“How do we get that one?” I asked, pointing to larger animals.
“Gotta hit the bell three times,” the kid said, finally watching us instead of his phone.
“Alright. Set me up for round two,” I told him, and Lou squealed behind me.
“Mommy! He’s gonna get the big bear! Do you think he can do it?”
“We’ll see, Lulu. You gotta cheer him on, though. I think that would help, don’t you?”
“GO, LINC, GO!” Lou immediately yelled, which had both Walt and Sophie laughing. The mallet was a familiar weight in my hand at that point, but there was a new feeling of pressure, knowing I had to do this two more times to win Lou the biggest prize.
Turning to check out our little group, something inside me melted when I saw Sophie holding Lou as they cheered me on, with Walt smiling and clapping alongside them. Turning back to the game, I swung the mallet, and was rewarded with the sound of the bell.
“HE DID IT! HE WON AGAIN!” Lou screeched, and I thoughtmy eardrums might burst.
Saying a silent prayer, I lifted the mallet once more. It felt like my future depended on that one game. It was more than just winning a prize, it was more than showing off. I wanted to make Sophie and Lou happy. I wanted a small physical representation of how far I was willing to go, how much I wanted to give them. With that thought settling firmly around me, I lifted the mallet one last time.
The answering bell was like a confirmation of all of my thoughts up until that moment.
“WE WON! He did it, Mama! He’s gonna get the biggest prize in the whole park!” Lou screeched. I was filled with pride.
“Good job, man! Take your pick of the big ones up here. You’re like, really strong. Do you lift?” the kid asked.
“Nah, just stay fit for work. Hey, Lou, wanna help me pick the prize? I was thinking the green one looked good. What do you think?” I asked, wanting to make sure we got the one she wanted.
“I like the green! It’s like a giant gummy bear! They’re my favorite.”
“Alright. Let’s grab it, then!” Lifting Lou up, I helped her get the large bear that had a couple of inches on her.
“THIS IS SO COOL. Mommy, do you see how big it is? Linc, can I borrow it sometime?” she asked hesitantly.
“I was thinking maybe you could hold onto it for me, keep him company,” I told her, and Lou froze before throwing her arms around my neck. As if on instinct, Sophie stepped forward and caught the bear before it hit the ground.
“Alright, you three get together. Let’s document this victory.” Walt took a few pictures on his phone, but I barely noticed. Matching pairs of green eyes looked up at me, warm with laughter and joy, and something in my chest shifted. I made it my mission to keep them that way.
Chapter 11
Sophie
“So, Lou said you’ll be attending the fair this afternoon with a giant,” Pops mentioned, just as I took a bite into my egg sandwich. He had shown up unannounced that morning with coffee and breakfast. Not one to turn down food, I didn’t think twice about letting him in.Old man tricked me.
“Mhmm,” I muttered as I took a sip of coffee, determined to enjoy the meal before having to deal with Pops giving me the fifth degree.
“Alright. Out with it,” I told him, leaning back in my chair and hoping it wouldn’t be too awkward.
“Sophie, dear, I’m not trying to make you feel uncomfortable. You haven’t so much as looked at a man twice since leaving Max. I’m excited for you. And … I’m a nosy bastard, so please put me out of my misery.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Walt never ceased to amaze me.
“His name is Lincoln. He’s a firefighter, born and raised here. Lou met him during the school tour of the fire station. We bumped into him at the park a few days later and hit it off,” I supplied, watching Pops’ face for any signs of upset.
“That’s it?” he asked, looking disappointed.
“Of course that’s it! Apologies for boring you.” I laughed at his sullen face.
“Nothing wrong with taking it slow. So is today’s outing your first date?”
“Yes. Well, he stopped by work on Friday and asked me out. Or told me he wanted to take me out. I invited him to the fair.” Pops was quiet for a second, thinking.
“Do you mind if I tag along?”
