by Delia Latham
3
On Monday, Autumn rode into Cambria with Cecily in search of the community park. According to Miss Angie, that was where the town held its annual Independence Day celebration.
“The fireworks have been cancelled because of the drought.” The woman’s sky-blue eyes had clouded as she spoke, reflecting a genuine concern for California’s dangerous lack of rainfall. “But there’ll still be lots of fun activities and food, live music, dancing…just lots of things going on. You girls must stop by, at least for a little while. You should take a walk on Moonstone Beach while you’re there. I guarantee you’ll come home with at least one moonstone tucked into your pocket.”
“Aren’t you going, Miss Angie?” Ever solicitous, Cecily smiled at the older woman. “You can ride with us, if you’d like.”
“Thank you, dear, that’s sweet of you. I’ll be there later in the afternoon. A friend is picking me up. We’ve offered to help with a few of the children’s activities, but we probably won’t stay long.” Her blue eyes twinkled when she smiled. “This event is typically far more energetic than we older folks find comfortable.”
Autumn laughed. “Miss Angie, you’re not old, and I’m not sure you ever will be. There’s something sweet and young and…innocent about you.”
“You’re too kind, dear.” Miss Angie patted her shoulder. “Now, you girls go on. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the festivities.”
They were forced to find a parking spot a ways down the road from the celebratory event. A lot of people from the village and for miles around had come out to celebrate the Fourth. If the lack of fireworks had thinned the crowd, the place must have been overrun with people when explosives were on the agenda.
“It’s not a very big park.” Autumn eyed the activity, not sure she wanted to brave the milling crowd. “I wonder why they’d have an event like this in such a small venue?”
Ceci laughed. “Oh, come on, Autie—being crowded is part of the excitement. That’s what creates the energy. Besides, look…” She pointed off toward the far side of the common area. “I’m thinking Moonstone Beach is just over there. There’s plenty of room.” She slipped an arm through Autumn’s and urged her forward. “Come on. Let’s check it out.”
Autumn huffed a little, but she moved into the fray. Ceci knew she wasn’t comfortable in crowded places. Without her friend’s influence over the years, Autumn’s social life would have been pretty much non-existent. Even with the other woman dragging her into situations that forced interaction with others, she kept mostly to herself and allowed only a few people close enough to be called friends.
They set off through the park, weaving their way between art displays, concession stands, and craft booths.
“There must be literally miles of…stuff.” Autumn waved a hand, indicating the abundance of bunting, banners, ribbons, and flags. “And it’s all red, white and blue. I’m pretty sure I’ll dream in patriotic colors tonight. Wake me if I start singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’.”
“Lighten up, Autie. Good heavens! This is Independence Day—there’s a reason for all the red, white and blue.”
“Did I say there was something wrong with the color scheme?” Autumn widened her eyes, hoping it came off as innocent rather than scary.
“You’re incorrigible. Come on, let’s make the rounds here, and then we’ll head—”
“Cecily?” A female voice split the air in an excited shriek just before a small body barreled into Ceci, nearly sending both her and Autumn spinning. “Cecily Adams! What in the world are you doing here? It’s been absolutely forever since I saw you.”
The intruder was tiny, with spiky auburn hair that blazed like fire in the sunlight. Huge gray eyes completely overwhelmed her pixie-face.
Ceci embraced the newcomer with enthusiasm. “Shay? What—why are you here?”
Not waiting for an answer, Ceci pulled Autumn closer. “Before we get into all that, let me introduce you two. Shay Light, I’d like you to meet Autumn Warren, my best friend in the world, ever since kindergarten.”
Shay bounced around Cecily, grabbed Autumn, and pulled her into a tight hug. “Any friend of Cecily’s is a friend of mine.” She drew back and studied Autumn’s face.
Autumn froze. The spirited pixie-woman had seriously invaded her guarded personal space.
The woman’s humongous eyes stretched even wider. “My, aren’t you pretty! You two together are almost too much perfect bone structure to take in all at once. Looks as if someone released models from the latest fashion catalogue right here in our little park.”
