Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
ADAM
The first Saturday of February came, and with it the elementary business fair. I had helped by calling and reminding parents, helped some kids come up with a supply list, and helped others finalize their choices.
And, I got extra time with Faith, which I would never complain about.
After trying to change his mind twice, Danny had decided that for his business he was going to answer questions about space and snow.
I was glad that I had talked him into returning the erasers that he had found in a supply closet at the school.
He decided he wanted to sell the pink erasers back to the teachers at two dollars apiece.
I had to give it to him; the kid was resourceful.
After returning the erasers, I decided that selling Danny’s wisdom was looking like a great idea.
We arrived at the school at eight a.m. with a group of volunteers. I grabbed the “Space and Snow Questions” sign and two camping chairs and handed Danny the bucket full of suckers. At least I convinced him to hand out suckers with his advice, so hopefully other kids didn’t feel cheated.
We went into the cafeteria and to the second graders’ section. The room was set up with tables and poster board signs. There were many things to choose from: fresh bread, cookies, plants, coloring bookmarks, painted rocks, and hot cocoa.
This money could really help with PE equipment, but it also helped the kids practice selling and doing math with giving change. The kids who earned the most money won a teddy bear and a gift card. Danny loved winning anything, especially if it resembled money.
I wondered if part of that was my fault. Maybe I talked too much about budgeting. I made sure he got what he needs, but not all he wants.
Money was only part of the problem; the things he could ask for were the other part. After all, the kid asked Santa for the ability to stop time for Christmas. Luckily, he seemed happy with the stopwatch.
Danny rushed over to his shared table with Lucy, who was raising funds for unicorn research. Her mom looked up at me and smiled. She had brown hair and a pink sweater.
“It seems like our kiddos are going to make a good team.” She nodded toward Danny’s sign, and I chuckled.
“Good call with the suckers.” She pointed to the bucket. “I had to convince Lucy she needed to give away coloring pictures of unicorns after a donation.” Lucy was sitting at the table, ruffling through coloring pages and putting them into piles.
I noticed Faith as she came in through the double doors. She was carrying a small ladder. I looked at Lucy’s mom. “Excuse me.”
I rushed toward Faith. “You didn’t tell me to bring a ladder.”
Her blue eyes met mine. She blew stray hair out of her face and shrugged. “I didn’t know I needed one.”
My brows lowered. “Did you just have a ladder?”
She quirked an eyebrow. “I’m five-one. I always know where the ladder is.”
I leaned down and took the ladder from her hands, feeling her soft skin under mine. My throat tightened, and I tried to focus my thoughts. “Where to?” I nodded toward the ladder.
She pressed into my side and rested her head against my shoulder, and my heart picked up speed.
“Against the wall over there.” She pointed to the section behind the second-grade tables.
I did my best to keep the thoughts of my racing heart and the way my body reacted to Faith to myself. We had been dating for three weeks, and the excitement of it just kept growing. I made eye contact with Dotty across the room, she smiled and raised her eyebrows.
I shrugged, blushed a little, and followed Faith.
After an hour of hanging signs for everyone who was “vertically challenged”—Faith’s words, not mine—the business fair started, and Danny straightened his shirt and sat in his chair.
I hoped people would be kind.
The first to come for Danny’s knowledge was Mom. She put one dollar in his jar and sat down in the chair opposite him. I could never repay her for all the help she had given me these last years. I wished I could do more for her. Mom leaned forward and placed her hands on her knees.
“What do you want advice about?” Danny asked.
Mom smiled. “I was curious what advice you might have about space travel?”
Her eyes flicked to mine, and I mouthed Thank you.
“What about space travel?” Danny asked.
“Well, if I wanted to go to space, what should I do?” Mom asked.
Danny raised an eyebrow. “Grandma, I’m sorry, but I think you need a new goal.”
I nearly choked on my cup of hot cocoa that I bought from one of the third graders.
Mom’s eyes went wide. “Why?”
Danny’s forehead creased. “It depends, but most people have to train three to five years, and then they are usually in their thirties or early forties max. I think you might be too old.”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t know whether to laugh, correct, or console at his blunt advice.
