Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey

by Joachim, Jean C.

  “Not you again. I was hoping you wouldn’t be here this year,” the young man said, bringing out a special rifle from underneath the counter and handing it to Danny.

  Danny grinned at him. This was the only rifle that shot straight, the others were rigged.

  “I count the days until I can become your worst nightmare again,” he said, weighing the small rifle in his hands before putting it to his shoulder.

  Everyone gathered around as Danny slapped twelve dollars on the counter.

  “Four times this year?”

  “We have a new child,” Danny explained as he cocked the gun and took aim.

  Five targets up and five targets down. Five targets up, five targets down. By the third time, a crowd gathered to cheer Danny on. After the fourth time he got a perfect score, everyone applauded.

  “You haven’t lost it,” Eliza said, pride shining in her eyes.

  Danny gave her a kiss and let the children pick their prizes. Jason picked a bear and Kitty took an elephant. Eliza picked a teddy bear for Casey and a lavender frog for her stuffed frog collection.

  “Your friend, Danny, is an amazing shot,” Sam said to Mac.

  “His aim saved our lives two years ago.”

  Sam was surprised and gave Mac a look.

  Mac, Callie and the others continued down the midway passing the food booths. The smell of sugar mixed with the aroma of the grease used to cook funnel cakes, zeppole, and curly fries, perfuming the air and causing stomachs to rumble. Foot-long hot dogs and meat piled high for cheese steaks tempted Mac and Jason. Everyone picked out what they wanted to eat after the rides.

  “I don’t care how many pounds it puts on me, I’m having a funnel cake today,” Callie said, her gaze riveted on the man pouring the batter in the pan.

  They all buzzed about food and which rides to go on, trying to hear over the canned carnival music and escalating noise as the evening crowd poured into the fair grounds. Senior citizens, couples with children, and teens holding hands strolled down the midway which had been covered in straw to absorb grease, soda, milk shakes and other spills.

  “I don’t want to go on the baby rides. I’m seven. I want to go on the grown up rides,” Jason said.

  Callie handed him over to Mac as most of the rides made her sick.

  “How about the Ferris Wheel?” Mac asked his son.

  Jason looked up and gulped when he saw how high it was. He took his father’s hand and nodded his head. The tall man and little boy got on the next brightly colored metal car to be emptied. The others gathered around for a ride on the Ferris Wheel too. Eliza balked as she was afraid of heights.

  “We go through this every year, Lize. Come on with me. Callie, will you take Casey?” Danny asked.

  Callie took Casey and Kitty while Eliza climbed into a bright blue car, holding tightly to Danny’s arm. Kaitlyn and Chase were next in the green car. Sally and Tanner cuddled up in the yellow car. Peter explained the ride to Lara, who shook her head.

  “I’m afraid of heights,” she said, pulling back.

  “Come on. You’ll be with me. I won’t let anything happen to you. Everyone else is going. Please, Lara. Try it,” Peter coaxed. She agreed reluctantly and held out her hand. Peter took it and guided her into the seat in the purple car, placing his arm around her. She cuddled into his shoulder as he tightened his grip.

  “Come on, Patsy, I’m looking forward to the view,” Sam said, taking her hand.

  She got into the red car next to him, he put his arm around her shoulders and she moved closer to him. Mac watched his father and Pat from his high perch. This was Mac’s first time seeing his dad with another woman. He knew his father shouldn’t be alone and he liked Pat Weiss, but it was a shock to him.

  Ellen Caldwell died after a brief illness before Mac had his children. The family of big men all obeyed and doted on the five foot three inch dynamo they called Mom. Her death was hard for them all but especially Peter who shared his mother’s musical talent and fair looks.

  Mac had had a warm relationship with his mother and a hard time when she died. He missed her love and guidance with his children, missed her at his wedding, when Kitty was born; he thought of her so many times in the last few years. He knew his mother and Callie would’ve been a force to be reckoned with; Ellen would’ve liked Callie.

  Jason squeezed his father’s hand as the creaky car pitched and climbed higher and higher. Mac pointed out unusual sights, diverting Jason’s attention from the fast circles the wheel was making and the shakiness of their car.

  Eliza was clinging to Danny with her eyes closed. He leaned over and kissed her, keeping his mouth on hers as the wheel continued to spin. Tanner leaned over and kissed Sally, putting his arm around her, Chase followed with Kaitlyn.

  Peter kissed the top of Lara’s head as she clung to him, putting her arms around his waist as the wheel spun. Pat was pointing out landmarks to Sam, who nodded while pulling her closer. Callie watched from below, keeping a firm grip on the hands of each of the small children in her charge. She’d have her chance for some cuddling with her husband in the Tunnel of Love.

  After the ride was over, Callie took Jason, Kitty and Lara to the picnic tables with Pat, Eliza and Casey while the men got the food. Sally and Tanner, and Kaitlyn and Chase got their own food and joined the others, all but Lara who smelled strawberries and followed the scent until she smacked into the strawberry shortcake stand.

  * * * *

  “Are you selling strawberry shortcake here?”

  “Yeah, lady. What are you, blind or something?” said the young man behind the counter.