Autumn smiled, charmed, despite feeling as if she’d been thrust into the middle of a pint-sized tornado.
Cecily’s tendency to love the unique and unusual carried over to her circle of friends. For the first time in all the years they’d been besties, Autumn wondered if something about her fit into the “strangely odd” category. Ceci did put up with her lack of social graces and that tiny streak of negativity she’d tried without much success to be rid of.
“We have to catch up. I haven’t seen you since university.”
“I know. That’s crazy.” Shay pulled a wry face, but never lost her wide grin. “I can’t believe we lost touch.”
Ceci turned to meet Autumn’s gaze. “Autie, would you mind if Shay and I sneaked off to a quiet corner somewhere?” She rolled her eyes, glancing around the crowded park. “That is, if there’s one to be had.”
“I know just the spot.” Shay tucked a hand no bigger than a ten-year-old’s through the crook of Cecily’s elbow.
Just when Autumn was starting to feel a little pinch of unworthy jealousy, the energetic woman-child turned those big, beautiful eyes on her and…beamed. Shay’s little bow mouth produced a surprisingly large and completely irresistible smile that robbed Autumn of breath, along with the right or the need to feel neglected. “Come with us, Autumn. I want to know all about you too.”
“No, you two go on.” She liked Shay. She couldn’t help herself. But Ceci had a right to some time with another friend without Autumn hanging around, making her feel she had to divide her attention between the two. Besides, there was enough going on in this park to keep her occupied for a little while.
“OK, well…” Ceci pointed toward the side of the park that edged Moonstone Beach. “See that tree over there?”
Autumn’s gaze danced around until she saw it. One deformed and misshapen tree in the midst of a small copse of perfect ones.
“See it?” Cecily grinned. “The wonderfully unique eucalyptus with the beautiful knots? The one that’s bent sideways, reaching for the ocean as if it wants to wade in the water?”
Ceci always saw beauty in the unusual. And now that Autumn saw Ceci’s beautiful perspective, her own changed. “I see it.” She lifted one side of her mouth in a grin. “Of course that would be the one tree in the bunch that caught your attention.”
Ceci pulled a face and then hugged her. “Thirty minutes, then. I’ll meet you over beside that tree, and maybe someone will take a picture of us there. I want to remember it forever.”
The other two women hurried off, and Autumn stood alone, debating whether to rush back to the car. She didn’t have the keys, but she could sit on the fender. At least she’d be away from the jostling crowd.
“I can’t find…my…daaaaddy!”
Autumn jumped, looked down, and lost her heart.
A little girl of maybe five or six stood staring up at her. Vivid sapphire eyes brimmed with tears that ran over and streaked round, pink cheeks. Her rosy lips were puckered into a trembling pout.
Kneeling next to the child, Autumn placed a hand on a small, heaving shoulder. “It’s OK, honey. We’ll find him.” She pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed at the tears on both silky, soft cheeks. “Where did you see your daddy last?”
“He was…” The little one turned in a circle and ended up staring into Autumn’s face again. “I don’t kn-kn-knooooow!”
Autumn gasped when the girl sud
denly threw both arms around her neck and held on as if her life depended on the contact. After a startled second or two, she pulled the little body close in a protective hug. “Shh. It’s all right, honey. We’ll find him, I promise.” She smiled, desperate to communicate some kind of assurance. “Do you remember what he was looking at? Was he getting food for the two of you, or maybe…” At a loss, she glanced around. “Maybe looking at some wood carvings or something?”
Blonde pigtails flew when the little girl shook her head. “Huh-uh. He was in his b-b-booth.” Her lips trembled again. “I was ’pose to stay there too, but I saw a lady with a tiny little puppy and I really, really, really wanted to pet him. Then I got l-l-losted!”
“Puppies are fun, aren’t they?” Autumn grinned and tweaked a tiny nose. “Did you catch up to the lady?”
