“We can try the Ferris wheel,” Nick said. “Maybe if we get up, away from the crowd, we’ll catch a breeze.”
Cassie agreed as Birdie began to chant, “Ferris wheel! Ferris wheel!”
So far, Nick had bought her a corn dog, a lemon shake-up, and a funnel cake. Cassie had suggested a food and spinning ride break after the funnel cake, as she didn’t want to see it all come back up.
‘Sorry.” Nick smiled sheepishly. “It’s fun to see how excited she gets. I love seeing this place through her eyes.”
“I know.” Cassie softened and grinned. “It’s great to see her so happy. But, if she pukes everywhere, she won’t be happy anymore. And trust me, we won’t be either.”
“Hey, Nick!” a woman called out to him as they passed the Fun House. She waved and made a kissy face with her bright pink lips. “Haven’t seen you around lately!”
Nick blushed and waved back without stopping. “Hey, Denise. Just keeping busy, you know.”
Denise gave Cassie the once over and, after a little smirk, turned back to Nick. “Well, don’t be a stranger. You know where I live.”
She shot Nick another kissy face that made Cassie want to vomit more than any spinning rides or funnel cakes ever could.
“She seems friendly.” Surprised at the punch of jealousy to her gut, Cassie fought to keep her voice steady.
“Sorry about that. She’s an old friend.” Nick gave a pained grimace but didn’t explain further.
Cassie bit her lip and tamped down her retort. Why should she care if Nick was close with another woman? She had no right.
“Can we do the Ferris wheel now?” Birdie asked.
Cassie pasted a smile on her face. “That’s a good idea, little bird. Let’s do that.”
That night, after Birdie had had her fill of all things carnival, and two more women had approached Nick to tell them they missed seeing him around, Nick walked them to their door.
“Thank you for a lovely evening, ladies,” he said as he bowed toward Birdie. “It’s been my pleasure.”
Birdie giggled and threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Nick!”
Cassie opened the door, and Birdie ran inside, calling out for Anna. Cassie sighed, then turned and faced Nick. “Thanks. I had a nice time.”
“I did, too.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry about Denise. She was a long time ago, but she seems to keep popping up when I least expect it.”
“Jan and Tiffany, too?” Cassie’s eyebrows raised.
He blushed and started to stammer another apology.
Cassie held up a hand to stop him. “It’s all right. We all have a past, don’t we?” She dropped her hand and twirled the ring on her left ring finger.
“We do. But I like to look toward the future.” Nick’s voice came out low and husky. He ran the back of his knuckles down the side of her face. She instinctively tensed, then softened at the feel of his rough hand gently touching her cheek. “Good night, Cassie.”
“Well, how was it?” Anna pounced on Cassie as soon as Birdie was all cleaned up and tucked in. “Did you have fun? Come have some tea with us.”
“It was nice.” Cassie sat down and inhaled the sweet herbal scent of the bedtime tea her mother set in front of her.
“Just nice?” Bobby’s eyes twinkled over her teacup.
“Nick was fine. Very much a gentleman. And I enjoyed being with him,” Cassie admitted. “He was so sweet to Birdie.”
“Grandma!” Birdie shouted from her bedroom. “You forgot to sing me a song!”
“You don’t have to, Mom.” Cassie pushed away from the table. “I’ll get her.”
“No, she called for me. I’m thrilled you guys live here now, and I can do this all the time,” Anna said over her shoulder as she jogged out of the room.
Cassie dropped her head under Bobby’s probing eyes. She stared at the cup of tea and tried to think of something mundane to say.
Bobby beat her to it, but it was hardly mundane. “It feels wrong, doesn’t it? Enjoying yourself with another man.”
Cassie’s head snapped up, surprised at Bobby’s perception.
Bobby sat back and folded her hands. “I’ve told you, your grandfather was not my first love.”
Cassie sipped her tea too fast and burned her tongue. “Ouch! Yes, we read about Pavlo. I’m sorry. That had to be so hard to lose him.”
“You’d know that better than anyone else,” Bobby said.