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“Right. Days from now, I’ll still have an earworm of calliope jingles.”
“Me too, but I wouldn’t have missed going for a ride with my favorite cowboy.” Glenda patted Charlie on the cheek. It was sticky with cotton candy residue, but she laughed off Elle’s apology. “No matter, but I do need to take off. One of the gals texted. They’re here, waiting for me in the beer garden with a pitcher of frozen margaritas that they swear is calling my name.”
“Go,” Elle said as she wrestled Charlie into his stroller. He’d bowed his back and wasn’t cooperating. “I didn’t count on staying this long, but I think I’m on borrowed time. I feel an exhausted-child meltdown coming on.”
She fished Bun, Charlie’s flop-eared rabbit, from the compartment on the back of the stroller and passed it down to him. He tucked the stuffed animal under his arm, momentarily pacified.
Frowning, Glenda said, “I wish you could join us girls and stay for the concert.”
“Ah, well, me too. But this was a spontaneous excursion. Babysitters are hard to come by on short notice.”
That morning, after catching up on laundry and light housekeeping, she’d settled into her home office to work while simultaneously keeping Charlie occupied with toys, books, and his library ofPaw Patrolvideos.
But as the afternoon wore on, he’d turned whiny, demanding her attention, which he’d deserved for being cooped up all day. So, although she’d been on a creative roll, she’d shut down her computer, lifted her son into her lap, and between pecking kisses onto his face asked if he would like to call Glenda. “This is the last day of the fair. Let’s see if she wants to go.”
Even though he’d only understood “Glenda” and “go,” Elle hadn’t had to ask twice.
Glenda had welcomed the chance to leave her real estate agency early. “This works out great. A group of friends from my Pilates class is having a girls’ night out. We’re going to the concert this evening. I’ll join you and Charlie, then hook up with them later.”
They’d set a time and place to meet just inside the north gate. Glenda, president and CEO of Foster Real Estate, had arrived looking like a model for an upscale western clothing store, wearing a long denim skirt, cowboy boots studded with silver, a fringed leather jacket, and ropes of turquoise beads.
“You make me feel underdressed,” Elle had remarked with a self-deprecating smile. “And very mom-ish.”
Glenda had eyed her up and down. “If you’d wear one size jeans smaller, your ass would be smokin’.”
“Hardly.”
“I would trade my butt for yours any day of the week. And don’t get me started on your hair. It’s just not fair. However, the T-shirt needs an upgrade, and you could use some spangle.”
Elle laughed. “Spangle so suits my lifestyle.”
For the next two hours, the friends had taken turns maneuvering Charlie’s stroller through the crowd. They’d visited the petting zoo, the Christmas market, and various exhibits, leaving the midway for last just as the sun went down and the sky turned a deep violet.
Flashing colored lights on the rides had begun to come on, dazzling Charlie. He and Elle had ridden several rides in the kiddie area while Glenda took snapshots on her phone to text to Elle later. Hands down, the carousel had been his favorite ride. It was a good note to end on.
Now, as Elle hugged her friend goodbye, Glenda said, “I’ve spotted lots of cute guys around. Put yourself out there, Elle.”
“I already have a cute guy,” she said as she bent down and ruffled Charlie’s dark curls.
“There’s no disputing that,” Glenda said. “He is a darlin’. Be careful going home. Love you.”
“Call me tomorrow and tell me about the concert.”
“Will do.” Glenda blew them a kiss as she began weaving through the crowd in the general direction of the beer garden.
Elle experienced a twinge of jealousy over her friend’s independence and having a Friday night out. But three years ago she’d made a choice, and she hadn’t had a moment’s regret over it.
When she looked down at Charlie, who was yawning hugely, her heart swelled with pure joy. She bent down and nuzzled his neck. “Mommy loves you bunches and bunches. Ready to go home?”
He kicked against the footrest of his stroller. “Go.”
“I’m afraid it’ll be slow going.” She turned the stroller around as deftly as she could without bumping into anyone.
The crowd grew thicker as they neared the north gate through which they’d entered. Though there were separate turnstiles for entering and exiting, where those who were coming in and those leaving converged, they formed two throngs moving in opposition. Elle and Charlie were swimming upstream of those entering, and eventually their progress was limited to gaining only inches at a time.
“Looks like they’re gonna have a good crowd tonight.”
The speaker was a gentleman who was shuffling along beside her. He had a round and ruddy face. A horseshoe of gray hair delineated his wide, shiny bald spot. Bridging his nose was a pair of wire-rimmed eyeglasses, the lenses of which reflected the spinning Ferris wheel. At a time when he could have been cranky and complaining, he’d spoken with good humor.