The kid’s head bobbed up and down. She used her hands to measure a space about the size of a kitten. “He was this little, and sooo cute! He was black and white, with lots of soft, soft fur. His mommy said he’s a Pona—pomen—pompemamian.” The last word was delivered with triumph and even a small grin.
Autumn grinned too. “A Pomeranian?”
“Uh-huh. A Pompemamian. He was sweet. But when the lady walked away, I turned around and—” Her lips trembled again, signaling another impending storm of tears. “I couldn’t see my daddy.”
“What’s your name?”
“Dalynn.” Her expression scrunched, ready to cry again.
“I’m Autumn.” She gave the little one another hug and then stood and offered her hand, which the child gripped with surprising strength. “Well, Dalynn, what kind of booth does he have?”
“Umm…lots of plants and stuff to make gardens. He likes gardens a real whole lot.”
“OK, then. Let’s go find him.”
Autumn set off around the park with the child in tow, her gaze scouting the numerous vendors for anything relating to gardening. They passed the wood-carving booth she’d noticed earlier, and she absently noted ‘Keller Art’ spelled out across a tastefully tame banner. Another vendor touted beautiful handmade jewelry, and yet another booth displayed blown glass objects that caught the sunlight and glistened like bright gems. Where was the nursery booth?
“Mmm…cookies!” Dalynn spoke up for the first time since they’d set out in search of her father. “They smell good, huh?”
Autumn’s mouth watered. They did smell good, and Miss Angie had mentioned some cookie company that was popular in the area. Was this the one?
“Would you like a cookie to munch on while we look for your dad?”
The girl nodded, shook her head, and then nodded again.
Autumn chuckled. “Not sure?”
“Yep, I’m sure for sure. But Daddy says I shouldn’t eat cookies a’fore lunch.” She lifted both shoulders and spread her little hands. “I haven’t had any lunch yet.”
“Oh, I see.” Autumn gave herself a mental eye roll. She should have thought of that. One more reason she didn’t need any little rug rats…although this kind of kid could almost make her rethink that bit of life planning. “Well, let’s get you a cookie, and you can save it until after lunch. How’s that?”
“Yes, thank you, please.”
Dalynn wasted no time deciding what she wanted. Autumn purchased a three-pack of large chocolate chip cookies for the girl and chose orange-vanilla sugar treats for herself. They smelled heavenly, and she was sure she could easily down all three on her own, but her waist would thank her for sharing with Ceci.
Sweets in hand, they returned to their search for Dalynn’s missing daddy.
They passed several more vendors—one selling about a hundred flavors of popcorn, one a variety of rustic, wooden signs with cute, painted-on sayings, and another displaying a wealth of items made with various seashells. Autumn struggled to maintain a relaxed demeanor for the child’s sake, but her nerves were starting to fray. What if Dalynn had been abandoned?
Then they found him. Or, to be more precise, they heard him.
“Dalynn!” The deep voice thundered across the park, making itself heard above the chatter of the crowd. “Dalynn! Where are you?”
“That’s Daddy!” Big, blue eyes widened and fixed on Autumn’s face. “I hear him. Where is he?”
“This way.” Autumn took a firm grip on the child’s hand and zoomed through the crowd, headed in the direction of the frantic voice.
He stood in the middle of one of the winding paths between booths. He’d stopped yelling when Autumn spotted him, but she knew instantly he was Dalynn’s father. He turned in agitated circles, his gaze making rapid trails through the crush of the crowd.
Autumn gasped, and not only because the guy’s expression held more terror than she’d known a human face could reflect.
Dalynn’s daddy was Miss Angie’s unyielding groundskeeper. The man’s formerly rock-hewn face had lost all color…and not a hint remained of anything remotely stony. He looked like a man whose heart had been ripped from his chest.
“Daddy!”
At the child’s shrill scream, he swung to face them.
Dalynn seemed frozen in place—no doubt wondering if she was in serious trouble—her tiny fingers digging into Autumn’s hand.
“Oh, God! Thank You!” His voice broke as he reached them, dropped to his knees, and pulled the child into his arms. “Honey, you scared me. Where were you?”
