Chapter 16 #2
Willa Rose stuck out her fist. “I can spare one hour, but I don’t want any more blind dates until after Valentine’s Day. I’m going to be busy getting everything arranged for my grand opening.”
Bernie bumped it with hers and nodded. “Agreed on both counts.”
“Miz Bernie,” Dara called from across the barn. “Will you come pass judgment on these curtains?”
“Of course.” Bernie raised her voice. “I do wish we would have had time to do a practice run on the program like we did at the church. But the blizzard stopped that, so we’ll just have to do what we can.
Don’t either of you forget. Monday at five.
Oh, and Tripp, there will be a red rose and a sprig of mistletoe on your table, and Willa Rose, you look for a yellow one with a little mistletoe on yours. ”
“Yes, ma’am,” Tripp said.
Yellow roses reminded Willa Rose of the flowers her ex always brought her, and she had come to hate them almost as much as she did the name Zachary. She turned to face Tripp and said, “I guess we’re going on a date. Are you bringing Melanie as your plus one to Audrey and Brodie’s wedding?”
“Hell, no!” Tripp answered. “I’m going to be polite, walk her to the door, and never call her for a second date.”
“If that’s your plan, then don’t tell her that you will call,” Willa Rose told him. “That gives a woman false hope.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. How are you going to handle your date?”
“If he calls or asks for a second date, I will be honest and say that I’m too busy for a relationship. Why did you agree in the first place?” she asked.
“So that Bernie would back off until after the holidays. How about you?”
“Same,” Willa Rose answered. “And to throw her off track about me staying or going. Now the wagers will hold steady. After all, if it’s love at first sight with Zachary, then I’ll be moving out of Spanish Fort, and she won’t have to worry about us getting involved.
But”—she lowered her voice—“I hate yellow roses. I don’t believe in that crap about mistletoe.
And I would never even kiss a man named Zachary. ”
“Why?” Tripp asked.
“My ex brought me yellow roses. Mistletoe is a parasite. That should be enough of an explanation. And…” She went on to tell him about the little boy in her class when she did her practice teaching.
Tripp laughed so hard that all the conversations and noise in the barn ceased, and everyone stared at him. “Willa Rose just told me a funny kid story,” he explained.
A few smiled, and the quietness ended.
Tripp turned his focus back to Willa Rose and asked, “What do we need to do next?”
“I’ve decided to leave the cutouts in the yard,” Willa Rose said. “We’ll have all our choir singers standing around the barn to help Bo with the singing, and of course the little kids on the carousel will be adding their voices.
“And then the older folks who will take their places for what I guess will be funny songs. I haven’t seen the actual song list so I’m not sure what they’ll sing,” Willa Rose said. “After that, Remy and Joe Clay will open the curtains for the serious part of the program.”
“Mary Jane is getting the smoke smell out of the costumes for that part,” Tripp said. “She says for us to string twinkle lights around the barn door and hang a wreath on it. I’ve brought in several boxes, so if you tall guys will help me, we can all make it to the house to eat right at noon.”
“While the guys are doing that, the rest of us can set up the chairs,” Willa Rose said.
Dara grabbed the first folding chair and carried it to the back of the barn. “Should we reserve the first couple of rows for the parents of the little kids? That way they wouldn’t have to chase through the whole congregation when their part is over.”
“Great idea,” Willa Rose said as she and several others followed Dara’s lead. “And we sure appreciate all y’all’s help in getting this put together.”
“Anything to get out of the trailers for a little while,” Eli said.
“We are so ready to be home, but come spring, we’ll be itchin’ to get back on the road. It’s the best of two lives,” Dara said.
“So, would you raise kids in the carnival?” Tripp asked.
“Of course,” Eli answered. “Dara was born in Oklahoma and taken on her first round when she was only six weeks old. We’ll raise our family the same way she was—homeschooled and learning the ropes of the life.”
“You weren’t raised the same?” Willa Rose asked.
“No, ma’am.” Eli chuckled. “I was a corporate lawyer in Austin, Texas. I took my nephews to the carnival down there and met Dara. It was love at first sight. I followed the carnival for six months and finally asked Dara to marry me. She wouldn’t leave the carnival, so I left my job. I’ve never had a single regret.”
“That’s some story.” Willa Rose felt the story rather than just heard it.
Tripp would never leave Spanish Fort, but was she willing to change her mind?
If so, would there be regrets? This really would be a good place to raise a child.
Lots of loving family members around, but that was if Erica didn’t change her mind once she gave birth.