  “Actually, I am. How much for a small one?”

  He cleared his throat three times. Lara sensed he was uncomfortable.

  “Sorry, lady, didn’t know.”

  “Easy mistake. How much?” Lara continued.

  “For you, lady, a buck.”

  Lara pulled out the money and the boy gave her the shortcake. She tucked into the tasty dessert right away. Moving away from the stand, she carefully spooned the sweet fruit concoction into her mouth.

  A strange male voice startled Lara.

  “That looks so delicious, is it good?” he asked.

  “It is good, very good,” Lara said, licking the spoon.

  The man moved closer. A pricking of her skin warned her he was moving into her space. She edged back, reaching out with her free hand to feel behind her. The increasingly strong smell of a strange cologne told her he was moving nearer. Lara began to sweat.

  Lara heard the man order a strawberry shortcake. The clink of change signaled the end of his transaction. A slight swish of the fabric of his shorts got louder. He was walking toward her. The tiny hairs on her arm prickled as he once again invaded her space. She moved away but he followed. Fear gripped her. As he moved closer, his lips almost touching her hair, she panicked, dropping her shortcake and backing away, her hands flailing behind her.

  “Oh, too bad,” the man purred close to her ear. “Let me buy you another one. You were enjoying it so much…especially when you licked the whipped cream off the spoon with your pretty tongue.”

  Lara froze. He was too close to her, too familiar with her.

  “It’s okay, had enough anyway,” she muttered, moving away from him. She was gasping as his heavy cologne choked her, the heat from his body told her he was too near. She sensed his gaze slithering down her body, like a slimy creature creeping over her skin.

  “Are you sure? It would be my pleasure,” he said, moving closer. He put his hand on her arm but she yanked it away.

  * * * *

  When the men got back with hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, curly fries, cheese steaks, milk shakes, funnel cakes and sodas, Lara was not there.

  “Where’s Lara?” Peter asked.

  “She was here a minute ago,” Callie said, looking around.

  Everyone looked for Lara, but no one saw her. Peter felt his pulse pound as he fought down panic.

  “I was af
raid of this,” he muttered.

  “Lara! Lara!” Peter was calling first in one direction then another.

  * * * *

  Lara heard Peter over the pounding of her heart and called back.

  “Peter! Peter!”

  She moved away from the man stalking her, her hands groping for the shortcake counter, but found only empty space.

  “Lara!” Peter called.

  “Peter!” she called back, moving slowly toward his voice.

  She heard the man step back and a woman say, “Excuse me.” She stepped away quickly toward Peter’s voice. She was sweating, the tears in her eyes were soon spilling over onto her cheeks. She raised her hand and waved frantically.

  * * * *

  Peter spotted her. He pushed his way through the crowd.

  “Lara,” he said, taking her in his arms. She burst into tears, burying her face in his chest.

  “What happened?”

  She was crying and shaking too hard to speak.

  “I smelled the strawberry shortcake and found the counter all by myself. I ordered one and was eating when a man came over and started talking to me. He scared me. I dropped my shortcake and he wanted to buy me another one and he kept getting closer to me and I kept moving away. Then he touched me,” she said.

  “Where did he touch you?”

  “My arm, but I pulled it away.”

  Peter gripped her tightly, kissing her head.

  “Come back to our table. There’s plenty of food. The man is gone now and you’re safe. You shouldn’t have wandered away. Not everyone here is okay, you know.”

  “I know. But I wanted to find the strawberry shortcake place by myself. I’m tired of being dependent on you all the time, bear,” she said, still clinging to him.

  “You scared the hell out of me. Don’t do that again.”

  “I’m sorry but I can’t rely on you twenty-four seven, following you around like a puppy.”

  “I understand how you feel, but not here. Anybody with five bucks admission can come in here. Not everyone here is safe, Lara. You need to be careful.”

  “Please don’t lecture me like I’m a child,” she said, trying to pull away.

  “I will when you do something dumb like this,” he said, tightening his grip.

  “You’re hurting me.”

  “I’m sorry. I love you, honey,” he said, loosening his grip.

  “I love you too. I’m sorry I scared you,” she said, raising her chin to him.

  He bent down and gave her a kiss as they rejoined the group.

  * * * *

  “Time for the Tunnel of Love,” Danny announced.

  Sam and Pat watched the children while Mac and Callie went on the ride. Eliza and Danny took Casey with them. Danny fastened him safely in the front carrier he wore on his chest so Casey couldn’t wander off.

  Sally and Tanner were first with Kaitlyn and Chase right behind.

  Next were Callie and Mac.

  “We’re going to time this better,” Mac said.

  “Do we have to make out in a rickety old boat at the fair? Can’t we make love when we get home?” she whispered in his ear as they moved up the line.

  “Callie, making out in the Tunnel is a Willow Falls tradition. We have to,” he said, his eyes glittering.

  “Mac Caldwell! Don’t get any ideas about going to second base in the Tunnel,” she said, laughing.

  He grinned as they got in the boat.

  “Who says I’m going to stop at second base,” he whispered back.