“I got losted, Daddy. I was sooo scared, but Autumn helped me find you.”
Only then did he look up, still holding onto Dalynn as if he’d never let her go. “Thank you so much! I—” He broke off, steel-gray eyes wide. “You!”
~*~
Why was the bad-tempered guest from Paradise Pines with Dalynn?
“Yeah. Me.” The woman’s tone gave droll a whole new meaning.
Russ instantly regretted his reaction. The pretty redhead had brought Dalynn back to him. For that, he’d be forever grateful. The thought of what might have happened to a tiny girl in this crowd of strangers froze his heart. “Please…forgive me.” He stood, drew a deep breath and offered a genuine smile. “I guess losing Dalynn destroyed my manners for a moment. Thank you so much for helping her find me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“No problem. She’s a sweetie. We had a good time together while we looked for you.”
“Yeah, Daddy! Autumn buyed me cookies.” Dalynn held up the twist-tied bag of chocolate chip sweets.
“I see.” Despite himself, disapproval colored his tone.
“But I did not eat any.” Dalynn gave a vehement shake of her head, sending her pigtails whipping around her face. Her wide gaze told him she knew exactly where his thoughts had gone. “I waited, just like you said, ’cause we haven’t eated any lunch. But then can I have a cookie, Daddy?”
“That was good thinking, sweetie. Of course you may have a cookie after lunch.”
He turned again to the woman, who watched them with interest. “How much do I owe you for the sweets, Miss…?”
“Autumn Warren. Just call me Autumn, and you don’t owe me anything.” Thinly veiled dislike coated her eyes with amber ice. “Just take care of her. She’s too little to be wandering around in this crowd without an adult.”
What? She was judging his parenting skills?
“I beg your pardon?” He was glad to note that his voice contained at least as much chill as the redhead’s eyes.
She huffed out a breath and met his gaze head-on. “Look, I’m not even a parent—don’t plan to be. But common sense says it’s dangerous for a child Dalynn’s age to be on her own in this kind of crowd. I realize you’ve got your booth going, and you’re busy. But if you don’t have time to take care of her, maybe you shouldn’t have brought her along.”
Rage threatened to overcome Russ’s manners, but he refused to stoop to the level of raising his voice. He picked up his daughter and held out a five-dollar bill. “Thank you for the cookies, Miss Warren. I appreciate you bringing Dalynn back to me.”
&nbs
p; Her expression epitomized disdain. She glanced at the money and curled one corner of lips the color of his favorite hybrid tea rose—the Sedona, which put him in mind of desert sunsets on the one hand and peachy coral on the other. “I don’t want your money.”
Russ shrugged and let the bill fall to the ground. Then he spun on his heel and stalked off toward his booth.
Dalynn turned in his arms so she could wave at the annoying woman. “Bye, Autumn! Thank you for the cookies.”
“Bye, sweetheart.” Funny, when it wasn’t directed at him, that voice held a lot more syrup than vinegar.
He reached the booth and carried Dalynn inside.
“Oh!” His assistant, Kelly, placed a hand over her heart and heaved a sigh. “You found her. Thank God!”
“Yes.” He plunked his daughter onto a chair next to a table filled with puzzles and picture books, crayons and coloring pages—even an electronic tablet that held any number of entertainment possibilities. He’d known this would be a long day for Dalynn and had come prepared. Kneeling in front of her, he resisted the urge to hug her so hard she begged for mercy. Instead, he met her guilty gaze with the sternest one he could manage at the moment. “Dalynn, you know better than to leave this booth without me.”
She hung her head. “I just wanted to see the Pome…Pompemamian.”
“Honey, it’s dangerous. Not everyone is nice like the lady who helped you find me. You can’t just trust—”
“I’ll take the red one.” From behind them, a familiar voice caught his attention. “Five dollars, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kelly responded.
“Well, what a coincidence. I just found exactly that amount on the ground.” Autumn’s sugary voice grated his nerves. “Here you go.”