Chapter Fourteen
Saturday morning has proven to be promising. Both girls are in the kitchen eating breakfast. Kara’s enthusiasm is knowing we’re heading to the carnival this evening with Sam and Olivia. Their eyes lit up when I told them the plans.
I share their joy. Sam’s been texting me nonstop since we spent time together. I’ve not been this happy in a long while. Sam has given me hope again.
“I’m gonna ride so many things this year!” Maisie says between bites. “Aren’t you, Kara?”
“Probably so. If I can get Olivia on board. She gets scared of some of them.”
“Will you ride with me?” Maisie is hopeful. It tugs at my heart. She looks up to Kara and adores her attention. “I’m not scared.”
“Of course,” Kara says, letting a smile cross her usually guarded expression. I pretend not to notice. It may ruin the moment if she realizes that I’m paying attention.
Maisie squeals as she claps. “Can we get some cotton candy, Aunt Allie?” Her enthusiasm is contagious.
“Definitely!” I hold back a smile.
“And a corn dog? I really like those with lots of ketchup!”
“Let’s just have dinner there,” I suggest.
“Yay!” Maisie squeals again. “Kara, doesn’t that sound so fun?”
“Yeah.” Kara laughs. My heart fills at that sound, and I have to walk away. I’m scared that Kara will do a one-eighty if she knows I’m enjoying it.
I clear the dirty dishes while Maisie rattles on and on about the carnival. It’s hard as an adult to remember that these little things mean so much to kids. Adults need to take a page from their book from time to time and find the moments that matter and let them happen.
“Maisie, do you want to invite a friend to go with us?”
Maisie looks at Kara, who nods her head encouragingly. Maisie’s a reserved kid but still young and learning. “Nah. I have to be available to ride with Kara and a friend will want me to ride everything with them.”
“Okay, honey. If you change your mind, let me know.”
“Is Uncle Steven going with us? I miss him.” Maisie takes a big gulp of her juice.
“Should we call him and ask?” I miss Steven too. He’s never been this into a guy before where he didn’t come around or call.
“Yes!” She nods her head vigorously.
“When you’re done eating, I’ll let you call him.”
“Done!” She hops down and rushes over to me, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand.
“Me too,” Kara says as she pushes back from the table. “I’m going to shower.” She doesn’t look my way before heading upstairs. I don’t expect it anymore. I still hope for her affection.
I look down at an antsy Maisie waiting not so patiently. I find Steven’s number and hand her the phone. I grab the rest of the dishes from the table as I hear Steven answer loudly and cheerfully.
“Want to go to the carnival tonight?” Maisie says immediately. She moves her body side to side in excitement. “I’ll let you ride with me on a ride, but I promised Kara to ride with her some too.”
I place the dishes in the dishwasher while listening to their conversation. I can hear Steven ask what time. He’s loud on the phone and completely weak when it comes to Maisie. She has him wrapped around her little finger.
“Here.” She hands me the phone. “He’s coming!” She does this cute little dance before running off.
“Hey, stranger,” I say into the phone as I laugh at Maisie’s silliness.
“I’ve missed you too,” Steven says. “So, we’re going to the carnival tonight. Are we double-dating?” I can almost hear his grin.
“How are you and Luke? Feels like love is in the air.”
“Don’t you dare avoid my inquiry. I’ve been told things.” I can hear Steven shift the phone.
I laugh. “Sam and Olivia are going with us. Are you bringing Luke?”
“No, he has poker with his friends. I’m working with that.” Steven sighs. “So, Miss Hot Pants, you and Sam, huh? I thought you said you were just friends. Mm-hm.”
“Spill it! What do you know?” I wipe down the table to have something to do. I need to know what Sam’s said about me.
“Why should I tell you when you haven’t told me anything?” He’s sassy as ever.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Missing in Action. You’ve been off falling in love and threw me in the trunk.”
“Love is a strong word. I’m in heavy-like territory. But we are talking about you, not me. Also, I didn’t put you in the trunk, Ms. Thang. Just the back seat.” He chuckles. “It’s for a good cause. This man is so hot!”
