“Jade likes it.” I stooped down and hefted my sister onto my shoulders as we crossed the final street. “And since it’s not absolutely boiling out today, I thought we’d start here.”
The pleasure in her face was impossible to miss as we made our way through the market. We browsed charm bracelet stalls, bought a box of blueberries to snack on, and I stopped to sample some flavored beef jerky. Though browsing wasn’t my preferred form of shopping, doing it with Jade and Jessie was fun. That feeling I’d gotten back at the picnic intensified as I watched them explore a hat display together, and my chest tightened.
How do I convince her that this is how it could be?I prayed.Let her see that she doesn’t have to be afraid.
I ended up buying a bag of beef jerky. I felt kind of guilty spending twenty bucks on beef jerky, but it was amazing, and sharing might win me back some points with my dad. Then I turned to look for the girls.
“Oh, Jade!” Jessie’s voice rose above the general din of the covered structure. “Isn’t this lovely?”
They were still in the hat display, and I found them both trying on the same hat. Well, Jade’s version was much smaller, but the hats were identical. They were giggling in front of a mirror while the woman running the stall was spouting to Jessie all the wonders of homemade hats. And while I didn’t care a bushel what was in my hats, the girls were really a pretty sight. Jade had a light in her eyes I didn’t often see, and Jessie was all rosy cheeks and sparkling green eyes.
“Let’s get them,” I said.
Jessie quit giggling with Jade, and her mouth fell open a little. “But you don’t even know how much they are.”
“My day,” I reminded her as I pulled out my credit card and handed it to the woman. “I get to pick.”
Jessie blushed even harder as the woman ran the card through her little phone extension and handed me the phone to sign. I had to keep myself from cringing at the total, but even as I signed, I knew it was worth every penny. If I wanted any chance at keeping Jessie, I would have to change some of my ways.
“All right. We need a picture with you two and these ridiculous hats.” I pulled the girls out and posed them in front of the river. Jessie gave me a funny look but smiled for the camera. For once, Jade smiled when asked, and as soon as I looked at the picture again, I decided it was going to be my phone’s background image until I died.
Jessie never took her eyes off me as we rejoined the throng of market-goers.
“You’re spending an awful lot of money for someone who’s supposed to be saving every penny he gets to travel one day.”
“You forget. Amy’s gone, so I can do what I want.”
She didn’t argue, but the look she gave me told me that she wasn’t convinced. But that was okay. If I had to spend my entire travel savings to convince her, I would.
We ended up getting several jars of berry preserves, a homemade lavender candle that Jessie seemed almost as attached to as she had been to the hat, and smoothies because the day was getting hotter. And every time I made a purchase or insisted I pay, she gave me that same calculating look. But as she didn’t actually object, I hoped that was a good thing.
My theory was tested when we crossed the street again. Instead of going back to the car, I led us into the old triangle skyscraper on the corner with a sign that said, “River Market Books and Gifts”.
“I love this place!” Jessie squealed and immediately ran to the elevator, dragging Jade along behind her. Then we spent an hour in the children’s book section, where Jessie found eleven picture books, among which were two different versions of Beauty and the Beast, and five minutes in the classical literature section, in which she found an old copy of Pride and Prejudice. She probably would have stayed all day if I hadn’t dragged her out, promising her that the next thing would be just as good.
“I doubt it.” She pursed her lips as the man behind the counter bagged up the books. “The library’s used bookstore is pretty hard to beat.” She met my eyes. “And I’m still waiting for that underground fight club to make an appearance.”
“Well, what do you know?” I grabbed the bags and pulled the girls back out to the sidewalk. “We’re doing that next.”
“And we’re taking Jade?” Jessie glanced up at our little charge.
“Hey, it’s not like I’m taking her to some abandoned mine.” I gave her an evil grin as she stuck her tongue out at me.
Nope. This was nothing like hanging out with Amy.
Our next venture had cost a pretty penny. But I would have paid more than twice as much to see the look on her face when we pulled into the parking lot.
“No.” She looked at me like she’d seen a ghost. “You didn’t.”
“Well,” I closed my door and went to open hers. She’d been so awestruck she’d forgotten to even open it, which gave me the chance to play the gentleman. “Last I checked, this is where the fight club is supposed to be.” She glared at me through slitted eyes, and I laughed. “But if something else is being shown, I guess we can stick around.”
“But this…this is the event arena” She got out of the truck slowly, her eyes focused on the giant canvas sign hanging over the entrance in the distance.
“And?” I asked.
“Beauty and the Beast is here right now.” She turned to look at me. “But these tickets are impossible to get.”
“Just call me your fairy godmother.”
