“Yeah!”The girls jumped up and down screaming until the heat was done, and they joined the roar of people around them.
“They won!”Sally jumped up and down, grabbing Riley’s hands.“Daddy, they won!”
“First heat,” Simon cautioned, but he was grinning.“They still have to win the final.”
They watched race after race, the afternoon stretching golden and warm around them.At some point, Simon’s hand brushed Sarah’s then settled just beside her, close enough that their pinky fingers touched.
She didn’t pull away.
When the Comeback Crew took the final heat by half a boat length, their little group erupted.Simon pulled Sarah into a hug, and for a moment she let herself be held, feeling the solid warmth of him, the way her head fit just under his chin.Then she stepped away before she gave way to his warmth and melted into him further.
She glanced up at him from under her lashes, noting he seemed as flustered as she.Did he feel the attraction as strongly?She found herself hoping so, but for now she needed to regain some equilibrium.“We should collect these two before we lose them in the crowd.”She made a show of looking around for Riley and Sally, but they weren’t where she had seen them a moment earlier.“Where’d they go?”Her heart beat faster, this time in a frisson of fear.
“They’re over there,” he said, tapping her on the shoulder and pointing ahead of them a few meters.Now that the races were done, the crowd was moving as one along the pier and to the path beyond, pushing people in its wake—including Riley and Sally, who were engrossed in a conversation and not paying attention to their surroundings.
“That girl!”said Sarah with exasperation, as she headed in their direction.“Why does she just walk away like that?”
“There are two of them,” said Simon, his voice calm.“And I can see them from here.Don’t worry, we’ll catch up.”More people piled onto the path, separating them until he reached back and grabbed her hand, pulling her along with him.Not leaving her behind.
“Can you still see them?”she asked as she jostled past more people, struggling to keep up.
“Yes, we’re almost there,” he said.“They’ve stopped at the ice cream stand.I told Sally we could have ice cream later.”
“Thank goodness they’ve stopped.Have they noticed we’re missing yet?”
“Looks like it.They’re looking around.”He raised his hand in the air and shouted, “Stay there, you two.”To her he said, “They’ve seen me.It’s okay.”
“Thank you.”She followed along with him, still holding his hand to keep from being separated, until he pulled her to the side of the path, away from the crowd, and dropped her hand just as they got to the girls.
“Why did you wander off like that?”Sarah nearly shouted at Riley.
“Sorry, Mom.We were just coming to the ice cream store.”
“But you didn’t tell us.”
“Simon said we would be coming for ice cream later, and you were… busy.”
“Busy?”
Riley blushed, and Sarah realized she must have seen her hugging Simon.Her own face warmed as she thought again about the closeness she’d felt.She didn’t dare look at him.
“Next time, wait,” she said.“I was worried.If Simon hadn’t been able to see above the crowd, I don’t know what I would have done.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Yes, sorry, Sarah,” said Sally, looking contrite.
“Well, now that we’re here, how about our treat?”asked Simon, waving to the shortening line in front of them.“It’s almost our turn.”
“Can we, Mom?”‘
Sarah relented.“As long as I get chocolate and peanut butter this time.”
“Deal,” said Simon, turning to ask the girls what they would like.
As they approached the ice cream stand, Sarah felt her heartbeat regulate.Riley was safe, and it had been a fun day.All was well.She needed to relax.
Simon handed her the ice cream cone, and they all walked further into the park, where they sat on the grass and ate.“Thanks for bringing us,” she said to Simon, as she dug into a bite of chocolate.“I’m glad your team won.”
