“Your rivalry with Luke?”
“Yeah. He’s our next-door neighbor, the one always over using our basketball net or watching sports with my husband. When Luke’s even around. He let the most horrible renters live in his house for six months. Oh, and he tried to kill my rose bushes when he first moved in.”
“Not that she’s keeping a list or anything,” Luke added.
Sarah ignored him and pointed to the house behind where they were sitting. “This is our house, and Luke lives in that one next to us.”
Tara took in both houses before her eyes fell on Luke, who was watching her. They’d have to keep his address a secret from her aunt, or there was no telling what the woman would do with the information. The possibilities were endless.
“Do you know anyone in the parade?” Tara asked Luke, wanting to keep a normal conversation going and not just keep staring at him. Feeling normal seemed like a worthy goal at the moment.
Luke gave her a small smile. “My niece and nephew. My brother and sister-in-law are walking with them.”
“Hallie’s in the parade, too,” Sarah said. “She insisted we watch and not walk with her this year, so she’s with her favorite babysitter, who lives down the street from us.” She pointed them out. Hallie looked adorable in her rain boots and a fancy Christmas dress with the sash untied and dragging behind her. The babysitter ran after her to retie the bow.
“Hallie’s so fun to have in music class,” Tara said.
“She’ll be excited you came and saw her.” Sarah bit her lip before looking back at Luke. “Should I give it to her now? I could run and get it before the parade starts.”
Luke shrugged. “I guess so.”
“Just don’t tell your aunt,” Heston added, smiling at Tara like she was supposed to know what they were talking about.
Luke leaned forward. “Sandy gave me a vintage Pez dispenser after the concert. I was going to have Sarah get it back to you.”
Oh dear. That. Tara debated whether to act clueless about it or not, but her face must have given her away before she could decide.
“You knew?” Luke asked.
“She told me about it later that night. I’m sorry. If you want to keep it, feel free.”
“I’m not keeping it.”
“You should. She’ll be disappointed enough to cross you off her list.”
“There’s a list?” Heston laughed. “Are other men getting valuable Pez dispensers to see if they’ll give them back?”
Luke gave him a friendly shove. “You’re not helping. Stay out of this.”
Tara felt like her face was on fire. Her aunt thought she was so sneaky, when her motives were completely obvious, even to Luke’s neighbors. “I didn’t mean there’s a real list of men. At least, I hope there’s not. With Aunt Sandy you never know.”
Heston threw his head back and laughed harder, but Luke just watched her, his chocolate-brown eyes full of understanding. Yes, her aunt’s matchmaking was hilarious to an outsider, but she and Luke were living it. He should be running away screaming, not inviting her to sit with them.
Sarah ran back out of breath with a package in her hand. “Here you go. Luke was paranoid I would break it or lose it. He says this is the Holy Grail of Pez or something.”
Tara pulled the figure out from the tissue paper it was wrapped in. “Daniel Boone,” she whispered. It wasn’t the Holy Grail. There were quite a few rarer than this one, but it was a part of her childhood, and she was happy to have it back. She tucked it into her purse and then searched the sidewalks for Aunt Sandy’s red hair and gaudy wreath sweater. It was no surprise when she finally spotted her across the way, with a clear view of Tara and Luke, though at the moment she was deep in conversation with the lady on her right. If Aunt Sandy hadn’t seen the return of the Pez dispenser, Tara wouldn’t be enlightening her.
The sound of jingle bells started up and every head turned to listen. It had to be the signal for the beginning of the parade, because the few people left in the street hurried to one side or the other.
Taking a deep breath, Tara reminded herself to just enjoy the moment, without worrying about what-ifs. She had come tonight to be a spectator, so that’s what she’d do.
***
Thanks to Sarah, Luke was still sitting behind Tara and not next to her. So, he got to stare more than he should and talk to her less than he wanted. Maybe it was for the best. After all, he’d been planning a no-contact way to get her back the Pez dispenser. Taking her hand and leading her over here was not exactly no contact.
Luke focused on his niece and nephew coming through the parade line, marching to the beat of the music pumping out of the speakers. They waved when they saw him, and he stood up, waving back.
Their floats weren’t as polished as in years past because they were old enough now to have their own opinions on what looked good and do most of it themselves. He smiled at Beau’s safari creation covered in vines and stuffed monkeys and LED Christmas lights. Every time the whole thing swayed Luke worried it would fall over, but so far, so good.
