Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.

Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Going Skating

“Are we there yet?” Lynn looked out the window at the passing houses.

“You’re lucky we’re going at all, Lynn. After the spectacle you put on last night.” Her mom said. “This really isn’t like you.”

“She wasn’t nice to Uncle Ian.”

“Sure she was. What do you mean?” Her dad asked.

Lynn’s mouth dropped open. “Don’t you have eyes? She was making faces at him.”

“I didn’t see that.” Her mom said, turning around. “What kind of faces?”

Lynn saw her dad looking at her in the rear view mirror, so she started mimicking Millie’s faces. She rolled her eyes and drew her mouth into a smirk as if she was reacting to a bad smell.

“I definitely didn’t see that.” Steve laughed.

“Honey, that’s just her face. Some people look like that without meaning to.” Nancy said. “I wouldn’t read anything into it.”

Lynn wept inconsolably. Bradley began sympathy crying.

“Oh, brother.” Steve said with a shake of his head. “Now what?”

“I don’t want Caleb’s mommy to be my aunt…”

“Pretty sure you put an end to that last night, Lynn. I can tell you, it’s nothing to be proud of.”

Lynn and Bradley continued crying all the louder.

“I don’t know. We might have to turn around and go home.” Steve said.

The crying in the back seat settled down to sniffling and quiet groaning.

“That’s better.” Nancy said. “Oh, look. I got a text from Uncle Ian.”

“Is he coming?” Lynn whimpered.

“Yes, he is. You two better get back on your best behavior. You don’t want him skating all by himself, do you?”

“No.” Lynn said, wiping tears away with her mittens.
“Aunt Ivy, what are we going to do when we’re done skating?” Chelsea yelled from the back seat.

Ivy laughed. “Chelsea, my car’s not that big. You don’t have to yell, silly.”

“We haven’t even got to the skating rink yet. Why are you worried about what’s next?” Kendra chided her.

“Kendra’s right, honey. Let’s go skating for a while and we’ll figure out what’s next when we’re ready to leave. Okay?”

“Okay. Do you think they have pink skates?”

“I don’t know.” Ivy said as she turned into the parking lot. “Maybe? I guess we’ll find out in a moment.”

“Get ready, Chelsea.” Kendra said. “We’re here.”

“Yay! Can you unbuckle me?”

“Hang on, honey. I’ll come back and get you out.” Ivy said as she pulled into a parking spot.

They made their way inside and Ivy rented three pairs of skates. Fortunately, they had pink ones for Chelsea.

“Hold my hands.” Ivy said, holding them out for her nieces. Kendra took her left hand and Chelsea her right.

The girls were a little wobbly at first but Kendra soon got the hang of it. Chelsea took longer to find her balance, but soon she was skating on her own by her aunt’s side.

The music switched between popular Christmas tunes and Top 40 hits as they skated along with the crowd. Lights from the rafters drew colorful patterns on the ice and the walls.

Once she managed to stop looking at her feet and skate more freely, Chelsea scanned the crowd for familiar faces.

“Kendra! Aunt Ivy! Over there!”

Kendra was so startled by the outburst that she wiped out. “Chelsea! You scared me!”

Ivy helped her to get back to her feet while Chelsea hung on to the hem of her coat. “Are you okay, Kendra?”

“I’m sorry, Kendra.”

“What did you yell for? You scared the life out of me.” Kendra glared at her sister.

Chelsea looked around the crowd and pointed. “That’s my friend from school.”

“Who? Lynn?” Kendra wiped at her pants to shake off the ice shavings and cold moisture.

“Yes! It’s Lynn! HI, LYNN!!!” Chelsea tried to hop up and wave but she wiped out like her sister just had.

“Oh, my goodness. Chelsea, be careful.” Ivy knelt down to help her niece back to her feet.

By the time everyone was standing again, Lynn and her family had nearly caught up to where they were on the ice.

“Hi, Lynn!” Chelsea waved.

Lynn smiled and skated ahead of the others. “Hi, Chelsea! I didn’t know you would be here today. I’m so glad to see you.”

“Who’s your friend, Lynn?” Her dad asked.

“This is my friend, Chelsea, from school.”

“Hi, Chelsea. I’m Lynn’s dad and this is her mom.”

“And Bradley.” Chelsea said. “You were right, Lynn. He looks just like Bradley.”

Bradley smiled proudly. He didn’t know why they were talking about him but he was excited to be the focus of their attention.

“Hi, I’m Ivy Donegan.” Ivy extended a hand and Nancy shook it. “I’m Kendra and Chelsea’s aunt.”

“Oh,” Nancy said. “we’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You have?”

“Your PEZ collection made a big impression on Lynn.” Steve said. “I’m Steve Woodard.”

“Nancy Woodard.” Nancy raised her hand. “We’re Lynn and Bradley’s parents.”

“So nice to meet you. I hear Lynn is quite the artist.” Ivy said.

“She draws me pictures all the time.” Chelsea said. “I have a special picture frame to put them in.”

“It’s true.” Kendra added.

“Mommy put Rudolph in the frame for me when I got home yesterday.”

Lynn blushed. “I just wanted you to be happy. Can you skate, Chelsea? We can skate together. Can me and Chelsea go skating, Mommy?”

“Chelsea and I, Lynn. We can all skate together if it’s okay with her Aunt Ivy.” Nancy said.

“I don’t see why not.” Ivy said with a smile. “I’m glad Chelsea made a friend already.”

Steve looked over her shoulder and smiled as if he recognized someone. He nodded as if to signal them.

“So, Ivy, what do you do?” Nancy asked as they rejoined the flow of skaters circling the rink.

“I’m a graphic designer.”

“How interesting. Do you work for…?”

“I’m freelance.”

“Oh, my Brother-In-Law does freelance work, too.”

Ivy could hear someone skate up behind them.

“Hiya, Nancy.” He said. “Is this another one of your friends?”