“Am I right?” Her eyes brightened. “Is it Jack?”
“Close. Jackson Phillip.”
“Seriously? That issucha nice name,” she approved as she dipped the tip of her brush into the royal blue paint and swirled it around.
“It’s also my dad’s.”
Her eyes lifted. “Oh.” Empathy shrouded her open gaze. J.P. didn’t need to elaborate. She understood. “I like J.P. much better. Suits you.”
He had shortened his name when he was a teenager, wanting to distance himself from his namesake’s betrayal. Of course, there was more to a person than their given name. But for J.P., it had been a cathartic act, a first step in figuring out who he wanted to become, and who he never wanted to be.
Funny that it took a dozen more years and hundreds of small steps toward growth to finally feel like he had a handle on who he was, what he wanted out of life, and who he hoped to share it with. Growing into oneself was a lifelong adventure, J.P. supposed, and he couldn’t wait to continue it with Nora.
They provedto be the perfect face painting duo. Once the gates opened, it was a steady stream of excited children with elaborate requests. They did their best, and while some illustrations took some explaining, squinting, and imagination to see them just right, no one complained. That was all they could ask for.
Around nine, the majority of young families packed up their broods to call it a night. J.P.’s hand had a cramp and his shirt was dotted with more paint splatters than stars in the sky, but he wasn’t ready to shut things down.
“I heard the funnel cake at the Perfect Harmony Bakery booth is unmatched,” he said as they stowed away their paints in a lock box until the next day. “Care to split one with me?”
“Nope.” Nora swiveled her head. “I can eat an entire one of those all on my own. Not sharing.”
“I’m not going to challenge you on that.” J.P. chuckled.
The festival took on an energy as twilight morphed into darkness. Neon lights pulsed on carnival games. Colorful bulbs lining the Ferris wheel danced in synchronicity with the midway’s jubilant music. During daylight, the fair had a small town quaintness with its constructed booths and homemade wares. But it was still a carnival all the same, and it came to life at night.
They ordered two delectable, sugary cakes and boarded the upright wheel, snuggling in side by side. J.P.’s stomach dipped as the ride sped into action, looping up and over. He glimpsed a couple in the seat just below them, shocked that it was Tillie and Travis sitting close and laughing loudly. They also shared a funnel cake, and J.P. silently wondered if Travis had discovered the way to the woman’s heart through food rather than flowers. The thought made him chuckle.
They’d made four full rotations when the giant wheel slowed to a stop just as they crested the apex of the circle.
He heard a little gasp from Nora, but it wasn’t out of fear.
Her eyes were wide, her expression awed.
“Everything looks so different from up here,” she whispered, taking it in. “I’ve never seen Harmony Ridge from this vantage point. It’s absolutely breathtaking.”
“It is,” he agreed, his eyes fixed first on Nora before roving over the land beneath them.
It was as though he could see all of his tomorrows when he scanned the city below, the illuminated storefronts and streets lined with lights and people happily coming together to celebrate their town. This was where he wanted to live out his days, and Nora was the woman he wanted to share each and every moment with from this point forward. He’d never been more sure of anything.
Their seat jostled when the ride clicked back into gear, and Nora’s hand darted from her lap to clasp onto J.P.’s thigh. He moved his arm over her shoulders to curl her close, his lips pressed into her hair.
“I’ve got you,” he assured with confidence. “Always.”
Epilogue
Nora lifted her sticky hands and licked a dollop of honey from her index finger. This harvest was the sweetest yet, and she savored the richness with an appreciative groan.
“Wow. I know I’m a little biased, but this is the best honey I’ve ever tasted.”
J.P. twisted the lid on the last jar and wiped his hands with the wet dish towel slung over his shoulder. “I don’t disagree with that. This batch is downright delicious.”
Looking out through the window above the kitchen sink, Nora beamed. Cooper, Miles’ son and Scarlett’s stepson, raced across the property on his bicycle, a trail of dust whipping out behind his wheels. The training wheels had just come off earlier that day, but the little guy was a natural. He zipped and zoomed up and down the acreage with glee. Before they knew it, he’d be building ramps and berms to race across. Nora was sure of it.
J.P. had just completed the walkthrough on the newly constructed home, and Scarlett and Miles had spent the last week loading up their belongings and moving into their new ranch house. It was so nice to have neighbors again, the kind Nora could borrow a cup of sugar from or share the bounty from her garden with. Nora knew the Callahans were going to be great ones.
“So I was thinking,” J.P. started in while he washed his hands in the farmhouse sink. “The Sunshine Days Summer Festival is coming up in a month. We should probably start brainstorming.”
“You think we’ll be assigned to the face painting booth again?” She loaded the filled honey jars back into their packing boxes so they would be ready for tomorrow’s deliveries. She could hardly believe this entire batch had already sold on preorder.
