Dandelions on the Road

by Brooke Williams

  Owen brushed her hand away as his eyes finally opened halfway. As soon as he noticed her on the side of his bed, he jolted awake. “What in the world…” he said.

  “Good morning, Owen. I’m pretty sure you would have slept through a tornado, but now that I have you back among the living, I wanted to invite you to join me at Adventureland today. You up for it?”

  Owen yawned. “You bet.”

  “Meet us in the lobby in an hour.”

  “See you then.” Owen stretched his long limbs as Eva climbed off the bed. The camera followed her into the hallway.

  Brian waited just outside the door with both hands raised above his head. Eva gave him high fives and he curled his fingers around hers and brought their hands down between them.

  “That was awesome,” he said. “Did you see the look on his face when he knew he’d been caught?”

  Eva beamed. “Up close and personal. It was priceless.”

  “You knew about that, Schaffer?” Mike glowered.

  Brian looked from Eva to Mike.

  “He did, but he made sure I handled it on camera so the show would benefit from the confrontation.” Eva smoothly supplied the details as Brian released her hands.

  “Oh.” Mike turned his attention to his clipboard. “Good work.”

  Thank you, Brian silently mouthed as the crew waited for the elevator to arrive to transport them and their gear to the lobby.

  When everyone’s backs were turned, Eva reached up and squeezed Brian’s neck. “No. Thank you,” she whispered.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  AN HOUR LATER, the two vans drove down the interstate toward Altoona. Brian took Eva and the three men as well as a cameraman in one van and Mike drove the rest of the crew in the other. Brian eavesdropped as the men retold the story of Eva’s surprise wake up call to one another. Owen’s was by far the best. The atmosphere shook with anticipation. They were ready for a day out.

  By the time the van rolled up to the Adventureland gates, Brian had been pulled into the excitement. He used to go to Adventureland annually as a child, but it had been years since he visited. Seeing the big Ferris Wheel and the silent roller coasters was like coming home.

  As the men piled out of the vehicle, Brian jumped out and handed his keys to a crewmember who would park the van in the lot while the rest of the group got started. The park opened its doors for them two hours before the public arrived so they would have free reign for a while before the crowds poured in.

  Brian spotted the small train at the station just beyond the gates. It was one of the tamest rides, but it was something he enjoyed as a child. It took a short tour of a portion of the park and then circled back to the station. It was all part of the experience.

  The camera crew had a big job ahead of them, following the group with handheld cameras all day was a chore. Three operators surrounded the group as Brian cleared his throat.

  “Welcome to Adventureland,” he raised his hand toward the gate behind him. “The park graciously opened early for us today so we could enjoy some of the rides without any lines. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Keep in mind, there’s something much more important than thrilling rides.” Brian gestured toward Eva. “Today you’ll have the opportunity to get to know Eva better and see if you fit into her life…and she into yours.” Brian paused to let the information sink in.

  “Eva, remember there’s a dandelion available on this date. If you choose to give it away, you can do so at any time. Or, if you wish, you can save it for the elimination ceremony. And now, without further delay, Eva, gentlemen, enjoy your adventure.”

  Brian watched Eva grab a map from the stand at the gate and inspect the rides and attractions. The bachelors surrounded her and pointed at various items on the map. Adventureland was always fun, but watching her flirt with other men was going to be a challenge in any location.

  He followed the group into the park and felt like a third wheel. Eva had her arm through Owen’s as she guided him toward the large Ferris wheel. There was plenty of room in each basket for all of the contenders, but Eva took Owen and a cameraman in one and sent the other men in a second basket. Brian stayed on the ground. It was hard to tell what was going on as the wheel rotated. But when Eva got close to the ground, he saw her toss her head back and laugh. Her shiny hair was going to be the death of him.

  Brian pulled Owen aside after the ride and asked questions about the individual time he had. They caught up with the group at the teacups where Brian watched Eva spin in a red cup with Harris.

  Every ride brought back memories for Brian, whether it was standing in line with his brother, anxiously awaiting a turn, or holding his hands in the air and screaming his lungs out. By the time the group moved to the back of the park, Eva was taking Cane on roller coasters and Brian itched to join in. There was nothing to prevent him from riding with the rest of them, but he didn’t have an invitation and wouldn’t want to impose.

  So instead, he stood idly on the sidelines, did his interviews between rides, and watched Eva’s hands closely. Her fingers never crossed.

  THE GROUP SETTLED in for lunch under a canopy and watched a college-aged man put on a show about animals from the outback. First, he showed off a bird, then, a small snake. When he opened a box and a kangaroo popped out, Eva gasped. The show was cheesy and more for kids, but she was delighted. The day was going well and she enjoyed all of the men on the date, but she had an extra spark with Cane. The way he looked at her said he thought she was special too.

  Eva noticed Brian hanging around the sidelines. She wanted him nearby, but she felt awkward with him hovering. He was the host and it was his job to pop in and out of the day, but she was on a date. Every time she saw him, she thought about the way his shoulder felt under her cheek.

  After the outback show ended, Mike informed the group they had a few hours remaining. The morning alone at the park was nice, but crowds were starting to fill in the empty areas around them. Lines formed and though they were often ushered to the front, sometimes they waited.

