“Um, have I ever told you I’m not altogether comfortable with heights?”
She lifted her head. “Really? Didn’t you go paragliding after you graduated from high school?”
“That was eighteen-year-old Josh. Thirty-four-year-old Josh likes something a little more substantial than air beneath him.”
“Are you gonna be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. Just feeling a little jittery—and not enjoying the view quite as much as you.”
“You should’ve said something earlier. We didn’t have to ride.”
“I wanted to be brave for Zoey.”
Maggie smiled. “That’s very sweet.” She zeroed in on the gondolajust ahead of them, now sweeping downward. Will sat beside Zoey, his arm flung around her shoulders. “I wonder how she’s doing.”
Just then her daughter turned, the top of her head barely visible over Will’s arm. “Mommy, I’m doing it! I’m riding the Ferris wheel!”
“I see you! You’re so brave, honey.” Maggie smiled as Will’s arm tightened protectively around her daughter. “He’s really good with her.”
“He sure does love her. And she’s pretty smitten with him too.”
Josh groaned as they swooped down toward the ground.
She set her hand on his thigh—and her diamond solitaire caught under the carnival lights, glittering. Two days after Thanksgiving Josh had proposed on the beach in what would forever be the most romantic moment of her life. It had been a short engagement—Josh had already waited so long, Maggie saw no reason to make him wait any longer.
They’d married on New Year’s Eve in a private ceremony officiated by Patrick. Will and Big D stood with Josh, and Erin and Zoey attended Maggie. Her mother had been invited but, still in a snit about Dr. Derrick, chose not to attend. Maggie was okay with that. The wedding was drama free, a lovely affair, full of meaning and poignant moments. Josh gazed at her throughout the ceremony, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Just the memory of it made her heart swell.
“I guess we’re going around again,” Josh said as the gondola swept past the exit stairs and started back up.
“We can ask to get off anytime, you know.”
“If Zoey can do it, so can I.”
She patted his leg. “All right, tough guy. Have it your way.”
When they neared the top again, Will shouted back to them. “Hey, look over there!”
“There’s fireworks, Josh!” Zoey called. “They’re big! Do you see them?”
A red starburst bloomed over the water, accompanied by a deep boom.
“I see them,” Josh called.
Since the wedding, Zoey had taken to calling himJosh, just like Will. After all, he was her stepfather now. Will came over to the house at least once a week to hang out, have supper. Sometimes they included his mom or Addison—they were such a cute couple. Will and Josh played basketball together regularly, sometimes with Brad, who was no match for his son or grandson.
While Will might have inherited Ethan’s looks, he’d taken after his father in the athletic department. He’d also inherited Josh’s little eyebrow hitch—a fact Maggie loved more than she could say.
According to Will, the man who’d raised him hadn’t seen him much since learning about his biological father. But apparently that wasn’t much of a change. Maggie still held out hope the man would come around in time.
In the spring Will had finally agreed to let Josh supplement his college costs, eliminating the need for school loans. Will still insisted on paying what he could. He worked for Josh part-time during the school year and planned to work full-time again this summer.
Maggie glanced at Josh. “How you doing over there?”
“Is it almost over?”
She homed in on his face, which seemed relaxed enough. He might be a little wobbly, but he was mostly messing with her. “Maybe I can distract you from your fear.”
He flashed a grin her way, eyes gleaming, his phobia apparently forgotten. “Now we’re talking.”