“Heavy-like territory and headed for deeper waters.”
“Let’s not put our swimsuits on just yet. I’m enjoying the view from my lounge chair.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay. Well, tell me what Sam said.” I start the dishwasher and walk to the study, so the girls don’t catch my conversation accidentally. I’m not sure if Sam wants Olivia to know. We haven’t talked about what this is between us.
“She called Luke last night, so I overheard some of the conversation. Apparently, she likes you, and you’re a breath of fresh air.”
I like that description. “That’s sweet of her.” I sit down on the couch that has fond memories of the sexiest woman ever.
“How was the sex?” Steven cackles.
“Who said we had sex?” I don’t want to lie to him. I just want to see what he knows.
“Oh, please. I know you too well. That woman is gorgeous, and I saw the way you looked at her. Also, I could tell by the sound of her voice last night that you left your mark.”
I laugh. “Stop it.”
“Don’t pretend to be shy with me.”
“See you tonight, Steven,” I say sternly, drawing another cackle from him.
“Yeah, yeah. Just keep your secrets. Meanwhile, my sex life is booming.”
“That’s been obvious with your disappearance.”
“Can’t blame me for good taste.”
I can imagine his grin right now. “Six o’clock at the entrance. Don’t let Maisie down.”
“I’ll be there and prepared to talk to Sam.”
“Bye, Steven,” I say plainly even though I can’t stop smiling. I’ve missed him.
* * *
“I see Olivia!” Kara rushes toward the front gate. Maisie chases after her. I stop behind the girls as they gather in a group. Sam catches my eye. Her smile matches mine as if we are thinking the same thing.
“Fancy meeting you here,” she says.
“Lucky me.” I shrug, cocking my head to the side. Her smile is irresistible. I could look at it for the rest of my life. And that’s an interesting thought…
“Oh!” a voice says behind us. “I’m just in time for the lovefest. Can I get in on it?” Steven wraps his arms around both of us, garnering a giggle from Sam.
“You smell familiar.” Sam sniffs his shirt again.
“I borrowed Luke’s cologne.” Steven chuckles as he pulls back. “I couldn’t get him to join us, so I thought I’d bring a little of him with me.”
“Come on, you guys!” Maisie jumps eagerly in place. “I want to ride some rides.”
Steven grabs her up and spins her around. “Can I have the first one?”
Maisie giggles loudly as he puts her on the ground and steadies her. “Yes.” She exaggerates being out of breath while nodding her head.
“Well, let’s go.” I encourage everyone to move forward. I pay and then hand out the arm bands. The girls lead the way with Maisie peeking back to Steven. Once he said he wanted the first ride, he made her day.
“I want to do the Ferris wheel.” Sam leans into me and I stiffen immediately. Heights aren’t my thing.
“Maisie will ride with you.” I’m hopeful she’ll accept that suggestion.
“I want you.” She brushes against my side as we get closer to the scary buckets of doom.
“I’ll be honest,” I say as we approach the giant wheel. “I’m not good with rides. Especially, the tall ones. Or the fast ones. Or the ones that drop suddenly. I’m more of a let’s-pet-the-animals, play-the-games, and eat-the-food type of person.”
Sam’s eyes light up with delight as her lips spread into a wide smile. “You’re so cute!”
I laugh nervously. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Oh, I didn’t say you were off the hook. You have to do this with me. It’s part of the deal.”
“Huh?” I’m confused. “We have a deal?”
“Of course we do. It’s part of the wooing.” Sam giggles.
“Ferris wheel!” Maisie jumps up and down. “Let’s do it, Uncle Steven!”
Sam urges me forward. “Yes, Maisie, let’s do this!”
“Um…” Kara stops with Olivia. “Can we do this ride?” She points to another ride that is bigger and has more twists and turns.
“Please?” Olivia looks at her mom.
I look at Sam, who nods her head. “Sure, girls. But wait for us afterward.”
They wander off, arms linked, giggling as they meet up in line with some other teenagers they must know. I can’t help but question Kara. My instincts are telling me to pay close attention.