  “I think I need to do an interview,” Eva suggested. “Why don’t you guys go ahead with a camera or two and I’ll catch up for the second round.”

  Owen and Harris agreed while Cane nodded reluctantly. Eva watched them fade into the distance before she crossed her fingers and held them up in the air. When Brian didn’t look over right away, she waved her hand around. Upon spotting her sign, he jogged over.

  “Everything okay? Where are they going?” he asked.

  “Bumper cars. I needed a break and I thought you might like to get an interview.”

  “Perfect.” Brian waved the remaining camera operator over.

  “Do you think we could ride the swings?” Eva glanced at the ski lift-like operation above them.

  “Swings? Why not? Let’s go.” Brian held his elbow out to Eva and she took his arm.

  They walked to the swings with the crewmember following, the camera hanging by his side. They got in the short line and easily jumped onto a swing as it passed by.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Mike shouted.

  Eva looked behind her as the swing swept her and Brian up toward the sky. Mike waved his arms at the alarmed cameraman.

  “You can’t take equipment on that lift. Do you know how much that thing costs? What if you drop it? Those swings go over the log ride! You could get it wet. You’re staying on the ground.”

  The cameraman pointed at Eva and Brian and the pair waved at Mike.

  “Re-do the interview on the other side.” Mike shouted through cupped hands as he disappeared toward the bumper cars with the cameraman hanging his head behind him.

  “Oops,” Eva said. “I didn’t mean to get him in trouble.”

  “Doing an interview up here was a cool idea, it would have been a unique angle and the microphones would still pick up our voices.”

  “I guess Mike disagrees.” Eva turned around and flipped the battery pack on her microphone off. Brian did the same.r />
  “Who do you think cuts the trees like that?” Eva marveled as the swing passed through a tree that was trimmed exactly right for their feet to skim the branches.

  “Paul Bunyan,” Brian answered with a straight face.

  “Okaaaaay.” Eva giggled.

  “Tell me more about your family.” Brian’s arm brushed against Eva’s on the bar before them.

  “Don’t you want to wait for the camera?”

  “No, I’m asking for myself. I want to know.”

  Eva turned to Brian. What a sweet guy. He wanted to know her story.

  “Well, as you know, my father is from Guatemala. When he was a teen, he attended as much school as he could, but his family needed help with money so he worked in a factory as well. Life was rough for his whole family. They had ten people living in a small home. But at the same time, they were very supportive of one another and he says that time in his life made him who he is today.”

  Brian shook his head. “It takes a big person to look at hardship that way.”

  “He’s amazing. And he would have spent his whole life working in that factory, doing his best to support his family, but his mother was socking away the money she made with her crafts and she found a way to get them into the U.S. legally. The entire family immigrated and my father says taking the American oath was the best day of his life, apart from the ones where he met my mother and when me and my sisters were born.”

  Brian chuckled. “He had a lot of good days, then.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I do have a lot of sisters.”

  “And your mother’s a lawyer?”

  Eva nodded. “Yes. She worked for a law firm that went after corporations exploiting workers. She did a lot of pro bono work, but companies also sought her out to go after their competitors.” Eva shrugged. “It’s complicated and I don’t understand it all, but she got pulled in on a case that included the factory my father worked for in Guatemala. She tracked him down to testify.”

  “And the rest is history,” Brian said as the swing halted in mid-air beneath them. The ride often stopped when someone on one end or the other had trouble getting on or off. Brian enjoyed the sway of the bench beneath them.

  “Well, not exactly. It wasn’t that easy. They say there was an immediate attraction, but their love grew over time. They had to spend many nights together preparing for the trial and things just…blossomed.”

  “It happens that way sometimes,” Brian inspected the ground far below them. “Not everyone is struck by lightning immediately. Sometimes, love takes time. You might have just what you’re looking for in front of you for a long time before you spot it.”

  Eva pushed her hair behind her ear and bumped Brian’s shoulder with her elbow. “My biggest wish is to know how it will happen for me.”

  “You’d want to know that?” Brian asked as he slung his arm around the back of the swing.

  Eva leaned back. “Wouldn’t you? I mean, it would take a little of the romance away, maybe, but I’d like to see it coming so I would recognize it, you know?”

  Brian searched the sky. “I can see what you’re saying, but I think the unknown is the best part. That time right before…when you feel something coming, but aren’t sure what. It helps keep you alive.”

  Eva turned and looked into Brian’s eyes. “This process…it’s made me feel alive again.”

  Brian scooted forward as his legs swung in the air beneath them. “How so?”

  “He’s here,” she answered. “I can feel it. I think the man I’m supposed to be with is here.”

  “I feel it too,” Brian whispered. The swing sat stationary in mid-air, but Brian inched toward Eva, moving his arm from the back of the swing to her shoulders.

  Eva’s eyebrows knit together as Brian angled toward her. She didn’t have time to process what was happening, but something inside her told her not to resist it. She leaned into Brian and tipped her chin up as he drew her closer. She stared into his eyes until the last second and then softly closed them when his lips touched hers.

