Chapter Eleven
The day of the fair comes quickly, and before I know it, I’m hustling along the sidewalk to make sure I get to the town square in time. Every year for the past five, Hayley and I have met at the liberty bell in the town square the day of the fair. She’ll cheer loudly as my dad rings the bell, and then we’ll take off and have fun, doing our best to ignore the cameramen who always try their best to get a few shots of “Mayor Graham’s family.”
But this morning, Hayley texted that she’s running late, and Jenson mentioned offhandedly that Meghan’s dropping off the kids today, so she may stop by the fair.
I like Meghan; she’s a nice person and a great mom to Kyle and Connor. But she’s always made me feel awkward, maybe because she’s gorgeous and always perfectly put-together. I chide myself for feeling insecure as I make my way to the square.
I had wanted to wear an outfit that would activate my self-confidence, and I ended up pairing a fitted purple tank top and cut-off jean shorts with three-inch high wedge sandals, the sexiest and most uncomfortable shoes I own. I left my hair down the way I know Jenson likes, fixed myself up with a bit of lipstick and eye makeup, and I was ready to go.
As I walk through town, I take in the aromas of fried dough and hamburgers from a block away. I weave around the bouncy moonwalk and the portable bungee jump machine and head for the massive, bronze bell next to the gazebo.
My gaze lands on Jenson immediately. He’s on a picnic blanket underneath a nearby tree, and Kyle and Connor are playing with some toys while Cindy and Dee sit with them. Meghan must have already come and gone as Jenson’s in the middle of trying to break up a fight between his sons over a toy, and he doesn’t see me yet. I smile and head toward him.
But then Matilda calls my name. She’s with Auntie Sue, so I go over to them first and give Auntie Sue a kiss. I get choked up for a moment when she tries to smile, but her mouth freezes partway. I hate seeing her suffer.
“I’m going to tell you a secret later,” I whisper in her ear. “I would tell you now, but your daughter’s staring at me.”
I glance up and smile casually at Matilda, who leans in like she wants to hear every word I’m saying to her mother.
I fall into Mom’s habit of rambling about the beautiful day we’re having until my father steps into our circle.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Dad pulls me aside. “Listen, Olivia, I’m sorry about the other night…”
I put up a hand to stop him. “Dad, I know it was an accident.”
He lowers his voice. “Your mother and I want to help. She has a surprise for you today…”
“What?!” I say in horror. “You don’t mean…”
“Olivia!” Mom calls out from somewhere behind me.
I whip around and come face to face with my mother. She’s wearing a bright orange sundress, and she gives me a huge smile. I freeze. Only one thing could possibly make my mother that happy, and it’s got to be…
Mom takes my arm and turns me to face a man about my age.
“This is Will, Olivia. Will, meet my beautiful daughter.”
Yep. It’s got to be a man. Because only a man my mother is hoping will partner with me to give her more grandchildren could put that joyous look on her face.
Will gives me a crooked grin as we shake hands.
So this is the guy who’s supposed to take my breath away. He’s cute in an arrogant sort of way, and he kisses my cheek like we’ve met before, which immediately turns me off. As I make small talk with him, I glance in Jenson’s direction. His eyes are on me, his expression unreadable. But I feel like I can see the smoke coming out of his ears from here.
“So you work at a bank?” Will says. “Union?”
I force my gaze back to him. “Yes, I have since college. I hear you just came from Manhattan.”
“I did,” he says. “Love the Big Apple. Hate this town. Too small.”
I want to say that what I hate are shortened sentences that don’t begin with a subject, but I keep smiling instead. “Why are you back then?”
“The offer coming out of Philly was just too sweet to pass up.” Will throws his arms out wide. “The perks, the signing bonus, all of it. They wanted me bad.” He winks at me then like that last sentence means something.
“That’s exciting.” I glance over at Jenson again. He’s still watching me, but Kyle tugs on his arm and says something to him, and he gets distracted momentarily, just long enough for me to excuse myself from Will and head over to the man I actually want to talk to.
“Hi, J,” I say as I reach the blanket.
Jenson looks up in surprise, and Kyle and Connor grab my hand and ask me to sit with them. I take a seat on the blanket and say hello to Cindy and Dee. They greet me warmly, and Cindy asks me who the handsome man is I was just talking to. Before I have to answer her, Kyle spills Jenson’s bottled water all over the blanket. I grab some paper towels to clean up the mess.
