She nodded. “Then today, Annabelle and Branna arrived and said enough, and made me come here, and I'm glad they did, but this was something my dad looked forward to every year.” She looked around her. “He's everywhere.”
“Then how about you take me on a tour of what he loved, seeing as I haven't been here before?”
“Oh... I don't think so.”
“There you go thinking again.”
He held out his hand and she hesitated, then placed her fingers on his.
“This, the fudge stall, was usually his first stop, and always was since I was a child.”
“Macy!” Gussie Neeps gave her a toothless smile. “Here, this is for you, I saved it ’specially. Your father's favorite, but tonight you must eat it.”
Macy took the bag the lady held out to her, and then managed to stumble out a thank-you before leaving the tent. It happened everywhere they went. Everyone wanted to talk about her father and give her things, and Brad's love of this town grew a bit more. An hour later she was laughing.
“Sometimes this place is claustrophobic, but then sometimes, like tonight, there is no place I would rather be.”
“It’s pretty special,” Brad agreed. “Want me to win you a soft toy?”
She giggled this time, the sound making him smile.
“I don’t think so. My days of boys winning me soft toys are done, but thanks for the offer.”
“Is that—”
“No way did that woman have the cheek to turn up here!”
Brad and Macy had seen Nadine Buchanan at the same time. She was with the two lawyers, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Alexander.
“Looks like she did, but don’t let her spoil your night, Macy.”
“Bitch. What the hell is she doing here?”
“If I had to guess, I'd say they're trying to win a few people over, because even though the fudge was great, I'm sure there's more to it.”
She spun on him, eyes fired up, lovely body rigid.
“I can't believe you're making light of this.”
“I’m not, but I also believe that the people of this town are sparked up about this Buchanan business, and I don't think there's anything Ms. Buchanan or her suits can say to change that. I think they’re pushing shit uphill to even try.”
She thought about that for a few seconds.
“Okay, so you're probably right about that. Still, it makes me mad to see her here.”
“You do mad well, Miss Reynolds. It lights up your eyes.”
“Thanks. Now I should go find Billy, and move away from Nadine before I say something that has me arrested.”
“Now that I’d like to see.”
She looked at him. “To be fair, I probably wouldn’t have the courage, but I’m getting there.”
“So you’re feeling better?”
“Yes.” Her smile was so sweet he nearly missed a step.
“Okay, let’s go find your boy before his teeth fall out. Jake bought six bags of fudge, and only gave me one.”
