“Hey, buddy. You did a good job with that demon back there.” The dragon pigoinked again, hopped up to its feet. “You wouldn’t want to tell me what the crowning’s all about, would you?”
It just grunted and smacked its lips.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “I think I have some spoons in the car.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bertie had outdone herself,which was really saying something, because I’d been to almost every one of her events since I was a kid, and she went all out on all of them.
The streetlights were hung with pennants in softly contrasting colors. She’d done up the light poles with flowers and leaves, little teapots and cups scattered here and there in the flowers to give another pop of bright color. Flag-like banners were staked in front of shops on every block. Suspended from the trees and awning were little paper wheels and streamers in flashy copper and silver.
And the flowers. They were everywhere. Potted and hung vines and bushes created paths between the businesses, circled little cozy eating areas and a gazebo that hadn’t been there yesterday. There was a stage where an empty lot had been this morning.
The area around the petting zoo seemed greener somehow. Children were playing badminton without a net and running with ribbons in their hands.
It was beautiful. Not a fairy land, not an amusement park. It felt more like she had transformed this stretch of town into a garden filled with little tables and benches and nooks where sitting for a cup of tea and bite of pastry seemed like the most normal thing to do.
It was October in Oregon, but right now, today, it was summer. It was long warm days with friends and family. It was a moment no one in their right mind would want to miss.
From the look of the crowd wending its way through all the little grottos and groves, no one in thirty miles was missing it.
The vendors were just as cleverly scattered throughout the event, some operating inside shops or in little alleyways between buildings, even a few lining the streets and side streets, creating mini food courts.
I had no idea where the crowning was supposed to take place. I kept pulling my phone out and staring at the screen, expecting a message from Ryder, but there was no message there.
After repeating that half a dozen times, I sighed and shoved the phone in my pocket. He’d left right after the magic jail incident and I hadn’t heard from him since. I wondered if he was out doing Mithra’s bidding again.
Whether he was or not, today wasn’t the day I could try and fix that. I needed to be here, doing my job.
I walked out into my town and worked the crowd, breaking up disagreements, helping a little boy find his lost daddy who jogged up behind him with a relieved look on his face. I held their ice cream while he explained that hide-and-seek wasn’t a game they were playing today.
I drank tea. A lot of tea. Vendors waved me over and offered it “on the house” as if I were going to be one of the judges. The pastries were amazing, and after the fifth sample, I decided I really needed to pace myself.
Hatter and Shoe rambled by once or twice, a hand lifting in a wave, as they continued their route. I wondered how many miles they would put in before the day ended. They were totally going to win the department mileage contest.
As the day rolled on, I didn’t see Jean or Myra, but they checked in via text, so that was good.
Really, it was a pretty good day all around.
Then I found myself in front of the dress shop.
For a minute, the crowd wasn’t my happy place, the day wasn’t summer bright. No. In that moment, I remembered getting excited about going out to dinner with Ryder. I’d even ended up with a dress just for the occasion. I had been looking forward to it.
I had been looking forward to him.
I had hoped he would carve out at least a few minutes in his life for me.
For us.
“Looking for some shoes?” Cheryl leaned in the doorway of her shop. “I just got some sandals that would be darling with that dress you’re not wearing.”
“No, thanks. I’m onto your ways.”
“Oh?”
“If I walk in that shop, I’m coming out with stuff.”
“Gasp, I say. Youareonto me. I don’t suppose you’d like to say that a little louder for the crowd?” She grinned, and I shook my head. “So why no dress?” she asked.
