Besides, having Danny ride alongside her on the finished float in a mere two weeks, throwing cinnamon candies to his classmates and the crowd, would be worth the effort. There would be enough room for several other teachers and students, although anyone who wanted to walk alongside was also more than welcome to do so. With some ingenuity and time, she’d have Danny laughing again.
Immediately following his mother’s death, Danny had had nightmares to the point that he crawled into bed with Natalie all the time. Counseling had helped, but his progress was slow. Natalie shared legal custody of Danny with his uncle, who served in the military and was assigned overseas. The law might only consider her his co-guardian, a glorified babysitter of sorts, but their bond was stronger than that. She’d be there for him always, and his home was now in Hollydale. She wouldn’t let the little boy down.
Speaking of guardians and parents, if she wasn’t mistaken, that was her mother’s gray compact pulling up to the curb. She’d extended the call for volunteers far and wide, but hadn’t expected her own mom to lend a hand. Natalie wouldn’t shoo her mother away, though. She needed as much muscle as possible for this project. Dreaming about the finished project was her forte. Others would ensure it would soar to the stars.
Sure enough, her mother stepped out of the car and waved, her white capris paired with a red-and-white tank top and matching sandals sporty and fitting for mid-June. Diane pointed to the pavilion where another picnic table sat, and they joined her there. She hugged Danny. “Good morning, sleepyheads! How are my two favorite people enjoying the first Monday of summer vacation?”
Danny hopped off the picnic bench and ran over to her mother.
Natalie’s heart went out to Danny as he tried to hold everything together, grasping for something certain in an uncertain world. Natalie, more determined than ever to lighten his load and bring constancy back into his shattered life, sat on his left side while her mother settled on the right.
“Are we really your favorites?” Danny asked softly.
Her mother’s arm navigated its way around his shoulders, and her hand reached out and patted Natalie on the back. “You’re very special to me, Danny. You’re family. And family’s more than blood or a piece of paper. It’s love and concern for each other that form the bond that holds us together.”
“I guess you’re right.” Danny’s gaze landed on the concrete, no smile lightening the features of his chubby cheeks.
Natalie missed the sound of Danny’s laughter as much as she missed his mother.
Natalie reached for his hand, and they stood up together. “We have to show you our project. Come on.”
Excitement bubbled in her as she thought of the finished float and Danny’s smile of approval. The dew on the grass shone as the trio approached the chassis. A blank slate awaited them. With an extra spring to her step, Natalie dug deep into her experience as a kindergarten teacher. If she displayed enthusiasm, Danny would catch on and respond in kind. Kids were sponges that way.
They circled what they had to work with, and Natalie ran through the unlimited possibilities, nailing down the final product as she envisioned its potential. She’d already forgotten Marisa’s plans. “It might not look like much right now, but when we’re done, it’s going to be as colorful and lively as the fireworks.”
“It looks like a wooden platform on top of a chassis.” Diane ran her hand through her short auburn curls with interspersed silver strands.
Natalie and her identical twin, Becks, had inherited their mother’s hair color. Becks kept hers short in a crop that flattered her while Natalie opted for longer locks.
“You gave me the impression this float was almost finished. This is a mere skeleton. Did you bite off more than you can chew again?”
“This is a good thing. Now I can put my imprint on it.” Natalie released Danny’s hand and walked up to the frame.
With a growing grin, she knocked on one of the wooden boards of the support frame. The entire frame dislodged from its studs and thudded to the ground. She jumped back and steadied her balance a second. Otherwise she would have fallen on her rear. Two-by-fours dotted the ground.
Danny moved in for a closer inspection, and Diane pulled him away. “Watch out for those nails!”
Natalie picked up the smallest beam. “Starting from scratch will let us build bigger and better anyway. I’m recruiting a crew of workers with the promise of free food. We’ll get it done.”
“I can help, Aunt Natalie. I’m a good helper.” Danny shook free of Diane’s hold and hugged Natalie.
Warm fuzzies filled her heart for the boy she’d known since the day he was born. She’d take on the world for him.