“They’re okay,” Sam whispers into my ear as she presses into my arm. I turn to meet her eyes, comforted by her gentleness. “They can’t go far,” she reassures me. “Olivia knows better.”
“Olivia I trust. Kara, not so much.”
“Relax a little. You get to enjoy yourself too, you know.”
I blow out a sigh. She’s right. For us to have only known each other for a short while, she certainly picks up on my anxiety. “Thank you for that. May I ask one thing of you though?”
“You’re not getting out of riding the Ferris wheel with me.”
I laugh. “Not fair.”
“I’ve got your number, baby.”
And I do believe she does. She’s very intuitive, surprisingly so. “Can’t blame a woman for trying.”
“Never.” Sam loops her arm inside mine as we walk up behind Maisie and Steven just as they are locked in their bucket seats.
“See ya!” Maisie waves excitedly as the bucket lifts into the air.
Steven follows her lead and gives me a wink. He knows I hate heights. “Catch you on the ground, Allie bug.” He smirks.
The ride attendant lifts the arm of the seat. Sam slips in, tapping the seat next to her. I take a deep breath and move in to sit beside her. “Lord, help me,” I say, looking up toward the sky.
Sam giggles, taking my hand as the bucket begins to rise. I grip the bar in front of me tightly with the other hand. “Baby, I’ve got you,” she says, kissing the side of my face.
A whistle fills the air. “You go, Sammy Sam!” Steven shouts.
“Always,” Sam shouts back, staring into my eyes. “You okay, baby?”
“Keep kissing me and calling me baby and I won’t remember what planet I’m on, much less this dangerous tub of terror.”
Sam chuckles. “For someone I consider so strong, I would never expect you to be scared of heights.”
“Do you realize this is put together from town to town and constantly taken apart?”
“Yes.” Sam is clearly amused. “But people ride these all the time and they have a good time and survive. I’m sure they’re very experienced in what they do.”
“Until something breaks and someone falls out!”
Sam laughs. Her hand finds my face, pulling it toward hers, and she kisses me briefly. “Can you be any more charming?”
How can a woman be this sweet and sexy? “I mean, I can try.”
Finally, after a couple of rounds, our torturous journey ends. We exit the ride and meet up with Kara and Olivia.
“You missed it, Kara,” Maisie says. “We were so high. I could see everything! What do you want to ride next? I’m ready!” She’s so enthusiastic that my heart melts.
“That’s awesome, Maisie.” Kara guides her with an arm on her shoulder. It’s good to see them enjoy time together.
“What’s next?” Steven rubs his hands together, looking from me to Sam.
“Games?” I ask, looking between the two. “Food?”
Sam loops her arm inside the nook of mine. “Let’s get food. I’m hungry.”
“Girls.” Steven jogs up to the kids. “What shall we eat now and vomit up later from the rides?”
They all laugh as we make our way to the concession stand.
We order food and drinks, then head to the nearby picnic tables.
The girls chat about school, friends, and what rides they want to do next.
Before long, we are headed out again. First, we stop at the games—I lose big on many of them—before the kids beg to go into the fun house.
“Okay.” I give in. “Kara, keep an eye on Maisie. I’m trusting you.” I don’t trust her, but I want to be a good aunt and new parent. Sam’s a good example to follow. They scurry off excitedly as I watch in worry and wait.
“Allie!” a female voice calls out, drawing me from my thoughts. I turn to see a woman waving. It’s Lorrie.
“Hi there,” I say as Lorrie comes straight in for a hug. “Oh!” I chuckle.
“It’s so good to see you again. Is your little helper here tonight?”
“Maisie’s in the fun house.”
“What a delight she is.” Lorrie unexpectedly takes my hands in hers. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me out.”
“Oh, it’s no problem at all. That house is a gem.” I turn to introduce Sam, who’s suddenly standing far away at the end of the fun house. I catch her eyes as she watches me. I drop Lorrie’s hands, feeling aware of how this may look.
“I’ve got to get back,” Lorrie says. Her smile is vibrant. I’m so happy to know that I could help her out. “See you soon.”