“They’re not coming at all?” Lauren couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. She’d been looking forward to sharing Christmas with her best friend.
“Doesn’t sound like it,” Seth said and continued quickly, “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some breakfast.”
Ivy tugged at her father’s sweater. “Then can we open presents?”
“Yes, princess.” Seth smiled. “Then we’ll open presents.”
The sun hung low in the sky and the interior of the older home had taken on a slight chill. Lauren twisted her new sterling silver bracelet back and forth around her wrist and waited for Seth to fetch her and Ivy for their next adventure. He’d told them he had a surprise but refused to tell them the plans. Though his daughter had tried to wheedle it out of him, Lauren hadn’t bothered. Whatever it was, she was confident she was going to like it. After all, the whole day had been one wonderful adventure after another.
The breakfast Seth had fixed had been magnificent. Lauren couldn’t remember the last time she’d tasted orange juice from the carton so sweet or eaten bacon so perfectly crisp.
Opening presents had been hilarious—with Ivy declaring each gift to be her favorite—as well as touching because of the child’s delight and appreciation for everything she received. She’d loved the pink heart necklace Lauren had given her and insisted on putting it on the moment it was out of the gift sack.
After all Ivy’s gifts were open, Lauren expected Seth to take center stage. He told her it was tradition that gifts were opened by age—from youngest to oldest—and since she was younger than him, she would go next. Lauren had been struck dumb. Didn’t he realize there were no gifts for her to open?
Before she could figure out how to gracefully remind him of that fact, Ivy had reached under the tree and pulled out two packages. The first present had been a Christmas mug filled with Hershey’s Kisses. Lauren had immediately popped a couple in her mouth and then raved about the cup and the chocolates. Ivy had beamed. The second gift had been a silver bracelet from Seth.
Lauren swallowed hard against the lump in her throat When she’d opened the box and saw the bracelet nestled inside, she hadn’t known what to say. The bracelet was perfect—delicate, classy, just the type she’d have chosen for herself.
The rest of the day had flown by. Between baking Kringles for the neighbors—another tradition—and Seth teaching her how to roast chestnuts in the fireplace, Lauren had been so busy she’d barely thought about her family. Only after both Stacie and Anna had called to wish them a Merry Christmas did it hit Lauren that she hadn’t heard from her parents.
She shoved aside the hurt and told herself it didn’t matter. She was going on another adventure. And, after a brief afternoon nap, she felt up to whatever Seth had planned. As he’d instructed, she and Ivy were dressed in their warmest clothes.
“Daddy says this is a special surprise.” Ivy piped up from her spot in the living room. Her voice quivered with excitement as her uninjured leg swung back and forth. “Can you see him? What’s he doing?”
Lauren moved to the window and pushed back the draperies. She pressed close to the glass but the windows were so frosty, it was impossible to see out. “I can’t see much except snow.”
After dumping a foot of the white stuff last night, the storm had moved out of the area, leaving behind a winter wonderland. The snow in the yard surrounding the ranch house glistened like a thousand diamonds.
The front door was flung open with a clatter. “Are you ready?”
“We’re ready.” Lauren stepped away from the window. Since he’d told them to dress warm, Lauren had put Ivy in her new snowsuit. Thankfully Grandma Anderssen had bought it extra big. Though she knew they wouldn’t be going on a hike, Lauren had even put a boot on Ivy’s uninjured leg.
For herself, Lauren had been forced to improvise. Because her coat was lightweight, she’d tried to layer. At least she had warm boots.
Seth’s gaze swept over his daughter, and he nodded his approval. But when he turned to Lauren, his brows pulled together. “That coat doesn’t look like it would keep you warm on a day that was fifty and sunny.”
‘It’s all I have.” Lauren lifted her chin, wishing she’d gone for substance, rather than style, when choosing a coat to wear to Seth’s house. “I put a long-sleeved tee under my sweater, so I should be good.”
“I don’t think so.” With a determined expression, Seth reached past her and opened the closet door. He rummaged around, finally pulling out a thick dark gray coat with a hood. It reminded Lauren of one you’d wear in Maine on a moose hunt. Or in Montana doing...something. “You can borrow this one.”
Seth held the coat out to her. After hanging up her jacket, Lauren slipped her arms into the sleeves and Seth pulled the coat around her and zipped it up. A faint woodsy scent of cologne clung to the lining and teased her nostrils.
“This will keep you warm.” He flipped up the hood over the pastel-striped stocking cap Anna had given to her and tied it securely under her chin. Then he grabbed a scarf from the closet and looped it loosely around her neck. “Now you’re ready to go.”
“Where are we headed?” Lauren chuckled. “The North Pole?”
Ivy, looking like a little Eskimo on the settee, giggled. “I want to go to there and see the elves.”
Seth smiled mysteriously and opened the front door with a flourish. “Ladies, your carriage awaits.”
Lauren stepped onto the front porch. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the old-fashioned sleigh. Small and compact with tufted upholstery, the wood body was the same rich burgundy as the seats. Several cream-colored stripes painted on the glossy side accentuated the deep color. Lauren was
