by Lynn Patrick
“Yay, Brian!” yelled Heather.
He responded by smiling, then throwing some candy nearly at the twins’ feet. Heather let the girls jump up, screaming and grabbing.
“Here, Mommy,” said Taylor, returning to throw a fistful of candy into the pink bag.
“More!” said Addison, adding several pieces.
Kristen enjoyed the scene, though she was waiting anxiously to see what the Sew Fine float looked like. She’d had to leave the night before while the crew had been putting on the final touches.
“Nice,” said Heather when their store’s trailer came into view.
The float was beautiful, decked out with a bright patchwork of crepe paper in different colors. Painted wooden letters glittering with sequins spelled out the name of the store. A rainbow of quilts were draped over wooden supports in the center. One of them was the blue-themed true love quilt, which was now finished. Kristen loved it and the idea that the quilting circle had made it for her and Alex. Gloria and Shara sat near the quilts, waving and throwing out candy in little packets. They had all done a terrific job and could be proud of themselves.
“How come you’re not on there?” Heather asked.
“I wanted to observe. I’ll participate another time.”
More floats from local businesses came by. Candy flew through the air and the twins caught more than their share. They filled the pink bag with lollipops and bubble gum and other types of candy.
Next came the farm equipment—brand-new tractors and combines so large they towered over some of the buildings. A group of local stock-car racers dressed as clowns brought up the rear, weaving back and forth across the street and joking with the crowd.
Then the cows trotted down the street, a sea of black and white because most were Holsteins. The animals wore brightly colored halters and some sported beads and bells and even hats. One large cow was decked out in a feathery red boa. All had caretakers leading or accompanying them, while other people walked amid the herd carrying baskets from which they scooped tiny wrapped wheels of cheese to throw to the crowd. Kristen grinned when she saw the cow with the boa being led by Matt Stapleton. Alex said the boy had taken a shine to the animal he’d sprayed with purple stars. He’d gotten to know the cow pretty well after washing her multiple times to get rid of the markings. Matt waved to her.
Finally, as the last of the cows passed by, a street-cleaning crew made its way at the end of the parade. At the same time, a police cruiser appeared in the nearby side street.
Excited at seeing Alex, Kristen got to her feet.
“Go ahead,” Heather told her. “I’ll get Brian to help me with these chairs and stuff.”
Kristen needed no more urging. “See you later.”
Then she ran to join Alex.
He stopped the cruiser and opened the passenger door. She’d hardly had time to climb inside before he reached over and pulled her closer for a quick kiss.
“What did you think?”
Kristen grinned at him. “That Sparrow Lake has some really wonderful things Chicago just can’t beat.”
Starting with Police Chief Alex Novak.
*
SITTING WITH JOHN across the street from her beautiful nieces, Margaret smiled with pleasure. She was so proud of her family. And so happy that Kristen had decided to stay in Sparrow Lake.
“Things worked out well, didn’t they?” said John as they saw Kristen get into the cruiser to drive off with Alex.
Margaret had a feeling he meant their own burgeoning relationship as well as Alex and Kristen’s. “Things certainly did work out. With Kristen running Sew Fine, and the rest of my family working there, I can trust the business will continue into the future.” Something she’d hoped for, and not just for the money it would make.
“So you’re retired. What are you going to do?”
“Oh, teach a class now and then. Sew. Paint. Maybe lead a slightly more laid-back life.”
And maybe do a little matchmaking for Heather if she could. Heather and her twins could use a man in their lives, though Margaret wasn’t going to mention that to John.
“Hmm, laid-back, huh? Maybe you’ll have time for a cruise.”
“A cruise?” She perked up at the suggestion. “You mean on one of those big ships?”
“No. I was thinking a smaller type of boat. The kind two or three people can handle.”
“You bought another boat?” Margaret had already realized that John had plenty of extra funds to play with, having been a successful businessman before moving to Sparrow Lake. “Like the one you had in Chicago?”
“Not yet. Besides, I’m at a new place in life. I’m starting over. I think one of those yachts with all the electronic thingamajigs might do the trick.” He asked, “Are you interested?”
“Of course!” said Margaret, beaming at him. She might be retired, but she considered it a new phase in her life. She would never be too old for adventures. “Starting over is an art that everyone should embrace.”
*
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ISBN: 9781460316252
Copyright © 2013 by Patricia Pinianski and Linda Sweeney
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