Maggie rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to give up on this, are you?”
Finn smirked and shook his head. “Nope. Absolutely not.”
With a sigh of resignation, Maggie tucked her sled behind a bush for safekeeping and turned back toward Finn. “Let’s do this,” she said, motioning toward the area where the huskies were gathered to take people on rides.
When they got to the dogsled track, Maggie watched as Aidan and Oliver stood together in line. Their little faces were full of excitement. Seeing their blossoming friendship reminded her of the way she and Finn had done the same dogsled run twenty years ago.
“Hold on tight!” Maggie called out as she watched the boys settle onto the dogsled with one of the mushers, then take off down the snowy path as the beautiful huskies exhibited their speed and power. She heard Olivier cry out with delight as they headed out of sight. When it was her turn to ride with Finn she held on tightly and prayed to make it back in one piece. Despite her nerves, it was an exhilarating feeling to fly across the snow-packed ground with the frosty air lashing against her cheeks. When they returned to the starting point she could hear Oliver and Aidan loudly cheering for them.
Gliding across the snow led by the team of huskies was a thrill ride for Maggie. She loved the exciting feeling of being pulled by the dogs at breakneck speed. After two rides, Maggie was chilled to the bone and done with dogsledding, although Oliver and Aidan wanted to continue to stand in line for another ride. Maggie chuckled. The boys didn’t even seem to feel the cold.
“Why don’t we go get something to drink to warm us up?” Finn suggested. He pointed at Oliver and Aidan. “These two will be fine. Something tells me they might go on a few more runs. I gave Oliver some extra tickets. He seems determined to use them.”
“Oh, Finn, you’re going to spoil him. I can’t remember the last time we had so much fun,” Maggie gushed. Even though her face felt slightly frozen, her teeth chattered and her wool mittens were slightly wet, Maggie wasn’t about to complain. This evening had been stellar.
“This is one of my favorite town events,” Finn said. “You can almost feel Christmas flowing in the air.” He rubbed his hands together. “The lights are spectacular.” He winked at Maggie. “I reckon they could spot us from space.”
They made their way to the concession area where Finn bought two hot apple ciders and sugar cookies. Maggie didn’t miss the curious glances thrown their way. She felt a moment of discomfort when she saw Hank watching them from across the way. She imagined everyone thought something romantic was brewing between her and Finn. Hazel began waving at her from behind the concession stand. She pointed toward Finn and gave Maggie a thumbs-up sign. Maggie frowned at Hazel and shook her head insistently, but Hazel continued to grin.
Maggie frowned. First Ruby. And now Hazel. She didn’t want to have to explain to everyone later on about her platonic relationship with Finn. Was she sending out signals about wanting more than friendship? How could she expect Oliver not to get confused when most of the town seemed to be questioning their status?
“Don’t mind the looks and the stares,” Finn instructed. “In a place called Love, the residents are always looking for the next couple. Don’t let it bother you.”
“I’m sure they mean well, but it’s a little nerve-racking.”
“I grabbed a blanket from the warming area. If we sit over there you can keep an eye on Oliver without him seeing us,” Finn suggested. “Plus, we won’t have to be the object of any whispers.”
Maggie nodded in agreement. She was fine with Oliver dogsledding, but she didn’t mind watching him from a discreet distance. And Maggie had never enjoyed being stared at. Although the townsfolk of Love weren’t being mean-spirited, she had endured enough stares in Boston to last a lifetime.
As they moved toward a quiet area with a clear view of the dogsled track, Finn found a perfect spot and took a moment to lay a blanket down on the ground. They both sat and got comfortable.
“I have some hand warmers if you need them,” Finn said, patting his jacket pocket.
“I’m good for now. This cup is really warming up my hands.”
They each sipped their warm ciders. With a full moon set amid an onyx sky, Maggie couldn’t help but admire the beautiful surroundings. She felt so tranquil and relaxed. She knew it wasn’t just the winter carnival or the townsfolk or Oliver’s effusive joy.
“Do you think I’ve changed a lot?” Maggie asked Finn. Being here tonight at the winter carnival reminded her of the last time she’d been at a holiday event here in town. It had felt like a trip down memory lane. She had been ten years old. A lifetime ago for all intents and purposes. Sometimes she wished she still had a sense of childhood wonder. Back then she hadn’t been nervous at all about riding a dogsled. Over the years she’d become more of an anxious person. Pushing past those fears was the best remedy for anxiety. She was trying really hard in all areas of her life to be braver than she felt.
“Not really. Maybe a little bit. Have I?” Finn asked. He ran his hand across his jaw. “Aside from growing into a ruggedly handsome man,” he said in a teasing voice, “I think I’m still me.”
“At first you seemed really different,” Maggie said. She smirked at him. “But once I scratched the surface, you’re the same old Finn.”
“Thanks. I think,” he said with a low-throated chuckle.
“I meant it as a compliment. Sometimes I feel like the best parts of me ended up being chewed up by life. You
