AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cameron rubbed his side. “Hey! What was that for? You’ve been spending too much time with Jasper. He’s been rubbing off on you.”
She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Wake up! You’re wasting time. If you still think Paige is the one who sets your heart afire, then get after it already.”
“Shh, Hazel. Here come Paige and Emma,” Cameron said as he spotted them about ten feet away. Paige was pushing the little girl in a bright green stroller. Emma was waving to everyone they passed by. Paige looked casual yet elegant in a pair of skinny jeans and a light blue cardigan sweater.
“Good morning,” she called out as she approached them. Emma began waving wildly, which caused them to chuckle. “What a beautiful day for a festival.”
“God sure did grant us favor today with this weather,” Hazel said.
“Hey there, little miss,” Cameron said, reaching out and tickling her under her chin.
“Dada!” Emma cooed, and Cameron almost passed out with joy. He couldn’t imagine hearing Emma call him Dada ever getting old. It was a wondrous thing to be her father.
“Such a smart little girl,” Jasper commented as he walked up. “This next generation of Prescotts are going to be something else.”
“I won’t argue with you about that,” Cameron said, tickled by Jasper’s acknowledgment of Emma. Even though he butted heads quite frequently with his grandfather, he respected and admired him more than he could ever express in words.
“Look who’s here,” Hazel said in a raised voice.
Liam and Aidan came into view as they headed in their direction. Aidan was running ahead of his father, his face lit up with exuberance.
“Hey! Dad says I can try to win a fish to take home,” his nephew exclaimed in an excited voice. “Maybe I can try to win three or four of ’em.”
“I think we have a one-fish limit at our house,” Liam added with a bemused shake of his head.
Cameron reached over and ruffled Aidan’s curly brown hair, realizing for the first time that he and Emma shared the same coloring.
The little boy gifted him with a sweet smile. Cameron raised his hand and Aidan slapped it enthusiastically. “High five, Uncle Cam,” he said with a giggle.
“Ouch,” Cameron said, pretending that he’d been hit hard. His nephew covered his mouth and laughed even harder.
“Daddy said you have a baby.” Aidan looked over and pointed at Emma. “Is that her?”
“Yep, buddy. That’s her. Her name is Emma and she’s your cousin.”
Aidan wrinkled his nose. “She’s so little. Can I still play with her?”
“She’s little, but before you know it, she won’t be so small anymore,” Cameron explained. He lowered his voice. “Don’t tell anybody, but with the way she’s been eating, I think she might grow into a giant.”
The sound of Aidan’s tinkling laughter rang out in the quiet afternoon. “No way,” Aidan said with a shake of his head. “She’s going to be a lady, not a giant.”
Cameron threw back his head and laughed. Everyone else chuckled along with him.
“I’m Emma’s mom, Aidan. I knew you a long time ago, but you probably don’t remember.”
Paige stepped forward and stuck out her hand, bending over at the waist. “And this little lady is Emma.”
Aidan glanced at Emma, then reached out and grabbed her fingers. The little girl looked thoroughly delighted. She tugged on Aidan’s fingers and let loose with a burst of giggles.
“Why don’t we walk around and see what’s going on,” Liam suggested. “A little birdie told me that a certain town sheriff is sitting at the pie booth.”
Cameron stopped in his tracks. He looked over at Liam. “Seriously? We can pay to throw a pie in his face?”
“Rumor has it,” Liam said with a chuckle. “Wonder what the going rate is.”
“Does it matter?” Cameron joked. “We’re in, regardless.”
“Can I throw a pie?” Aidan asked, jumping up and down with excitement.