  She gave him a shocked look and a gentle swipe on the arm. In the darkness, Mac took her in his arms and kissed her hard and deep, while he put his hand on her breast. Callie was surprised and pushed him away. She fell back and started to slip off the boat. Mac reached for her, but too late, she got dumped out of the boat into the water. Mac went to retrieve her, but his weight tipped the boat and he went in after her.

  When the boat showed up empty, the Sam shouted in alarm. But it was only a minute or two before Callie and Mac waded through the water and out into the sunlight, soaking wet.

  “What happened?” Sam asked, trying to suppress a laugh.

  Callie looked at Mac and he looked at her. They burst out laughing.

  “Daddy, you’re supposed to stay in the boat, not go swimming!” Jason chided.

  Mac was laughing too hard to answer his son.

  * * **

  Sam and Pat were next.

  “Kissing in the tunnel is a tradition,” Pat said.

  “You don’t have to twist my arm,” he said, putting his arm around her and drawing her to him for a passionate kiss.

  She wanted to pull away in time, Sam’s tongue was too tantalizing. They were caught kissing when the boat rounded the corner. Mac stared and walked away. Sam noticed his reaction.

  After the ride, the exhausted family rested on the benches of an empty picnic table. Casey was asleep in the front pack. Kitty slept in her stroller. Jason’s head drooped down on the table. They waited for Sally and Kaitlyn to return before leaving. The adults sipped coffee and conversed quietly.

  Sam asked Mac to take a walk with him.

  “What’s wrong, son?” Sam asked turning a wrinkled brow toward his son.

  “Nothing,” Mac lied.

  “Mac, I’m your father. I know when something is wrong. Want to tell me about it,” Sam said, putting his hand on Mac’s shoulder.

  “Not really.”

  “Well, put yourself out a little. This is your father talking. I’m not about to go away without a frank discussion,” Sam insisted.

  “It’s nothing, really. It’s…well…it’s only I…I’ve never seen you kiss anyone but Mom,” Mac admitted, his gaze trained on his foot as it pushed straw from one side of the path to the other.

  “This is new for you. Peter and I have been around this block. More than once.”

  “Peter had a problem with you dating? I’m surprised,” Mac said, looking up at his dad.

  “Why? Peter is the baby. He was very close to your mother. Her death was hard on him,” Sam said.

  “It wasn’t exactly a picnic for me either,” Mac confided, his eyes watering a bit.

  “You were both close to her, can you talk about it?”

  “It’s…it feels…I know this sounds silly…but it feels like you’re going out on Mom with Pat, being unfaithful,” Mac said, his eyes clouding as he turned away.

  “What can I do to make it easier for you?”

  “I guess I still think of you two as a couple. You know, my parents. But if you’re with Pat…it’s final…Mom’s really gone.”

  “It’s tough,” Sam said, hugging Mac, “It isn’t easy for you…it wasn’t easy for me. I still miss her. My days with her were the happiest days of my life.”

  “We all miss her still,” Mac said, staying for a moment in his father’s embrace, remembering how soothing a hug from Dad was when life had not gone well.

  “I’m trying to get on with my life, as I know she would want me to.”

  “I’m sure—it will take some getting used to for me,” Mac said. “It isn’t Pat. I like her fine. I’d feel this way about anybody with you.”

  “I understand. I’m glad you like Patsy. I like her too,” Sam said, dropping his hands to his sides.

  “That’s obvious, Dad,” Mac said, smirking.

  “I didn’t think I was so transparent.”

  Mac laughed. They hugged once more.

  “I hope you can get past this and accept Patsy and me, Mac.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “Good. You’re terribly important to me,”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Mac said, smiling.

  Shortly after Sam and Mac rejoined the others, Sally and Tanner returned. Eliza knew something was up by the glow on Sally’s face.

  “Sally has agreed to marry me!”

  Congratulations were exchanged, Eliza teared up and hugged both Sally and Tanner.

  * * * *

  Rex rounde
d the corner and spied a young woman sitting on a milk crate crying by the administration booth. She was all alone. After losing out on the pretty blind girl at the strawberry shortcake stand, he thought he’d found a replacement. This girl was alone out of shouting distance from anyone. She was going to be all his. He licked his lips as his gaze traveled the length of her body.

  Nice tits. Small ass. Not taking no for an answer this time.

  Rex cleared his throat to remove the hardness there, softening his tone. “Do you need a tissue?” he asked.

  She looked up at him as he handed her a tissue. She shook her head.

  “I’m looking for my family.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  “Maybe I can help. Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?”

  “Sort of. We broke up.” The pretty young woman picked at her cuticle.

  “If he could desert a beautiful woman like you, he can’t be worth it.” Rex moved closer to her.

  “Thanks.”

  Daylight was fading shadows were growing longer. She looked around. Rex moved a little closer. He touched her, gently pulling her into his shoulder. She tried to move away, but his grip tightened slightly.

  “I’m a good shoulder to cry on,” he said, “do you live near here?”

  “I live in Willow Falls.” Sweat broke out on her upper lip.

  “So do I. Can I give you a lift, since your family seems to have left?”

  “They wouldn’t leave without me.” She stepped back from him.