[Kate's Boys 03] - Mistletoe and Miracles by Marie Ferrarella

Author:Marie Ferrarella [Ferrarella, Marie]
Language: fra
Format: epub
Publisher: SSE #1941
Published: 2008-11-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Laurel lengthened her stride to keep from falling behind. Because it was spring break, Knott’s Berry Farm’s hours began earlier than usual and they had been here since the gates had opened.

Throughout the first few hours, she kept glancing at Cody’s face, hoping for some indication that this “field trip” would be the key that would finally open the glass prison that surrounded her son. That magically he would turn into the little boy she’d brought here about fourteen months ago. A lifetime ago.

Back then Cody’s bright blue eyes had been as big as saucers as he had tried to take in everything at once. Eighty percent of the park looked like weathered scenes from the Wild West and Cody had just discovered cowboys, thanks to an old John Wayne movie on the classic movie channel. His usual gusto for life had all but doubled and he’d been completely enthralled.

But when they’d arrived here this morning, that enthusiasm had been conspicuously absent. His face expressionless, it was as if Cody were sleepwalking through the experience.

The stagecoach ride they took, with Cody seated on top, next to the driver, did nothing to change his demeanor. Neither did the old-fashioned train ride, a rickety fifteen-minute trip, complete with a set of train robbers who bantered with the passengers they were pretending to rob. When one of the robbers attempted to draw Cody into the scenario, the boy merely stared at him. The “robber,” sensing something was wrong, quickly moved on to another boy.

Laurel sighed as they got off the train. It was a noble plan, but it wasn’t working.

She watched Trent swing the little boy off the metal step between the coupled cars and place him down onto the ground. The magic she’d once felt here was gone. “Maybe we should go home,” she suggested.

The magic she’d once felt here was gone. “Maybe we should go home,” she suggested.

Trent looked at her, mild surprise in his eyes. “Why?”

She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “It’s not working and there’s no reason for you to waste the rest of your day.”

“I’ve got no place else to be,” he told Laurel. “Do you?”

Two children holding half-eaten cones of cotton candy raced by her, ahead of their parents. She stepped aside to avoid a collision. “No.”

“Then, since we’re here, we might as well stay,” Trent said philosophically. He thought a moment. “Did Cody have a favorite ride here?”

Laurel laughed softly. “The log ride,” she told him.

Damp from the spray that had hit them as the “log” they were riding in had splashed into the water, she and Cody would get off and run to the end of the line, ready for another ride. He couldn’t seem to get his fill of it. And each and every time, Cody had clutched her hand excitedly, squeezing it and shrieking with joy as they had ridden the log down a thirty-foot plunge.

What she wouldn’t give to have that back.

“All right, then we’ll hit the log ride,” Trent declared.

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