I shake my head.“I’m so old.They used to be a dollar.”
She pats my arm.“It’s okay.Tiffany’s dad is even older than you.Aunt Phyllis says he’s going through a midlife crisis and that’s why he bought a Porsche.”
Next to me, Emma laughs.I hand Jasmine another twenty.“You can treat Tiffany if you want.”
Jasmine runs ahead, and Emma and I head for the ticket counter.She’s walking at my side, and unintentionally, my hand grazes hers.She looks up at me.
I wrap her hand in mine.
CHAPTER 42
Finn
There.
It’s done.
I’m holding Emma’s hand.And now we’re walking to the ticket booth.At first I’m thrilled that she isn’t pulling away.But then Emma’s long, slender fingers curl around the edge of my hand and I almost let out a groan of relief.
“My wife died eight years ago, Emma.”
“I know.”
“Not once since have I ever wanted to hold a woman’s hand at the fair.”
“Until tonight?”
“Until you.”
I stop and turn toward her.She faces me.Her hand is still in mine.I stare into her pretty face, all lit up with carnival lights, and I have a thousand things I want to share with her.Blurting them out all at once is not the way to go, however.
“I sure messed this up.”
“You sure did.”
“I didn’t expect it—you.”
“I didn’t expect you, either.”
“You’re in charge here, Emma.”
“Yes, I am.”
I laugh.Emma does too.
“The next move is yours.You need to tell me what you want.”
“I will.”
“And then I’ll give it to you.”
The tip of her little pink tongue slides along her bottom lip.“Good.”
I squeeze her hand.Someone jostles me.“Sorry, man,” he says.I look around to see people streaming in from the parking lot, and we’re standing in the main thoroughfare.
“Come on, Finn.Let’s go to the fair.”She gives me a shy smile but keeps her hand in mine as we make our way to buy tickets.
Phoebe Travis is manning the ticket booth.She’s the youngest of the Travises and the nurse who took care of Evander.She is, bar none, the most patient woman on the face of the planet.She survived Evander, didn’t she?
