“Where did he go now?” Vanessa turned in her seat.
“There are so many people here. There must be people from nearby towns here for this too.” Anna pointed out a man across the way in camouflage coveralls and a camouflage hat, standing next to two kids in full snowsuits. “Everyone is bundled up for the weather.”
In the distance music from a marching band filled the air.
The crowd pulled in closer. A few whistles followed by hoots and hollers started the excitement. Everyone turned their attention to the parade route.
Kids wearing light-up Christmas-bulb necklaces waved and jumped up and down in anticipation of the floats.NICE LISTpennants waved in the air. Suddenly, Vanessa felt seven years old again.
Mike walked over carrying three cups of steaming hot chocolate with whipped cream and a cherry on top. “This helps keep you warm too.”
Vanessa looked into his smiling eyes. “Thank you. You’ve thought of everything.”
“I’m a real process guy. Can’t help myself.”
What’s not to like about that?But she hadn’t said it out loud, because she was still hung up in his gaze and that smile. “I didn’t know that about you.” Vanessa blinked, weighing the rocking-chair emotions that took over when Mike was around.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
Anna beamed. “That’s the fun part about meeting new people.” She bobbed her head from side to side, then clapped wildly. “I can see the band.”
“Joy to the World” got louder by the step, and almost like the wave at a baseball game, kids raised their hands into the air trying to catch candy being thrown by men in elf costumes riding four-wheelers.
Anna squeezed Vanessa’s wrist. “This is so fun!”
The band moved with precision, lifting and twisting their instruments as they marched closer. In front of the band, a man dressed in a nutcracker suit carrying a candy-cane baton lifted the red and white stick up and down in the air, adding in a happy kick every now and again. The shock of silvery-gray hair shone in contrast to the tall black furry hat.
Vanessa recognized him immediately. “Look!” She pointed him out to Anna.
“Lordy goodness!” Anna stood. “That’s Buck!”
Mike remained seated. “He’s been doing that for as long as I can remember. He was mayor when he first took on that role.”
“Isn’t that fun.” Anna clapped and raised her hands in the air, shouting, “Merry Christmas.”
After the last note of “Joy to the World,” the drum corps tapped out a rhythm, then began playing “Jingle Bells.” The whole town sang along, including Vanessa and Mike.
“Fun, right?” he asked.
She nodded as she sang.
Next, a loud tractor putted down the parade route, pulling a trailer filled with decorated Christmas trees. She could smell the fresh pine from her chair. 4-H kids walked by, leading their goats and sheep with champion banners across theirbacks, followed by a pickup truck pulling a flatbed trailer with streamers hanging from the sides and three men wearing cowboy hats sitting on bales of straw, singing and playing “The Christmas Song” on guitar.
“I love this song,” Mike said.
She snuck a peek at Mike as he watched them sing. She admired how relaxed he was.
The Fraser Falcons Marching Band came next, with flag team and baton twirlers, doing a jiggy version of “Jingle Bells.”
“Okay, I’m going to head on down. Y’all are okay?” He made a thumbs-up.
“Yes.”
“See you right here. Don’t leave.”
“We won’t,” Vanessa said.
“I promise I won’t let her,” Anna said.
