Chapter 26 #2
Derek and J.B. head off pretty quickly. The two of them volunteered to help out with the younger kids who are participating in the Balsa Derby. Building and tinkering with little wooden racing cars is exactly the kind of activity that the two of them love, so I know they’ll have fun.
Michael and I walk among the stalls, buying treats here and there to support the cause, and catching up with all his old friends.
It’s so nice to see him walking around energetically and soaking in the sunshine and camaraderie.
This is the retirement he deserves and never would have taken if he hadn’t fallen ill.
Sometimes terrible things have endings that take your breath away.
After a bit, we settle in for the derby race, which is very exciting. Everyone cheers and yells for the kids. As usual, every participant is announced and praised, and the winner gets a special ribbon and a coupon for a free ice cream sundae at the diner.
When that’s over we all get back together and wander the stalls again, buying the most delicious homemade lunches we can find for the four of us. Then we spread out the quilt in the park to eat.
But before we can get started Tara Littlewolf appears.
“Hey, J.B.,” she says. “Want to walk around?”
J.B. springs to her feet before remembering to get permission.
“Can I, Mom?” she asks, spinning to me with sparkling eyes.
Oh, she’s good.
“Yes,” I say. “As long as you stay in the park. And as long as it’s okay with your dad.”
“Go on,” he tells her.
The two girls grin and then dart off toward the dessert tables.
“She’s already got you wrapped around her finger,” Michael says, chuckling.
“Definitely,” I tell him. “Can you blame me?”
“Not even a little bit,” he says.
“They’ll be fine,” Derek says, looking after them and then waving to Paula and Ed Littlewolf, who have a blanket set up on the other side of the park. “This is about the safest place in the world, and I know her grandparents will keep an eye out too.”
We feast on homemade pierogis and chili dogs. When we’re finished I pull out the desserts and the banana pudding looks so heavenly even Derek tries it, humming in satisfaction over his first big bite.
“Mom, Dad, Mom, Dad,” J.B. suddenly calls out as she and Tara run back over.
“Hey, guys,” I say. “Are you having fun?”
“Can we buy glow bracelets?” J.B. asks breathlessly. “And can we get another hot dog? And can Tara sleep over tonight?”
“Yes, yes, and I don’t see why not,” Derek says, peeling a few bills out of his wallet. “As long as it’s okay with her grandparents.”
“Yes,” J.B. says.
“Yes,” Tara echoes happily.
The two of them take the handful of small bills Derek holds out and dash over to talk to Tara’s family.
Derek gives me a special smile and I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking. It’s such a blessing to see J.B. having fun with a friend.
“She couldn’t find a better best friend,” Michael agrees with a smile.
As soon as the sun begins to set it’s time for the mother-daughter dance competition.
J.B. has bought me a glow bracelet and she tells me that it will make us stand out.
Tara and her Grandma Paula are beside us and the four of us start warming up a little, preparing our dance moves.
The two of us are doing something that J.B.
says is buzzing on BeeBop, and I’ll have to take her word for that since social media isn’t my thing any more than dancing is.
I’m just glad it’s not too complicated for me to follow.
More pairs join us and there’s so much laughter and excitement on the little stage in the moonlit park. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun just being silly.
Too soon, Phil Connelly is taking the stage to announce all our names and get things started and more people gather to watch. I didn’t realize this was a real contest. I’m a little nervous, but somehow I don’t feel too bad. The people of Angel Mountain have a way of making everyone feel so at home.
“You all know how it works. The mother-daughter pair who gets the most applause wins the wings,” he says, holding up two sets of costume angel wings. “And they also get to choose which branch of the fund gets all the entry fees.”
Everyone cheers and then the music begins.
I don’t know what kind of music I thought was going to be playing, but I didn’t expect it to be surf rock. We all start dancing and I’m relieved to see I’m not the only mom up here feeling kind of awkward.
Things go pretty well though, and I’m happy when I manage to stay on my feet even when someone’s little brother scrambles up on the stage and runs right in front of me to get to his mom and big sister.
I’m also happy because J.B. is so obviously having a blast. She’s got great rhythm even if she’s not a trained dancer or anything, and she looks like she’s having the time of her life.
Derek and Michael are cheering way too loudly for us, and it would be a lot more embarrassing if being in front of the whole town didn’t feel so much like hanging out with a great big extended family.
When the songs wrap up, Phil walks around to judge and the crowd goes wild for every pair.
But Tara and Paula Littlewolf get the most applause of all, which makes perfect sense because Tara can really dance and her grandmother was no slouch either.
When they are awarded the wings, Phil asks which project they want the entry fee donations to fund.
“A new roof for the museum,” Tara says without taking a breath.
Everyone cheers for that. The Lenni Lenape Museum has been fundraising for a new roof and everyone in town loves the place. Paula has been giving children tours of the museum for generations.
“That was really fun,” J.B. tells me when it’s over. “Thanks for dancing with me.”
She disappears with her bestie before I can reply, but I’m just glad she had a good time. When I wander back to the blanket, Derek is sitting alone.
“Where’s Michael?” I ask.
“A couple of his friends wanted to watch the fireworks from the diner,” Derek says.
“That’s more comfortable than sitting on a quilt or a lawn chair,” I agree.
“Did you want to go inside too?” Derek asks.
“No,” I tell him right away. “I’ve been dreaming about sitting on this blanket watching the fireworks with you like it’s the end of a romantic movie.”
“The end?” he echoes, looking dismayed.
“Well, the end of the beginning,” I allow.
“After this it’s all happily-ever-after,” he tells me firmly.
“It’s been happily-ever-after for a while now,” I tease him.
“I can always try to make it better,” he says.
His dark eyes meet mine and I feel that strange sense of safety and excitement all at once that I always get when he’s about to kiss me—like lightning is about to strike and bring a soft summer storm with it.
He leans in and cups my face in his hand, sending a little shiver of anticipation down my spine.
The first of the fireworks goes off just as our lips meet and I can see the colors bursting even though my eyes are closed.
It’s magic, all of it.
I know we have highs and lows ahead of us. But the simple happiness of a life shared with the people I love makes me know it’s all going to be okay. After all, we have each other. And we’re right where we belong. With our family.
***
Thanks for reading One Golden Ring!