  His kiss was gentle and light and Eva shuddered. She pulled her hand from the bar in front of her and wrapped it around his neck. She ran her fingers across his cheek and he shivered as they made their way up into his hair. What was she doing? She couldn’t stop herself. His hand circled her waist and pulled her close.

  Eva allowed the kiss to deepen and then the swing jolted back into motion, breaking the physical connection. Their lips remained inches apart and Eva was breathless.

  “What…how…why…”

  Brian placed a finger on her lips. “Sometimes the unknown is the best part.” He scooted back to his side of the swing and placed his arm casually on the back of the swing. The ride was almost over and while they were suspended in mid-air together for mere minutes, there was no hiding the change between them…at least not to Eva.

  As the swing came down on the other side of the park, she inspected Brian’s appearance. He looked calm, cool, and collected, as always. But she was a wreck. She was dating seven bachelors, on TV, no less, and she’d just kissed the host of the show. What was wrong with her? And why were her knees shaking?

  She did her best to paste a smile on her face as she jumped off the swing and followed Brian toward the bumper cars to catch up with the group. “That time right before…when you can feel something coming, but aren’t sure what. It keeps you alive…” That’s what he’d said. She certainly felt alive, though she wasn’t sure how long her heart could beat this fast. And now she had to pull herself together and finish the date.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  EVA CLIMBED INTO the front car of The Tornado with Cane by her side. Owen and Harris took the second seat.

  “Are you guys ready for this?” she asked. They’d ridden a few of the park’s roller coasters, but The Tornado was the fastest and her favorite by far.

  “Yeah!” Owen and Harris said in unison while Cane buckled the seat belt across his lap.

  “There’s a camera at the bottom of the first hill, so smile pretty.” Eva grinned. She loved the rush of wind through her hair and the slow climb the coaster made when it started rolling.

  Once they left the station and started up the incline, Cane covered her hand on the bar with his. Eva glanced at their joined hands and curled her fingers around his palm. “This won’t do,” she said and Cane frowned.

  Eva pried his fingers from the bar and raised their hands into the air. Cane put his other arm up as the coaster teetered at the top of the hill before plummeting downward. Eva yelped when the car jerked her from side to side and she laughed as Owen screamed like a girl behind her.

  When they reached the bottom of the hill, Cane yanked her hand to his side of the car and caressed it with his lips. The roller coaster roared around a curve and climbed another hill, rocketing them down once again.

  Forty five seconds later, the cars screeched to a stop and slowly rolled into the station.

  “Whew, what a rush!” Eva exclaimed.

  “I think I wet myself,” Harris cracked behind them.

  “Better than poison ivy,” Eva tossed a comment over her shoulder.

  As the group climbed from the cars, Eva’s legs trembled. It was hard to go from the fast pace of a coaster to the stationary landing.

  “Cane, do you want to join me for a walk around the game area?” Eva asked.

  “That sounds great,” he replied.

  “Why don’t you guys visit the Outlaw Gulch.” Eva pointed. “There are a few rides and some snack stands if you get hungry.”

  Owen and Harris agreed and headed in the direction Eva indicated. Cane laced his fingers through Eva’s and they walked the other way.

  “What do you think of Adventureland?” she asked as they walked.

  “Actually, I’ve been here before.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Just once, when I was fifteen. I didn’t grow up in this area so coming here was a treat.”

  Eva did the math. Cane was thirty so
his visit happened fifteen years ago. “What time of year did you come?”

  “Summer. I remember it well because it was right after school let out, early in June.”

  Eva wrapped her free hand around Cane’s arm. The connection with him felt natural, like she’d known him for longer than a week. “I’ve only been here a few times as well. My family didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up so we didn’t often take vacations. And when we did get away, we stayed close to home. Adventureland isn’t very far. Some of my best memories were made here.” Eva smiled and surveyed the game kiosks before her. “I actually had my first kiss at this park.”

  Cane stopped. “You’re kidding me.”

  Eva turned toward him. “Nope, right over there by the big teddy bear hanging from the top of that tent.”

  Cane’s eyes widened. “How did you meet the boy?”

  “My parents let my sisters and I roam the park alone for a few hours. There was a whole pack of us by then so it wasn’t really dangerous.” Eva laughed as the memories flooded her. Her hair was longer back then and she had spiky, feathered bangs. “We were pretty boy crazy so every time we saw a cute boy, we’d stop and talk about him. We even stalked a few. Anyway, we spotted a boy we liked at the bowling ball game. He won and we collapsed in a fit of giggles. He turned around, noticed us, and came over. He won a stuffed dog from the game and handed it to me.”

  “Don’t tell me, you ran into him again later and managed to sneak away from your sisters. You chatted for a few minutes and then he pulled you behind that stand and kissed you.”

  “Wait, how did you…”

  “Come here, I’ll show you.” Cane guided Eva through the games and over to the bowling ball kiosk. He inserted two quarters and a ball released into his palm. He crouched down and methodically rolled the ball back and forth with his hand. He released it gently and it rolled over the first hill, over the second hill, and then back. It quivered between the two hills until it stopped rolling. The bright light above the game went off and a siren sounded. He won.