“Whose truck is this? It looks new.” Diane peered into the windows.
“It’s Marisa’s grandfather’s truck. He broke his hip a month ago and can’t drive. She didn’t want to assemble the float at his house since he’d insist on lending a hand. The great news is Marisa persuaded Mayor Wes to keep everything here at the park shed. She texted me his permission along with her proposed plans.” Natalie squeezed Danny’s hand and directed him toward the picnic tables.
Once he sprinted for the sheltered area, she began picking up the boards and placing them nail side down on the remaining planks of the trailer platform.
“Ah, plans. Now we’re getting somewhere. Did you bring them with you?” Mom folded her arms and pursed her lips.
Natalie stopped from rolling her eyes at the vote of no confidence in her mother’s voice. No doubt her mother would have smiled at Becks or her brother, Mike, in this situation, but instead, she’d question every decision Natalie made from the tissue paper colors to the type of candy tossed to the spectators. “They’re on the picnic table, but I’m starting fresh with some new ideas. I’m thinking wire mesh stars and lots of flowers.”
“Real flowers get pricey fast. And shouldn’t you have a theme first?” Her mother’s disapproving expression didn’t waver as she helped with the remaining boards. “Did Marisa leave you a budget or materials to work with?”
Natalie waved away those concerns. “I wasn’t planning on using real flowers. Even Mrs. Glisson wouldn’t be that generous, and I should know, having worked in her floral shop through high school. We can make tissue paper flowers instead, using chicken wire to hold them in place. Trust me.” She hoisted the last plank onto the platform and wiped her hands free of the dew and grass. “By the way, thanks for what you said to Danny.”
“Any word yet from his uncle?” Diane picked up her purse from its resting place next to the truck’s front tire.
“In his last email, he mentioned coming for Christmas if his assignment is complete. From what I remember from Shelby, he’s a security specialist with a knack for languages and dialects.” She leaned closer to her mom, not wanting Danny to hear what she was about to say. “Between you and me, if he does come home, he should agree to continue our present arrangement, Danny living with me full-time. I think it’s for the best. Danny needs a solid support structure. Laughter and love will pull him through this. You and Dad always taught me to find the joy in the little things.”
“Some days were easier than others.”
A two-by-four fell onto the grass. Natalie picked it up and dropped it onto the platform with a thud. “I’m glad you knew where to find us this morning.” She looked at the bent nails and winced. “Maybe Danny shouldn’t be around this.”
Diane situated her purse strap on her shoulder. “I agree. I’ll take him to the splash fountains, where I’m meeting Georgie and Rachel in a little while.”
Natalie admitted her mother was right. Danny would have more fun with Georgie, Natalie’s new sister-in-law, who had married her brother Mike earlier this year, than helping her. Since Georgie worked most Saturdays as a mechanic, she usually had Mondays off. Hanging out with the three Harrisons would also provide an opportunity for Danny to grow cl
oser to Mike’s daughter, Rachel.
Natalie called to Danny and he moseyed over to them.
“Hey, Danny. Georgie’s taking Rachel to the new splash fountain area. Why don’t you tag along? I’m sure Rachel will enjoy spending time with you,” her mom said.
“I’ll stay with Aunt Natalie.” Danny hovered behind her leg. “I’m strong, and she might need me.”
In the past few months, Danny hadn’t wanted to leave her side unless it was necessary. Even from a good distance, the new splash fountains beckoned with shouts of joy coming from kids of all ages. Spouts in the shape of jungle animals jutted water from the spigots in the concrete. After she was done for the day, she might cool off there. Features like this more than made up for an increased tourist presence.
Natalie reached for his free hand and squeezed it. “You’ll have a much better time over there. I’ll get some of the boring stuff done here, and tomorrow you can help me. The nails will be all gone by then. I’ll be okay. I promise.”
Copyright © 2021 by Tanya Agler
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ISBN-13: 9781488074493
The Doctor and the Matchmaker
Copyright © 2021 by Cheryl Harper
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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The Doctor and the Matchmaker--A Clean Romance Page 22