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Which was weird, as he’d grown up with crowds. Something wet hit the side of his face. Looking left, he saw Miss Marla had a water pistol.
“Control your senior citizens, will you?” He shouted so Mandy and the Robbins sisters could hear. They hurled abuse back.
He kept an eye on her because… well, because she looked hot and Ted didn’t want anyone hitting on her or frightening her. Not when she was just starting to stretch her wings.
It was as they reached the larger crowds in front of A. S. that he felt the sliver of unease creep in. Making himself smile, he eased back to where the float was.
He knew the signs; sweaty palms, his head felt all over the place. He just needed to regroup.
“I’ve run out of sweets, so come on, I’ll help you give out yours.”
A hand slipped into his, and he gripped it tight.
“Fear is not rational, nor is it who you are,” Mandy whispered to him. “Remember, Ted, you’re strong in here.” She tapped his head.
Ted held that hand as if it was a lifeline and let her walk him down the street. She took the crowd and handed out sweets, and he stayed close to the floats. Slowly the fear eased, and the tight band around his chest loosened enough so he could haul in his first deep breath.
It was her, of course. Being anchored to Mandy had made him feel safe.
“I’m okay now.”
“Nice work, and here’s Buzz to watch over you now.” She gave him a final squeeze and then released him. But she didn’t go far, just kept pace with him. He felt her eyes on him every few minutes. The tables had turned; he was the one who needed help now.
Ted couldn’t be sure, but thought right at that moment he’d never felt as close to a human as he did to Mandy Robbins.
“I’m in trouble there, Buzz.” He scratched the dog’s head and received a woof. “Big trouble,” he muttered, looking at her legs as she bent to hand out more sweets.
“Hey, Hosking, don’t you dare rip my shorts!”
He found Fin in the crowd with a young woman Ted knew was a guest from his lodge.
“At least I fill them out… all of them,” Ted roared back.
The banter continued until they rolled on, and he began to really relax again.
The rest of the trip down Main Street went off without a hitch, and they arrived at the school, where the floats would stop.
His staff were all bubbling with excitement, and Ted realized he’d been wrong there too. He should have run a float in the parade before now.
“Do you have any sweets left, Ted? I didn’t get any.” Grace grabbed his hand.
“You really expect me to believe that?”
She had that wicked smile on her face.
“Go and see Mandy, she’s way more gullible than me.”
“What’s gullible?”
“She’ll give in. Come on, let’s go see if she has any left.” He took her little hand in his.
Mandy was laughing with her aunts, and he thought that was a good look on her.
“Mandy, do you have any sweets left?” Gracie asked.
“Didn’t you get any?” Mandy dropped down on her haunches before the little girl. “I was just looking for a few to eat myself, because I didn’t get any either.”
“I didn’t.” Gracie was good, Ted would give her that. She dropped her eyes and looked sad. “We need to find some for us, Mandy.”
