Sleigh Ride With The Single Dad. Alison Roberts

They were going in the opposite direction, as the door behind Charles swung open.

      ‘Horse...’

      The big woolly dog looked as pleased to see the twins as they were to see him. He stood there with what looked like a grin on his face, the long plume of his tail waving, as Cameron and Max wrapped their arms around his neck and buried their faces in his curls.

      Grace was grinning as well, as she looked down at the reunion.

      ‘Oh, yeah...cuddles are the best way to start the day, aren’t they, Houston?’

      She was still smiling as she looked up. The black woollen hat she was wearing made a frame that seemed to accentuate the brightness of that smile. A smile that went all the way to her eyes and made them sparkle.

      ‘We’re off to the park,’ she said. ‘It’s my first day off so I’m on dog-walking duty today.’

      ‘We’re going to the park, too,’ Cameron shouted. ‘You can come with us.’

      ‘I want to throw the ball for Horse.’ Max nodded.

      ‘I think he has to stay on his lead,’ Grace said. ‘I’ve been reading the rules this morning.’

      Charles nodded. ‘And he’s not allowed in the playgrounds. But we can walk with him for a while.’

      Grace’s smile seemed to wobble, as if a shadow was crossing her face, and Charles had the impression that this was a bigger deal than he would have expected.

      ‘If Grace doesn’t mind the extra company, that is,’ he added.

      ‘I’d love it,’ Grace said firmly. She was clipping the dog’s lead onto his harness so Charles couldn’t see if she really meant that but then she straightened and caught his gaze.

      ‘You can show me the best places to walk. I don’t know anything about Central Park.’

      Her smile was strong again and he could see a gleam in her eyes that he remembered very well. He’d seen it often enough in the past, usually when they were both heading in to the same examination.

      Determination, that was what it was.

      But why did she need to tap into that kind of reserve for something that should be no problem? A pleasure, even...

      It was puzzling.

      ‘Have you never been to New York before?’ Juggling two small children and a dog on the busy pavement meant that Charles had to wait until they were almost at the gates of the park to say anything more to Grace.

      ‘Never. I was born in Australia and then my family moved to Florida when my dad got a job with NASA.’ She was smiling again. ‘He thinks it’s hilarious that I’ve got a job looking after a dog called Houston. Anyway...coming here was always a plan once I got to medical school in Boston but there never seemed to be enough time. I was too busy studying...’ The glance Charles received was mischievous. ‘Trying to keep up with you.’

      ‘I think it was the other way round.’ Charles kept a firm grip on small mittened hands, as he paused to wait until a horse-drawn carriage rolled past, carrying tourists on a relaxed tour of the park, but he was holding Grace’s gaze as well. They would have to part company very soon and it felt...disappointing?

      ‘Okay...we have two favourite playgrounds close to here but...’

      ‘But dogs aren’t allowed, I know. When I looked on the map, there was a track called the Bridle Path? That sounds like a nice place to walk.’

      ‘It is. Come with us as far as the playground and I’ll show you which direction to take to find it. Next time, I’ll bring the boys’ bikes and we can all go on the Bridle Path.’

      The way Grace’s eyes widened revealed her surprise, which was quite understandable because Charles was a little surprised himself that the suggestion had emerged so casually. As if this was already a thing—this walking in the park together like a...like a family? A whole family, with two parents and even a dog.

      And her surprise quickly morphed into something else. Something softer that hadn’t been fuelled by determination. Pleasure, even? Was she enjoying their company as much as he was enjoying hers?

      Charles was silent the rest of the way to the playground. Not that anybody seemed to notice because Cameron and Max were making sure that Grace didn’t miss any of the important attractions.