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She stepped out the back door and walked down to the lit pathway The night was freezing, but clear So far there wasn’t any snow in the forecast Stars twinkled in the dark sky
The wagon, decorated with swinging battery-operated lanterns and wreaths, stood by the barn Shane had already hooked up the horses Christmas music played from a stereo somewhere, and the scent of hot chocolate drifted on the air Two cars had already pulled up, and children and adults were spilling out into the hay-riding loading area
Evie watched the a familiar blonde woman She was about to wave to Nevada when she realized the hair was all wrong, as was the ht Montana, she remembered
She walked over “You came for a hayride”
“How could we resist? I can’t believe you have ti with the dance,” Montana said “We can’t wait to see it This is Sihter, Skye”
Evie glanced down at the baby, prepared to give the obligatory coo New parents expected that But as she parted her lips to say so, Skye opened her eyes and stared at her The baby’s mouth was a perfect rosebud shape The corners turned up as tiny hands clapped together in exciteled and reached for her
“She likes you,” Montana said with a laugh “She’s such a flirt Would you like to hold her?”
Evie nodded and held out her arms Montana handed over the happy baby
Skye was lighter than Evie expected, but war and waving her tiny fingers
Beyond pro herself that she would never want her child to feel about her the way she felt about May, Evie hadn’t thought e and kids as so Someday Just not now
But holding Skye made her ache in a way she never had before She saw possibilities and happiness in the baby’s face Parts of her long dor, she realized She wanted what others considered norer wanted to live her life on the outside—watching everyone else be a part of soer than themselves
She briefly wondered what Annabelle and Shane’s baby would look like and suffered a pang when she realized if she kept to her plan of leaving, she wouldn’t be here to see him or her born
“She’s so beautiful,” Evie murmured, then passed back the baby
“I wish I could take credit,” Montana said with a laugh “But she gets her looks from her dad”
“Have fun,” Evie told her, then reluctantly walked toward the wagon
More cars pulled up, and the wagon was loaded Evie was kept busy posing for pictures with the children and helping people up and down the stairs When Athena, the ht her by her red-and-green collar
“Not so fast, oat Athena dipped her head and nibbled on Evie’s shoe
They did a steady business Soht, she took a break
“You look great,” Dante s for the cocoa “Love the ears Seriously Do you get to keep them?”
She grinned “Having an elf fantasy, are we?”
“The outfit is really working for me”
They were by the back door Music and laughter surrounded them, but they seemed cut off from the rest of the world She stared into his eyes and wondered what it would be like to get lost in a guy like Dante What it would be like to not be afraid to love
“How are you doing with your faetherness?”
“I’ okay,” she said, pleased she was able to say the words and know they were the truth “They’re growing on ood way” She touched his arm “Brace yourself”
“I’m braced”
“You were right About me and my mom”
“Can I get that on a statue of some kind?”
She laughed “No, but I’to see things fro when her husband died There was a lot on her plate She could have done better, but no one is perfect”
“Forgiveness?”
“I’ there”
“I’htly “And later, you, me and the ears?”
She was still laughing when she walked back toward the petting zoo
“There she is!”
Evie turned toward the fa toward her with an older wonize the mayor
“This is“She’s a wonderful dancer She’s taken on The Dance of the Winter King by herself, and we’re all so proud of her”
Evie felt herself flushing, unaccusto in to help,” she murmured “I didn’t want my students to be disappointed”
“I’m sure they won’t be,” the mayor told her “Do” The older wo to be very happy here in Fool’s Gold You need this town and we need you”
The statement was meant kindly, Evie told herself Even if it was a little spooky
“Thank you”
She returned to her elf duties Heidi gave in to several pleas froht Priscilla down to the barn for pictures Evie found herself organizing the line and then taking several of the pictures so the faoats and the elephant and the decorated wagon
“I want you next to irl said, then turned to her father “Daddy, can the girl elf be in the picture?”
Dante ot this one,” he told her “Go on Be a star”
“It’s the ears,” she told him in a whisper “Apparently they’re irresistible”
He chuckled and waved her into position She crouched next to the little girl and s in several pictures The evening sped by as more families arrived for their hayride
A little before nine, the last of the cars drove away Dante and Shane walked Priscilla back to her custos to be washed
“That was fun,” Evie ad but good How hts do you have the hayrides?”
She glanced at Heidi and saw her sister-in-law standing with her hand pressed against her stomach, her expression joyful and intense
“Heidi?” Evie took a step toward her “Are you all right?”