Free The Patricia Kiyono Christmas Collection by Patricia Kiyono Page A

since he’d been on roller skates,
and he hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself. But Angie’s friends
were all going and she’d been so excited he couldn’t deny her the
chance to go. Hopefully someone on the rink would be worse than he
was.
    His rented skates seemed a little loose, but
he didn’t want to get back in line for a smaller pair. Taking a
deep breath, he reminded himself he could do it, and then rose off
the bench, trying to keep his balance. His feet shot in opposite
directions and he grabbed for the bench before he did the
splits.
    The community rink was fairly new. Bright
lights flashed from globes suspended from the ceiling and reminded
Mitch of old movies from the disco era. A three-foot wall
surrounded the skating area, and parents who didn’t skate with
their children leaned along the ledge as they socialized with each
other.
    Mitch managed to stay
upright by barely lifting his feet and going very slowly. Small
children skated around them, but thankfully Angie didn’t mind. She
clung to his hand, her little feet clomping along on her beginner
skates. The helpful boy at the rental counter had recommended them.
“The wheels only roll one way, so when she pushes off, her feet
won’t go in opposite directions.” Too bad
they don’t make those special skates for adults , Mitch groused.
    Mitch was about to suggest that they take a
break so that he could give his wobbly legs a chance to rest when
Angie shrieked. “Sophie’s here!”
    Mitch looked up, and there on the other side
of the rink, an angel glided across the floor. In no time, the
vision came around the rink and passed them. She executed a
graceful turn and greeted them while skating backward. “Well,
hello, Angie and... Angie’s Dad.”
    “ Sophie, I can skate too!”
Angie let go of her father’s hand and dashed across the rink toward
Sophie. Mitch felt that familiar tug of fear whenever Angie left
him, and his hands went up as if to stop her, but as his daughter
reached Sophie, he realized the familiar panic wasn’t there. It was
as if Angie wasn’t leaving him, but merely going to another part of
him.
    “ Mister, are you okay?” A
young boy peered at him with worried eyes. “You’ve been standing
there for a while. Do you need help to get to the gate?”
    He probably did look strange just standing
there. “I’m fine, but thanks for asking. I just — remembered
something I need to do.”
    The boy nodded and skated away.
    Mitch groaned inwardly. He’d been afraid of
being a spectacle because of his lack of skating skills, but he was
just as much of a geek for standing still. Best to get moving.
    He made his way over to the edge of the
rink. Now that he wasn’t holding Angie’s hand, he could look around
the entire rink, and he realized that the glass surrounding it
reflected everything happened within. While most people glided with
natural motions, his legs were straight and stiff, moving in short,
choppy motions.
    He found an empty bench outside the rink and
sat, his legs thanking him for putting them out of their misery.
The bench was close enough that he could watch Angie scooting
around, first with Sophie, then with other kids in her class.
Sophie was a natural, both as a skater and with the kids. Her wide
green eyes caught everything, and when kids got into scuffles or
went too fast for safety, she used her whistle to get their
attention, but then bent and spoke to them quietly. Angie was in
good hands.
    With a guilty start, he swiveled his head to
look for his daughter. She and another girl skated hand in hand,
chatting happily. He recognized the girl as one from her class.
Mary or Mandy or something like that. It was good to see her making
new friends.
    “ Mind if I sit here?” a
feminine voice called from somewhere above.
    Mitch swiveled toward the
voice and his nose nearly brushed against a
very tight red sweater. Every curve was on display, and a few of
them poured out from the top. Mitch’s throat dried, and his