Holiday on Ice
by
Disclaimer: Story mine. Characters sorta. Picture #1
Written: November 29, 2008
"C'mon Mom," called Kailey Adams, tugging on her mother's hand. "I wanna go faster."
"Kailey," said Beth Adams, "What's the rush? The ice isn't going anywhere." Beth chuckled at her daughter, her green eyes twinkling in amusement.
"I wanna go faster, and we've gotta be on the inside to do that," the girl said. She'd just caught the eye of her coconspirator, and knew it was almost time.
Gamely Beth followed her daughter into the inner ring of the skating area. They'd gone about a half lap at a speed she wasn't quite comfortable with when she saw a blue blur out of the corner of her eye.
"John!" Mitch Hayes shouted. "Watch out!" Too late. She'd tried to catch up to her son, but was too late to stop him from cutting off a woman with a long strawberry-blonde braid. She reached out to catch the woman.
Kailey let go of her mother's hand and dug in her toe pick just as John sped in front of them laughing. He and Kailey spun around to watch what happened next.
Beth felt the loss of her daughter's hand as the blue blur streaked in front of her. She tried to stop, but lost her balance in the process. Her arms windmilling, she spun around as she fell and ran smack into another skater. Both went down in a tangle of arms and legs, knocking the breath out of them.
When Mitch could speak she chuckled, "Usually I try to find out a woman's name before I let her top me."
Beth blushed. "I'm sorry. I got cut off and lost my balance." She made no move to get up as she was captivated by the blue eyes before her.
"I know. I'm sorry; that was my son who cut you off." She paused. "I'm Mitch Hayes by the way… and you are?"
"Oh," the petite blonde blushed again. "I'm Beth Adams." She rolled off the other woman, but their gazes remained locked.
Off to the side Kailey and John high-fived each other.
Gracefully Mitch got up and held her hand out to Beth, flinging her raven locks out of her face as she did so.
Beth took the proffered hand and stood a little shakily, grimacing as she put weight on her ankle.
Mitch noticed the look and said, "Why don't I buy you some hot chocolate to make up for my son's recklessness?"
"Hot chocolate sounds good, but you don't have to buy…"
"Oh, I insist," Mitch said good-naturedly. Turning to look at the coconspirators she said, "C'mon you two."
The four of them made their way to the exit. Guiding them to a table, Mitch said, "Beth, why don't you and Kailey sit here while John and I get the drinks?"
Beth looked like she was going to protest, but thought better of it when her ankle twinged again. She merely said, "Alright," and watched as mother and son headed off to the drink stand.
Once they were out of earshot Mitch looked at her son sternly. "You did that on purpose didn't you." It wasn't a question. John didn't reply, but the grin on his face was answer enough. "You do realize that Beth got hurt don't you? She may have sprained her ankle."
John paled. "I didn't mean for her to get hurt," he said plaintively.
"Then what did you mean?"
"Um…" John hedged. "I just wanted you two to meet. Kailey and I thought…"
Mitch tried to remain stern, but she smiled inwardly when she realized what her son was saying. "You thought what?"
"Well… um…" John blushed. His mother's arched eyebrow caused words to tumble forth. "We thought that it would be really nice for you and Ms Adams to get together, you know…" John trailed off, his eight year old brain not really knowing how to go any farther.
"I see," was all Mitch said, but inwardly she was grinning from ear to ear. She thought her son had good taste.
Returning a few moments later with steaming cups of hot chocolate, John handed one to Beth and said, "I'm really sorry Ms Adams. I didn't mean for you to get hurt." He hung his head in shame.
Beth noticed his wording and glanced at his mother. "But you did mean something, I take it?"
John gulped, but his mother rescued him by saying, "Kailey, would you like to fill your mom in on what happened today?"
Kailey turned beat red, knowing they'd been caught. Beth looked at her daughter with an arched eyebrow in unknowing imitation of Mitch.
"Well, um…" Kailey looked at her coconspirator for help, but John still hung his head in shame. "We, um… John and I thought that you and Ms Hayes would get along really well, and um…" she trailed off.
Beth glanced at Mitch, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It seems like our kids went to an awful lot of trouble to introduce us."
"They certainly did."
The two women looked at each other for several seconds before Beth said, "I'd hate to put all their hard work to waste…"
Mitch smiled. "How 'bout I take you to my place so I can get a look at that ankle, then we'll see…" she trailed off hopefully.
"Sounds like a plan."
Story by: Akiela Xal
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