Aaron made a zipping motion over his mouth. “My lips are sealed.”
Coming to his side, Tiffany shot them an inquisitive glance. “What are you two over here conspiring about?”
Connor winked at Aaron. “We thought we’d take all the children over to the games if it’s okay with their moms and give you ladies some time to yourselves.”
“Great idea, but we’ll come with you, right Tiffany?” Rachel exchanged a curious look with Rachel. “The ladies could use some free time to ride the adult rides.”
“Perfect idea,” Tiffany readily agreed.
Narrowing his eyes, Connor studied the two friends. “Something’s up.”
A slow smile stretched over Aaron’s mouth, and he gave a pointed stare. “And I know what it is. You don’t want to rideThe Jumpereither.”
“Okay, okay, you got us,” Rachel said between laughter, wrapping an arm through Aaron’s. “But have you seen it?”
“I tried telling you, but no, it’s safe you said,” Aaron teased.
“A girl can change her mind.”
Now that everyone had left the carousel, Tiffany gathered all the ladies and children in a group and explained the proposed plan. The Hope House residents agreed, some excitedly, and some hesitantly, not wanting to leave their children alone in a crowd. When the three other employees with the group offered to come with the children, the cautious ladies were confident there would be enough supervision for the twenty children.
Connor had no doubt the four of them could have easily kept track of all the children. He knew Tiffany and Rachel could have done it with only the two of them, but he understood the mothers’ concerns, didn’t blame them for being overcautious.
They passed the cotton candy stand on the way to the games, and they stopped for a sugary treat. After a ten-minute wait in line, of which it took the full time for each child to decide which flavor they wanted, every child had a cone of sticky goodness. Thankfully, Rachel carried a bottle of sanitizer in her purse, which each child received a dollop of to clear their hands of the cotton candy stickiness.
When they reached the games, by unanimous decision, the children made a beeline for the goldish game. Connor caught Aaron rolling his eyes, but they all kept a positive attitude. As luck would have it, Faith Jacobs got a ball in the cup on her first throw. Of course, she would.
The way each adult held their breath, trying to figure out a way to not have to take home a goldfish to the shelter was almost comical. Connor held his amusement, until the man running the stand handed Faith a fluorescent pink stuffed animal fish with neon blue stripes.
A collective sigh of relief circled the adults and Connor smiled.
“I’m so glad they started that this year,” Tiffany whispered in his ear. “The fish never last but it doesn’t stop the children from wanting them.”
“I think Faith is happier with the stuffed animal anyway,” he said, watching the young girl clutch the toy as though it were a million dollars.
“They have so little,” Tiffany said sadly. “They cherish everything they get, no matter how small.”
Her statement hit its mark, and he knew he’d done the right thing by donating the money. He didn’t need a new laptop or television, or even that new recliner he’d looked at. All that paled in comparison to the joy of watching these children enjoy the simple pleasures of life, ones they’d had far too few of.
The night passed quickly. All the moms rejoined the group, and they played several games with their children. Some of the younger children started nodding off as they leaned against the mom, and others broke down in tantrums from exhaustion.
“Time to go,” Rachel announced, when it was clear the fun was over for most of the children.
Connor walked to the van with his arms full of stuffed animals, inflatables, and other prizes won by all. Aaron walked beside him, carrying a similar load. They dropped them in the cargo area in the rear of the vans, while Tiffany and Rachel helped the moms sit all the children into the vans and secure car seat buckles and seatbelts.
He and Tiffany had driven separately though, so they wouldn’t need to find another passenger van to bring. They’d followed the crew from the shelter and planned to follow them home, but Rachel stepped forward.
“You all can go straight home if you want. Aaron, Mallory and Jade will get the vans back to the churches before services in the morning.”
“We don’t mind,” Tiffany offered, and Connor agreed with her.
“Seriously, you all have done more than enough.” Rachel gave Connor an appreciate smile without giving away his secret to two employees who hadn’t gotten in the van yet.
He glanced at Tiffany, making sure she didn’t mind leaving. When she gave him a slight nod, he shook hands with Aaron then Rachel. “Thanks for letting me tag along tonight. If you do need any help, just give me a call. I can head back.”
“We’ll be fine but thank you,” Rachel said.
Connor pressed a hand against the small of Tiffany’s back and led her to the truck, parked three rows behind the vans. “I don’t know how you do it every day. I’m exhausted.”
