24. Johnny
Johnny
“You almost ready to head out?” I yelled through the kitchen to Beth.
“Give me five!” she shouted down the hall.
We had finished putting the finishing touches on all the silent auction materials along with the item write-ups.
I didn’t realize how much work would be involved in putting all the packages together and writing up the scripts for Megan to read on stage as she auctioned off the larger items. It was a lot more work than I was expecting, but after spending the last couple hours with Beth, everything was finally done and loaded in boxes by the back door, ready for me to drive over tomorrow.
It was Thursday, the first official night of the festival, and I told Beth we should walk around and scope it out before the big Starlight Night tomorrow. We’d be too busy helping Megan and wouldn’t have time to enjoy everything.
It was also the night I’d tell her I wanted to be with her—whatever that looked like.
I figured I’d ask her when we were riding the Ferris wheel.
Not that I was a super romantic guy, but I thought that would be a nice way to end the night, and if we ended up having to leave early because we couldn’t keep our hands off each other, so be it.
“Okay, let’s go,” Beth said. She had changed from her leggings into a pair of cutoff jeans and a black tank top, hair piled on top of her head, with cowboy boots on her feet.
I let my gaze rake over her body, taking her in.
“You look gorgeous,” I whispered in her ear, before kissing her cheek.
She shivered beneath me.
It was a quick, five-minute drive to the festival, which took up most of the main streets in town, trailing along the edge of the marina in the park.
The sun was low in the sky, but the carnival rides lit up downtown. Taking Beth’s hand, I led her to the booth where I pulled out my wallet and paid for wristbands for us.
“I can’t remember the last time I went on carnival rides,” Beth said, laughing. “What should we do first?”
The next couple hours went by in a blur.
We played the old-fashioned carnival games, and I won Beth a stuffed bear.
We ate corn dogs down by the marina and listened to the Polka band play while the older residents pushed the ladies around the dance floor.
We also went on a few rides. The whole time, all I could think about was figuring out the best way to convince Beth to stay in Port St. Clair.
I was prepared for whatever it took. This woman was something special, and I needed to figure out a way to be with her.
I pointed to the Ferris wheel. “Ready for this one?”
We got in line, and as we snaked through the queue, all I could think about was how nervous I was to finally tell Beth how I felt. She took me by surprise, and now, I couldn’t imagine going along without her. I just hoped she felt the same way.
We stepped up to the Ferris wheel bucket, and she climbed in first. It was one of those old-school ones that swung back and forth. The lights bounced off her dark hair, and I wrapped my arm around her while the attendant locked the safety bar.
“This is so much fun!” Beth gripped the handrail, looking out at the harbor as we made our way to the top. “I guess I didn’t realize how big the festival was. I knew it brought in a lot of tourists, but I didn’t really piece it together. It’s pretty much all of downtown.”
I pointed out a few of the local hotspots to her and decided it was now or never.
“Beth, I’ve been meaning to—”
I was cut off when the ride jolted to a stop, the bucket still swinging.
A mass of awww’s came from all around us, and it was then that I realized we weren’t letting anyone on or off. Instead, we were actually stuck on the ride.
“Holy shit!” Beth said. “I think we’re stuck up here.” She poked her head out to the side and looked down.
We were the second bucket to the top, and we could see over the entire festival. The band played in the distance. I could see a sea of white and gray hair dancing in front of the stage, and I chuckled to myself at the choreographed polka dance moves.
“Jeez. Yup, you’re right.”
“I have to say, it’s making me a little uneasy to be stuck up here.” Her gaze darted around below us, and she tensed up next to me.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”
“Okay, I won’t tell you.” She gave me a sheepish look.
“We’re stuck on a Ferris wheel and you’re afraid of heights? Come here.” I pulled her into me and rubbed her back. “You know, we didn’t have to go on the ride. We could have played another game on the ground.”
“But you wanted to ride, and I wanted to go with you,” she said into my chest, half-muffled. “I can’t even look out without hyperventilating.”
“You feeling any better with your head buried in my armpit?”
“Yeah, but don’t go swinging the bucket. This thing feels like a death trap, and the fact that we’re swinging at the top, stopped for who knows how long, doesn’t help.”
“Okay. Okay. Let’s talk about something else then.” I rubbed her back as she melded into me. “You excited for tomorrow night?”
“I am. Megan let me borrow one of her dresses to wear. She said getting dressed up for it is a whole thing.”
“It is, but there’s a huge range. I’m sure Megan will be done up, but some people are more casual.”
“Feels like a big deal since we worked so hard on getting all the donations. Megan has been practicing her intro speech for the last couple days. She’s pretty excited about it.”
“I’m sure she is.” I kissed the top of her head.
Just as I did that, the bucket jerked forward, then back, then started moving again. A sea of cheers came from the crowd around us as we continued moving around the big wheel.
“Well, that wasn’t too bad,” I said.
“To you! We could have fallen to our death up there.”
“Highly unlikely.”
Her head was still laying on my chest, but instead of facing inward, she looked out in front of us. “Thanks for making it feel okay though.” She kissed my chest, and her lips felt hot against the cotton of my shirt.
“Anytime, baby.”
I’d have to figure out a different time to bring it up with her. All I wanted to do now was enjoy the evening with my girl, not worrying about anything else.
