“He’s the Festival Marshal!”
“That’s like the king!”
“My dad says he gets to walk first!”
“He has a speech!”
Grace’s smile stayed in place. Easy. Automatic.
“That sounds exciting,” she said. “Now, who can tell me how many candy corns are in this cup?”
Hands shot up.
She kept moving, kept teaching, kept her voice steady even as Luke’s name bounced around the room.
Mrs. Ellery appeared in the doorway just before the school bell, clipboard tucked under her arm, eyes fond as she took in the scene.
“Controlled chaos,” she murmured.
“The best kind,” Grace said.
Mrs. Ellery glanced at the clipboard. “I just wanted to confirm—you’re still set for the school booth tomorrow? Face painting from one to three.”
Luke at the head of the parade, uniform crisp, voice carrying as he spoke to the town. Applause. Pride. Visibility. And Grace—sitting behind a folding table with washable paints and a cup of murky rinse water.
“Yes,” Grace said. “I’ll be there.”
“We can always count on you.” Mrs. Ellery smiled.
“Miss Hart?” Benjamin tugged on her sleeve. “Are you bringing someone to the festival?”
She blinked.
“I—” She smiled down at him. “I’ll be working, remember?”
“My mom says the festival is when you bring someone you like.”
Grace had once dared to picture Luke's hand in hers as they walked through the crowd, imagined him winning her a stuffed animal at the ring toss, sharing a candy apple. Imagining it had been foolish enough. She shouldn’t have been stupid enough to ask for it.
"Well, I'll be seeing all of you there, and I like you!" she said brightly.
Satisfied, he scampered off.
Mrs. Ellery lingered.
“You alright?” she asked gently.
“Yes,” Grace said automatically. Then, after a beat, “Just tired.”
Mrs. Ellery studied her. “Officer Bennett sure has been around a lot lately,” Mrs. Ellery said overly casually.
Grace felt herself blush. “He was helping me with a situation. But that’s resolved now.”
“Mmhmm.” A pause. “He’s a handsome man.”
The bell rang not long after. Backpacks were slung on shoulders, papers gathered, goodbyes shouted with extra enthusiasm because the next day was Saturday and this week Saturday meant hay rides and caramel apples and sugar highs.
When the room finally emptied, Grace sank into her chair and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