“Well, thanks for the advice.” Mom nodded and rose from her seat. I had a feeling this was going to be a long day.
Next in the hot seat was Faith’s roommate, Rose. With her were Marissa and Scott, who own the B&B, and if looks were correct, maybe Scott’s brother or twin, and another guy.
“Hey, long time no see,” Rose said as she sat in the camping chair.
Danny merely nodded toward the cup holding the dollar. She chuckled and pulled a dollar out of her pocket and placed it in the jar.
“What’s your question?” Danny sat tall.
Rose tipped her head up to the ceiling, thinking of a question.
“How about why I am so violent and scary?” Scott’s assumed brother muttered.
“Or, I know. Am I in the habit of sticking things to cars?” He raised his eyebrows.
Rose’s head whipped in his direction, her dark hair flying with the movement.
He stepped back slightly, raising his hands in front of him. There must be a story there.
“Those aren’t about space or snow?” Danny added.
“Right, Michael! Wait your turn.” Rose growled and then faced Danny again. “What is your favorite planet?”
Danny pursed his lips. “Well, we don’t know if all the planets have been discovered.” He raised his hands.
Rose held back a smile. “True. What’s your favorite of the known planets?”
Danny answered immediately, “Jupiter. Did you know that a day on Jupiter is only ten hours? That means school would only last like two hours tops.”
Rose smirked. “I like your reasoning.” She stood up, and then Marissa sat in the chair and added a dollar. She extended her hand toward Danny.
“Hi, I’m Marissa, a friend of your teacher.”
“Nice.” Danny nodded.
“What’s your favorite thing to do in the snow?”
“I like making snowmen, and getting Christmas trees.”
Marissa grinned. “Oh yeah, I heard about that. Faith had so much fun.” Her green eyes met mine, and she smiled. She stood up from the chair and extended her hand to me. “Hi, I’m Marissa.”
I shook her extended hand. Scott took the vacated chair and added a dollar to the cup.
“You guys took the B&B over for Carol, right?” I asked Marissa. I appreciated the safe space she’d always created for kids in this town.
“Yeah, Scott and I did.” She gestured to her husband sitting in Danny’s chair. “Never planned on it.” She shrugged. “But life can be simply amazing when it doesn’t go according to plan.”
I looked at Danny. “I hear you there.”
“Well, it was great to meet you.” She smiled as her husband stood from the chair and his brother took his spot.
Danny looked between them. “Are you brothers or something?”
“Twins,” Scott added.
“I’m Michael. I’m the older and better-looking one.” He sat in the chair and added a dollar to the cup. “Who would look better in space, Scott or me?” He grinned.
Danny’s forehead creased, unsure of how to respond, “I don’t think they care about looks. Did one of you get better grades in school, or have pilot or scuba diving experience?” Danny asked.
Michael’s shoulders dropped a fraction. “With brains, Scotty definitely wins.” He pointed up at his brother.
Rose laughed. “For sure.”
“Do you want to go to space?” Danny asked.
Michael shook his head. “Nah. I actually hate even flying on planes.”
Danny scrunched his nose. “I don’t like the swings. I don’t like how it makes my tummy feel.”
Michael smiled. “I guess I will need to find a dream that includes my feet being on the ground.”
“That’s a good idea,” Danny agreed.
Michael stood. “Thanks.”
The last person in the group took the chair and held out his hand. “Hey, I’m James.” He had dark hair and glasses.
Danny gave him a firm handshake. “I’m Danny.”
James pursed his lips. “Why did you choose this as your business?” He gestured to the ask Danny sign.
Danny shrugged. “Dad wouldn’t let me sell the erasers back to the teachers that I found in the school, so this was the only other thing I could think of that didn’t take a lot of work.”
James chuckled. “I like it. Well, what do you think is better on a date, a chicken costume or a dog one?”
Danny’s eyebrows lowered. “You already asked one question.” He gestured to the jar.
James threw his head back and laughed and then put a twenty in the jar.
Danny’s eyes grew wide. “Wow! Thanks!” He touched his chin in thought. “A dog costume. Girls like dogs.”
“Solid advice.” James stood, offering Danny a fist bump, and the group wandered on.