It was Friday—the night of the big event, and I was looking forward to it.
Beth and I planned to meet at the tent to get everything set up around five, and the actual Starlight Night started at six-thirty.
The event itself included dinner for everyone who purchased a ticket plus live entertainment, an open bar, and the live auction after dinner.
It was the event to be at, and most people tried to get a ticket to support the biggest fundraiser of the year.
Even though I’d attended Starlight Light the last couple years with Lane, it felt different knowing that Beth and I would be there together.
I hopped out of my truck when Lane came up to me in the parking lot.
“You hear?” he asked.
I wrinkled my brow at him. “Hear what?”
“Megan is under the weather. They’re scrambling trying to figure out the auction stuff.” He ran his hand over the back of his neck.
“What are you talking about? I just talked to Beth a couple hours ago. She would have mentioned something.”
“That might have been before Megan threw up all over her office.” He shook his head. “You didn’t hear it from me, but it was not pretty.”
“That’s terrible. What’s the plan then?”
“Not sure. I was heading down to set up tables when Greg stopped me and gave me the scoop.”
Even though Greg wasn’t heavily involved in the festival, he was still leading the charge to some degree.
“Ugh. Guess we’ll find out when we get down there then. Come on. I’ll help you with the tables.”
Lane and I headed down to where the big tent was toward the marina.
It wasn’t even four yet, and the place was bustling with people.
The rides were still running, and the games had long lines.
As we walked down, we detoured around a group of young kids jumping up and down waiting for balloon animals.
Once we got to the tent, I looked around.
“Shit. I’m glad I got here early.” I looked around at the empty tent that should have been set up already.
“Yeah, I know. I think Megan was going to get with Ted for set-up, but that obviously didn’t happen. Better get to work.”
The main stage was ready, but the round tables for dinner were still stacked in the corner.
Plus, all the long tables for all the donations were in the storage locker around the corner.
I still needed to pull my truck up because I had all the donations in my truck bed, but there wasn’t anywhere to put them.
My phone dinged, and I checked to see who it was, knowing I didn’t have time to stop. People would be arriving soon.
Beth: OMG. I’m going to be late. Megan just got home, and she looks like hell. She said she got sick in the trash can a few times at work
Me: I heard. I’m with Lane now setting up
Beth: Thank God. OK. I’ll see you in a few. I need to get her cleaned up, and I’ll take off
Me: Take your time. See you soon
“Anyone seen Megan?” Ted walked in, looking around. “She was supposed to be here a while ago to give me instructions. Not sure what I’m supposed to do.”
“She’s down for the count, it sounds like,” I said. “Want to help Lane and me with these tables?”
The three of us spent the next forty-five minutes setting things up. Miranda, Megan’s assistant from the city, came in with the linens about halfway through and helped us finish setting up.
The place was finally looking ready. Unfortunately, I was not. A sheen of sweat covered my entire body and my once-clean clothes were coated in dust from moving all the tables around. I didn’t have time, but I needed to go home and change. I couldn’t show up like this.
The caterers had just arrived and set up the bar when Greg tore into the tent. He looked flustered and was all over the place running around, checking in on everyone.
“Whoa, Greg. We’re good. We’re all set up,” I said.
“I had no idea how much Megan did until she wasn’t here.” He pinched his nose.
“Yeah, she runs a tight ship. It’ll be okay though. Everything is set up and ready to go,” I said. “I’m assuming you’re going to be the auctioneer tonight?”
“Shit. I completely forgot she was supposed to run the show. I was too busy getting everything logistically set up.” He huffed, looking around with his hands on his hips.
“I can’t do it. I need to sit at the big donor table.
Someone’s got to push some of these guys with deep pockets to open them up. I’ll have to figure it out.”
I watched Greg have a minor panic attack as he looked around, looked at his watch, and had no less than five people come up to him asking for instruction. The guy was stressed.
“I can do it,” I said.
“What?” he asked.
“I can kick off the evening and be auctioneer. Beth and I had to write everything up for Megan anyway, so I know the programming. It’s not a big deal. I can step in.”
“Really? Okay. That’s fantastic.” Greg sighed, clearly relieved. “I’ll come up and say a few words at the beginning to welcome everyone, but yeah, if you could manage most of it, that would be a huge lift.”
“No worries.”
He looked me up and down for a moment, hands on his hips still. “What is it that you’re planning on wearing?”
“Well, I was going to wear this, but I definitely need to change now.”
“Definitely. Figure that out, and I’ll see you at 6:30 when we start.”
My phone dinged again.
Beth: Heading over now. Be there in 10
Me: Can you do me a huge favor?
Beth: Sure, what do you need?
Me: I’m filthy from set-up. Can you grab me something from my closet to wear? Anything hanging up would work. Key is under the mat. Just let yourself in. Told Greg I’d be auctioneer tonight. Guess I need to look the part
Beth: Auctioneer?! You’re moving on up! I’ll pick you out something good
Lane walked up, putting his hand on my shoulder. “What’s this I hear about you running the show tonight?”
“Just helping out.” I shrugged, puffing out my chest at the thought of Beth seeing me on stage.
Everything in me told me this would be an important night for us, and I was ready.