Bethel lifted a cup of steaming cider to her lips and took a sip. “I know I should be a lot happier about this. But those two kids are leaving us with nothing to do,” she groused from the sidelines of the ice-skating rink.
“I know. I thought we’d surely have to do a little more meddling,” Eileen said with a grumble of her own.
“Yes. They appear to be falling in love,” Maggie sighed, too happy to be grumpy about it.
“What are you ladies up to?”
The three women turned guilty stares to their friend Martin Whitman.
“Oh, just enjoying watching the kids skate,” Bethel said. Unfortunately, she’d never been good at telling a fib and she flushed, but she hoped he thought it was from the cold.
His eyes narrowed and he looked out at the ice. It didn’t take long for him to home in on Hawk and Natalie, who were still locked in a passionate embrace.
“Enjoying the show, huh?” he said as he sat down.
“Yes. The kids are really getting good,” Eileen said with a nervous giggle.
“Somehow I don’t think it’s the little kids you’re watching,” Martin said with a laugh. “You know, you’d better spill everything to me right now, or I might have to figure it out on my own and tell other people what you’re up to.”
Maggie’s outrage showed only too clearly. “Martin Whitman, you wouldn’t dare.”
“I’m sure your husband wouldn’t be too pleased if he learns that you’re meddling in the kids’ lives,” Martin said with a self-satisfied grin.
“All right. Fine, then,” Maggie snapped, and she gave a nod to her two best friends.
They spilled the whole story. They would be pleased to know that their meddling was putting some ideas into Martin’s head about his own stubborn sons, who still refused to settle down . . .
chapter 14
The stage filled with children in red, white, and green, and even a few in traditional costumes associated with the Near East and Africa. The young performers giggled as they looked out upon the audience, searching for their parents and waving excitedly.
Natalie felt like she was going to be sick. They weren’t ready! She was going to prove herself a failure—had she taught them well, given them good direction? Or would they choke out there?
The last week of rehearsals had zipped right by. The only things she could remember about the time were the looks that Hawk threw her from across the gym, making her forget her voice as she tried to sing along with the kids. Now Natalie was standing in the wings, shaking in her nice slacks as the auditorium filled with parents all expecting to see a show as good as the one put on last year.
“Calm down. It’ll be fine.”
Hawk was standing beside her, a reassuring smile on his lips. But instead of calming down, she felt her heart pick up speed while she remembered that twelve short hours ago he hadn’t been telling her to calm down. He’d been making her cry out.
“I can’t do this,” she said in a hushed wail.
“Not only can you do this, but you will do it, and you’ll do it well. I’ve been here with you the entire time. You’re amazing with the kids. They love you. And so they’ll perform their little hearts out for you.” He rested a hand on her shoulder.
The gesture settled her down, finally. Hawk believed in her, and if this man, a man she was falling so deeply for, believed in her, how could she go wrong?
“You’ll save me if I freeze?” Funny question to ask a fire chief . . .
“I won’t need to rescue you, Natalie. You’re confident, beautiful, and more than capable of hosting a pageant. Go and knock the socks off these parents.”
He nudged her forward, and Natalie had no choice but to step from behind the curtain and face the entire town. Feeling her cheeks turn as bright as the lights she was under, Natalie nevertheless walked to the microphone with what she hoped appeared to be confidence. A hush fell over the crowd as the children behind her continued to giggle and wave.
“Thank you all for coming out this snowy evening.” Natalie felt her throat tighten. These people didn’t want her to fail. They just wanted to enjoy their children. If only she’d realized this sooner, she wouldn’t have been such a wreck.