Now & Forever 3 - Blind love (16 page)

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 afraid 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 rounded 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.

“Maybe they think you already went home or your boyfriend
took you home.” He crept closer to her slowly.

“They know I’d never leave without telling them. I don’t have
a way to get home without them.”

“It’s your lucky day, now you do. My car is right over there.
Why don’t you let me give you a ride?” He reached for her hand.

“Thanks anyway, I’m going to look for my family.” She moved
away from him.