“I feel the same way.” Arthur leaned in close and whispered, “Terrified, but oh-so-tempted.”
Arthur’s flirtatious words made Jesse’s stomach tumble, and he blushed.
“Arthur,” Jesse whispered back in a warning tone.
Laughing, Arthur straightened his posture and held up his hands in mock innocence. Jesse rolled his eyes.
“Alright, well,besidesthe wheel, no, I haven’t spotted anything of interest yet,” he said, still reeling a bit from Arthur’s comment. “Should we keep walking?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Together, Arthur and Jesse continued to explore the Midway. First, they stopped at the Nursery Exhibit, where there were beautiful shrubs and trees and even a cranberry marsh. Admiring the plant life, Jesse walked slowly through the paths on either side of the exhibits. He’d have stayed for a long while had it not been for the fact that he knew there were so many other interesting things to see on the Midway. Fragrant and colorful, the Nursery Exhibit was an oasis; it reminded Jesse that though the Columbian Exposition was wondrous, nature itself possessed a type of beauty completely separate from the well-crafted structures that now occupied Jackson Park.
Over the next hour, the two men ventured toward the unfinished wheel. On the way, they stopped at a log cabin and a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower. Arthur’s constant and continued enthusiasm throughout was both endearing and heartening. It truly felt as though something had changed, like perhaps Arthur had only just finally managed to let go of some worry or sorrow that had been plaguing him all this time.
After the two watched a glassblowing demonstration, Jesse pulled Arthur aside.
“Did something happen recently?” Jesse asked. “Other than me reassuring you that I’m not bothered by the money you’re spending on this visit.”
Arthur’s brow creased. “No. Why?”
“You seem . . . happier today.”
“I’m always happy when I’m with you.”
“Yes, but this is . . . different somehow.”
With a crooked smile, Arthur shrugged. “Just entranced by the fair, perhaps.”
Jesse wasn’t sure if he believed him, but he supposed he’d let it go for now.
Claire and Charlotte came over just then anyway, their presence necessitating the end of Jesse and Arthur’s conversation. They were soon joined by Emma and Lizzie, both of whom had been trailing a few feet behind.
“Do you think we have time for one more thing?” Charlotte asked.
Arthur fished out his pocket watch and clicked it open to check the time.
“Perhaps,” he said, putting it back. “What is it?”
“We wanted to see the moving sidewalk,” Charlotte said.
“Actually, we wanted torideit,” Claire said excitedly, her brown eyes wide and eager and playful. “We heard a few women talking about it, and we think it sounds rather fun!”
Arthur and Jesse looked at each other. Arthur arched an eyebrow as though silently requesting Jesse’s permission. But Jesse had no problem with them seeing the sidewalk a second time. Despite the fact that it was the place where they had encountered Percy, which had been both a little terrifying and a lot humiliating,Jesse could only look back at that moment with fondness. Because it had led to the most wonderful, most healing night of Jesse’s life.
Sometimes, it seemed, the most beautiful things sprouted from the most acrid soil.
Jesse nodded. “Yes, that would be fun.”
“Wonderful,” Arthur said, looking at Jesse with unbridled tenderness.
It made Jesse’s stomach swoop.
Arthur took out his map of the fair and began to look it over.
“If we take the railway back, we could make it in no time.”
Jesse looked around. “Where are Patrick and Giuseppe?”
