Sean paused for a moment thinking, and another family came up to get food. Nicole served them, and Sean opened a new package of buns. “I would have sent you a quick text and asked if everything was ok. That’s what I would have done.”
Nicole frowned and hugged herself. “I guess that’s just not the way I work. When I didn’t hear from you at all on Wednesday, I figured you ghosted me or you were dead in a ditch.”
Sean put his hands out, in surrender. “I’m sorry, I really did text you.”
Nicole took out her phone, unlocked it and pulled up her text. She clicked on Sean. “See, nothing since before the council meeting.”
Sean’s face fell and his shoulders dropped. “I’m so sorry. I wonder what happened? Let me check my phone.” Sean took off his gloves and swiped through his phone and pulled up Nicole. And then he saw it. The message he had thought he’d sent was still there. He’d never hit the send arrow.
“Well, shit. It’s all my fault.”
“What happened?”
Sean showed Nicole his phone. As she read, her icy demeanor melted away. She grimaced and covered her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry. I had you all wrong.”
Sean walked closer to her. “Can I give you a hug?” Nicole nodded, her eyes glossy, and Sean wrapped her in his arms. He nuzzled the crown of her head with his chin. “It’s my fault too. I got so wrapped up in the mess happening at Jesse’s, I didn’t check to make sure the text was sent, and I didn’t bother to call you.”
“Can you forgive me?” Nicole asked, a plaintive note in her tone.
Sean felt a sharp pain in his chest. She looked so sad. He rubbed at his own chest and said, “Of course I can. All I ask is that instead of assuming the worst-case scenario, if you don’t hear from me, that you talk to me. And I’ll do the same for you.” He noticed that she had goosebumps along her forearms, so he rubbed them as he continued. “I’m quite fond of you, darling. Let’s not mess up a good thing.” Her eyes shining, she stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss.
“Mommy, can I get a hot dog?” a voice said, and they turned to see another family ready for food. One family led to a group of teens and then an older couple and soon there was a line twenty people deep and they were in the weeds working quickly to feed all the hungry fest goers.
Chapter Twenty-One
NICOLE
Nicole felt wrung out and her feet were sore from standing. She was glad that she’d worn her most comfortable sneakers for the day. She checked her watch. Only half an hour to go.
“Think we’ll make it?” she asked Sean.
“The onions are gone, we have two brats and,” he paused and checked the slow cooker, “six hot dogs left.” Then he turned and looked at the fest which was still filled with people talking, laughing, and kids running around.
Sean shook his head. “If I was a betting man, I’d say we are going to run out of brats and dogs, but we should be okay on chips and apples.” Nicole leaned on the counter, rested her head on her hand and watched the crowd.
Sean leaned next to Nicole and copied her stance. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“I was noticing that quite a few of the kids from school are here and it’s fun to see them in the wild, so to speak.”
Sean chuckled and nudged her with his shoulder. “In the wild, that’s about right. Look,” he gestured with his head, “that little Barbie is literally stomping her feet and screaming.”
“Her mom looks like she’s had quite enough,” Nicole said. “Looks like it’s time for Barbie to go back in the box.”
“Yikes,” Sean said, and they watched Barbie push her mom away. “Do you recognize that kiddo?”
Nicole gave the little girl a long look. “No, she doesn’t look familiar.”
“She kinda looks like your friend, Zaina.”
Nicole peered at the girl, “Well, she’s got the sassy attitude down. Poor thing is probably overstimulated.”
Sean nodded, then his face softened. “Aww, it’s a little lion. What a cutie.”
Nicole looked over to see a Dad dressed all in silver with an oil funnel on his head. In his arms was a toddler boy wearing a fuzzy lion costume. The boy’s chubby-cheeked little face peeked out of the mane. He was laughing, and the dad gave him a kiss on the cheek and then set him in a wagon. There was another boy in the wagon who looked to be about five years old and was wearing a scarecrow costume.
“Looks like they have a Wizard of Oz family costume. The mom must be around here somewhere as Dorothy. I do love group costumes.”
Nicole let out an awkward bark of laughter. She didn’t love group costumes and she wondered if his moony eyes were related to love for the Halloween season or if he was yearning to have children.
