Donnie joined her as she walked away, guiding her through the crowd with his hand resting lightly on her back. "How long have those two been together?" I asked.
Clara smiled. "Them? It's taken forty years, but I think they're finally figuring it out."
I watched them go, thankful it had only taken fifteen years for us.
Back in the parking lot, a rumble shook the ground. I drew Clara close, trying to place the sound. A jet, a big black one with a gold crown logo on the tail flew low overhead.
"The Kings are here,” I said.
The jet banked toward the airstrip, followed by two helicopters.
"That's a bit excessive, don't you think?" Clara shook her head.
I shrugged. “They don't fly together. I'm guessing Mr. King was in one chopper, Colton in the other, and Everleigh was in the jet."
"That's sad," Clara whispered. "All that money, and you can't even travel together. Just so if the plane crashes, someone survives?"
"That's the logic."
Clara watched the sky for a moment. "Like I said. Sad."
An announcement crackled through the speakers:All Polar Bear participants, head to the beach at Sugar Bay.
"That's you, popsicle." She grabbed my hand. "I can't wait to hear how high you scream when your balls hit the water."
I pulled her in and kissed the top of her head. "I might have to change your name from Clara Belle to Clara the Cruel."
"Clara the Cruel." She pursed her lips. "I like the sound of that."
We followed the crowd until a siren whooped. A caravan of five sleek Mercedes cars followed a police escort.
"Let me guess," Clara rolled her eyes. "The Kings."
They took over the street. People stopped eating and cleared the way as the convoy passed. William King climbed out of the lead car, spent five seconds looking at the arena, then shook the slush from his shoes and got back in. He didn't even put his phone down.
Then Everleigh King stepped out of the second car.
She looked ready for Aspen, not Chance Rapids, wearing a white snowsuit with fur-lined hood and big Jackie O sunglasses. I'd never met her in person, but I knew she was surveying the crowd.
Gunnar Lockwood followed her out, and a hush fell over the people nearby. He handed a baby, also in a matching white suit, to Everleigh, then lifted a graying dog from the car. He took Everleigh's hand, and the crowd parted for them.
"Come on, Clara the Cruel. Time to meet the Ice Queen."
I took a breath and kept my grip on Clara's hand as we walked over. "Ms. King. I'm Beck Shepherd, and this is Clara Dalton."
She turned in slow motion, scanning me and then doing the same to Clara. "Shepherd. Nice to meet you both. Have you met Gunnar?"
"Not yet." I shook the big defenseman's hand. "Nice to meet you. Impressive career."
"You too." Gunnar smiled.
The kid on Everleigh's hip pointed at Dash. "Doggy!"
Clara patted Dash's head. "This is Dash. He just won the Best Ears contest. Do you want to pet him?"
I studied Everleigh. She was known as a ball-busting executive, but standing here, she seemed as maternal as anyone else at the carnival. She nodded and took off the girl's mitten. "Remember, Regan, we pet dogs gently."
Clara crouched down and guided the little girl's hand to Dash's fur. Dash just wagged his tail.
