The rest of the day passed in a happy blur, and after the enormous and delicious meal Rose had made—Ellen had done both the potatoes and the swede—they all dressed in their Sunday best for church, piling into the horse-drawn sled to make the snowy journey to St Paul’s, the Presbyterian church in Stella.
Ellen had been to church before,
of course, every Sunday. She sat in the pew with all the McCaffertys and mostly let the hymns and the preaching wash over her.
Yet that Christmas, as creamy white candles flickered at the end of every holly-decked pew, she felt a strange softening inside of her, and she silently fumbled for words.
Dear God.
She shifted in her seat, unsure if God really wanted to hear from her after so long a silence. She thought of her mam’s face, smiling even in her pain, and Da’s determination to leave. The kindness everyone on the island had shown her, and the warmth and love she’d experienced at the McCaffertys. And then, suddenly, she thought of the beautiful velvet dress she’d received only that morning.
Dear God, she tried again, the words coming slowly but with certainty. Thank you for everything. And please keep everyone safe—all the McCaffertys and Jed and Lucas too, and even Aunt Ruth and Uncle Hamish. She paused, frowning in thought, and then added silently, the prayer heartfelt, and Da too, wherever he is. Watch over him, God. Please. If you can.
She supposed, being God, he could.
The day after Christmas everyone piled in the sled once more, and pulled by the McCaffertys’ two bay horses they headed for the lake. A large area had been cleared by Stella’s waterfront, and it seemed as if half the island was there on Boxing Day, trying out their new skates.
Although the lake didn’t freeze from shore to shore in the course of a normal winter, the shallow inlets and bays froze hard enough for skaters to enjoy themselves without fear of falling through.
“It looks like we bought out Sears Roebuck’s catalogue with all these skates!” Dyle said with a wink, and then made a big show of bumbling all over the ice, even though everyone knew he was one of the best skaters there, and had won a race last winter.
Ellen stood by one of the braziers set up along the perimeter of the rink with Lily McAndrew, warming her hands. She wasn’t quite ready to venture out on that slick expanse. She’d most likely fall head over heels.
Jed skated by, stopping neatly with a little spray of ice. “Cold, Ellen?” he said, his eyes glinting. “Or just cold feet?”
Ellen lifted her chin. “It’s true I’ve never skated before,” she replied, “but I’m willing to try.”
“Let’s see you, then,” Jed dared her, and Ellen swallowed nervously. The last thing she wanted was to skate for the first time with Jed Lyman looking on, but it seemed as if she had no choice... not if she wanted to keep her dignity.
Although, Ellen acknowledged glumly, her dignity would suffer if she fell flat on her face, which, gazing down at the slick ice, seemed perfectly possible.
“Leave Ellen alone, Jed,” Lily said, her hands on her hips. “She doesn’t have to prove nothing to you.”
Jed just smiled, although to Ellen it looked more like a smirk. He arched an eyebrow, his hands on his hips, as comfortable in skates as if he’d been born wearing them. “Well, Miss Bossy?”
Ellen hesitated, and Jed held out his hand. “You can skate right to me. I’ll catch you when you fall.”
When, not if. “Sure you will,” Ellen retorted, and for a tiny second Jed looked almost hurt.
“I mean what I say.”
They’d gathered a little knot of spectators now, mostly children, watching with an avid curiosity that made Ellen’s stomach plummet sickeningly. She hated being the center of attention, and she knew she couldn’t back out now. Lily grabbed her arm.
“Don’t listen to him, Ellen,” she urged but something in her, whether it was pride or determination or just plain stubbornness, made Ellen shake off her friend’s hand. She wasn’t going to let Jed Lyman get the best of her, not in any way.
“Very well,” she said and pushed off. The first step she took was easy. Her skate cut neatly through the ice and she sailed in a perfect line towards Jed. She heard Caro cheer and Sarah clap, and she gave Jed a dazzling, triumphant smile.
Then she put her other foot down, meaning to push off again, but somehow the ice felt more slippery now, and the movement upset her balance so she began to wobble. She flung her arms out as her heart leapt into her throat and then she made the mistake of looking down. The ice looked very hard and far away, and she could see the black-looking water underneath. She pushed her skate forward again, wobbling worse now, and Jed reached forward to catch her by the arms before she hit the ice face-first.
Ellen felt his arms close around her shoulders and slowly he righted her. Her face flamed, bracing herself for Jed’s mockery. But to her surprise, he merely murmured in her ear, “Not bad, Miss Bossy.”
Ellen straightened and stepped away, wobbling once more before she finally righted herself and thankfully managed to stay still. “I suppose I need a bit more practice,” she said, keeping her head held high, and Caro skated up to her, lacing her arm with hers.
“Of course you do, Ellen,” she said. “We all do. But that was brilliant.”
Not quite looking at Jed, Ellen let Caro lead her away.
The New Year’s dance was a merry affair in Stella’s village hall, and Ellen was looking forward to it with great enthusiasm. All the McCaffertys would be going, everyone in their Sunday best—or even better, for Ellen was wearing her red velvet dress.