“I’ve run into that gargoyle once or twice. Not much for words,” Granik said. “And people call me grumpy.”
“Who calls you grumpy?” Juniper asked him teasingly.
He merely winked at her in reply.
“Worse, he was downright rude to Elder Theodonna. Grumpy is one thing, but rude to an elder is unforgiveable.”
“That is a problem,” Granik agreed.
“Speaking of problems,” Juniper said, her gaze drifting behind Granik for just a moment.
I took a deep breath, expecting to find Kevin there, but instead, it was one of Cousin Annie Beth’s daughters, Marley.
“Hi, Marley,” I said with a smile. “I like your overalls.”
Marley, who was a cheerful girl with a mop of long red hair and bright blue eyes, smiled widely. She had dressed up as a cupid swan, complete with pink feathers and glittery red hearts, the shapes of the swans painted onto the legs of her overalls, a pink feather in her hair.
“Thank you, Prim. I love yours as well,” she said then turned to Granik. “I’m so glad to see you here, Granik,” she told him, her long lashes fluttering as she eyed the orc with such longing, I thought Granik might blush.
“I am happy to be invited, neighbor,” Granik replied diplomatically. For the longest time, Marley had been trying to catch Granik’s attention, but all her efforts were for naught. The orc didn’t seem to notice, not even when Marley had delivered him a picnic lunch, which he’d shared with his workers. Once, Marley had even left him a pie on his porch, but afraid it was the work of meddlesome brownies, he’d thrown it away.
I smiled at Marley. “You remember Juniper, right, Mar?”
“Sure. Hi, Juniper,” Marley said, not turning from Granik. “Granik, I was wondering if you would… Well, will you dance with me?”
Granik stiffened at once and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Of course he will,” Juniper said, taking the tankard from Granik’s hand and giving him a gentle push.
“I will?” he asked Juniper.
“Yes. Go on.”
“Great,” Marley said, a wide smile crossing her face as she took Granik’s hand and pulled him toward the square.
“I’m not much of a dancer,” Granik told Marley as he headed off with her.
“Oh, that’s all right,” Marley replied, smiling at him.
Turning back, Granik gave Juniper such a look that it made her giggle.
When the music started, the pair began to dance, arms linked together as they spun in circles, Granik looking helplessly back toward Juniper.
“You will never hear the end of that,” I told her.
“I know, but it’s good for him. He never dances with anyone. If he had it his way, he’d just stand beside me all night. He wouldn’t even come without me.”
I raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing.
As Marley and Granik turned on the dance floor, Granik kept looking Juniper’s way. She signaled directions to him, keeping him turning in time with the others.
“He’s lost without you,” I said, watching for Juniper’s reaction.
Juniper merely laughed and kept clapping with the tempo. “Yes,” she said, laughing loudly. “Poor creature.”
“Primrose!” My mother’s voice cut through the sound of the music. I cringed. Turning, I found her pulling Kevin toward me. “There you are. Poor Kevin has been looking for you everywhere.”
“I have?” Kevin asked, confused.
