!' Jasper paused, stomping his skates on the ice, 'I can stamp out the tune to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie!'
'That's great kid,' Noel gave him a thumbs up, 'but be careful please.'
Holly smiled and picked up the ribbon of conversation as Jasper resumed skating in a half-moon around them. 'Well, you could definitely use some practice…' She backtracked at the glowering expression Noel gave her, 'Okay. Truthfully? You're not good. And I know you said you're not intending to work on your skating, and I get it, but it's still nice to be here, surely? It's so lovely and Christmassy,' she breathed, grinning, throwing her arms out. 'It's such a great atmosphere. Everyone's in a fantastic mood. Well, almost everyone.'
He studied her, eyes narrowing. 'Personally I can't think of anything worse than all this,' he edged forward as Jasper narrowed his semi-circle, getting closer to Holly and Noel each time he tapped the wall, 'festive rubbish. I'm just here for him.'
'Festive rubbish?' she squeaked, 'You don't like Christmas either?' she could hear the horror coating her voice and this conversation was probably getting too personal, but she couldn't leave it there.
'It's an expensive exercise in commercialism,' he replied. As she opened her mouth to respond, he held up a hand, palm out. 'Before you say it, yeah, I'm being bah-humbug. Guilty.'
'I don't know what to say. That's really sad. I just see it as a time of giving, fun and spending time with friends and fam-'
'I can do without the lecture, thanks, but generally speaking people are in a great mood because it's an excuse to drink alcohol, eat lots and have time off work.'
'Woah. That's a bit strong. Maybe you just need to experience the joys of Christmas.'
'See the wonder of it through a child's eyes, you mean?' he quipped, unzipping his coat.
Obviously this guy had a cynical streak a snow-covered mountain-peak wide.
'Perhaps.' She muttered, gliding nearer as Jasper brushed her arm. 'Or maybe … is there a reason you don't like Christmas? Are there bad memories, or-?'
'It's really none of your business, and please don't psychoanalyse me. Despite us joking about counselling, I don't need therapy. I don't mind other people enjoying Christmas, I just don't want to be forced too as well. I mean,' he pointed at the enormous Christmas tree, 'look at that. Is it really necessary?'
She flushed. This guy was deeply unhappy about the whole thing. Well, each to their own, and he was right, he was a customer - the last thing she wanted was a complaint. She was enjoying this job too much. 'Maybe not necessary, but it's tradition, which to some people is important. Anyway,