by Diane Capri
As I passed the main pavilion, I heard raised voices. Most of the exhibitors were at the football game, but I imagined there were a few who preferred to finish preparations for their booths. After the game, the booths would get busy.
The flower shops were set out in smaller individual booths. They lined the sides of a large, rectangular main tent. The main tent covered the open fronts of the booths and a large space in the middle where the final judging table would be placed to display the flower arrangements submitted to the competition.
I peered into the far side of the flower tent and saw Brittany Gervais arguing with a man in her booth.
“I told you not to come here,” Brittany growled.
“What was I supposed to do? You aren’t returning my calls.”
“For a reason. We need to keep it cool.”
The man grabbed Brittany’s arm. “You aren’t holding back on me, are you?”
“I wouldn’t do that, Tyler.” She pulled out of Tyler’s grip and stumbled sideways. She had to grab the table nearby to steady herself. Sweat slicked her face.
“You don’t look so good, Britt. Are you okay?” Tyler said with real concern.
“I’m fine.” She wiped at her shiny face. “Now, leave. I don’t want to see you again. Not here, not like this.”
“Fine, but you’ll regret it if—” He didn’t finish his sentence before he marched away.
Brittany sighed and then turned. I ducked out of the way so she didn’t see me. I didn’t want her to know I’d been eavesdropping. I continued on my way to the drink cart. I spotted June still working at her booth. She didn’t look happy, rubbing her pink-gloved hands together nervously.
I reached the cart and collected two cups of beer. I thought I’d drop one off to June. She’d looked like she could use a drink or two to calm her nerves. When I returned to the tent, I didn’t see June at her table in her booth. I set the drink down and exited through the back flap of the main tent and walked around to the back of June’s booth to look into the area where the cold storage was set up for her flowers.
“June? You back there? I brought you a cold beer.”
There was no answer. I looked around and didn’t see anyone else in the vicinity. When I went back inside the main tent, my gaze flitted over Brittany’s setup. I spotted a pair of hot-pink gardening gloves on her table, probably June’s.
I wandered over there and peered into Brittany’s booth.
“Hello? June? Brittany?”
Again, there was no answer. I spotted something on the ground. A few crushed daffodils. In fact, it looked like there were several flowers broken and scattered on the ground. From what I’d seen of Brittany Gervais, she was a tidy woman. Obsessively so. This mess was concerning. I walked around the outside perimeter of the main tent. I kept walking until I reached June’s cold storage area again.
It was a bit gloomy inside because the overhead light wasn’t on. I found the switch on the side and flicked it. The fluorescent blub above flickered to life, casting a yellow glow over everything.
The cooler was unoccupied.
Chapter 4
I returned to the football game with two drinks, since I hadn’t found June.
Ginny glanced at me as I handed her a new cup. “You missed Daniel’s impressive touchdown.” She frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I took a sip of beer.
“You look pale.”
“I always look pale because I keep out of the sun. Better for my skin.”
She cocked her head. “Are you worried about your parents?”
I arched my eyebrows. “Why on earth would you guess that?”
“They’re getting older, Andi. You must miss them at least a little bit.” She paused and gnawed her lower lip, which was what she did when she was upset. “Since Dad died, I’m a lot more aware of how fragile life is. The way my mom talks to him all the time worries me, too. Just be careful. Your parents won’t live forever. And neither will you.”
I shook my head and tried to tease her out of her melancholy. “Believe me, Drew and Emily Steele will be alive to greet the next century. They’re healthier than all these horses we have around here.”
She didn’t say anything else and turned back to the game, but I knew she wasn’t buying it.
I took another sip of beer and continued watching the football match. The score was tied, and the mainlanders had the ball. After the snap, the quarterback took a few steps back like he was going to throw, but he handed the ball off to Daniel, who took off like a shot.
As he sprinted past where Ginny and I were standing and cheering, he grinned. I didn’t try to stop the smile that spread across my face in return. He ran for the end zone. No way was anyone going to catch him. He had long legs and was quicker than a gazelle.
“Oh, hell,” Ginny said with a laugh. I turned to where she was looking and saw Sheriff Jackson sprinting at full speed toward Daniel. “Luke’s going to take him down.”
As Daniel neared the end zone and the sheriff neared him, I felt conflicted about who to cheer for. The feeling surprised me. I wasn’t totally sure my ambivalence was a matter of islander versus mainlander. Which I would never admit to Ginny in a million years.
I could feel the tension in the air while we all waited to see who would triumph. Daniel was two strides away from the end zone, and Sheriff Jackson was one stride away from striking distance.
The crowd gave a collective gasp as the sheriff dove for Daniel, reaching out to snag him around the waist. Then another gasp as Daniel leapt out of the way and landed on his shoulder over the line and in the end zone.
“Touchdown!” someone yelled.
An eruption of cheers sounded across the field as all the mainlanders raised their hands in the air and whooped. A few quiet boos erupted from the sidelines from disgruntled islanders. I clapped along with everyone else.
Ginny punched me lightly in the shoulder. “That was a close one. Our sheriff almost took your man down.”
I nodded and laughed along. It had been close. “Things could easily have gone the other way,” I replied. And I wasn’t sure if I was really talking about the game or something else entirely.
After the football game ended, everyone gathered near the fountain in the garden as Lindsey Hamilton, Frontenac Island mayor, and Daniel, representing Frontenac City, stood on the stage to make a joint announcement and officially start the festival.
Lindsey tapped on the microphone. The high-pitched feedback made everyone flinch. “I guess it’s on, then.” Laughter spread across the crowd. “Mayor Evans and I are delighted to welcome you all to the fifty-fifth annual Frontenac Island Flower Festival.”
We applauded.
“This festival is a time-honored tradition of coming together with our families and neighbors to celebrate what makes Frontenac great. With the help of our friends and partners in Frontenac City,” she nodded toward Daniel, who smiled warmly at the crowd, and I noticed a few women swooning, “we bring together everything that makes our communities the absolute best places to live and work and prosper.”
Another huge round of applause, and some cheers went up this time, too.
Daniel stepped up to the microphone. “We would like to thank our hosts from the Park Hotel, who have graciously allowed us to use their spectacular grounds once again to host the event.” He nodded to Lois and Samuel who stood off to the side of the stage. Lois smiled and returned the nod. Samuel had his arms folded over his chest, and he looked like he’d just eaten a lemon.
I clapped hard. Ginny did a “whoop whoop,” which made some people chuckle.
“I would also like to remind everyone to stop by the flower tent today and vote for the best floral arrangements for this year’s festival.”
“Go, June!” someone yelled from the crowd.
I smiled at that. The islanders were really pumped for June to win again this year.
“So, without further ado or any more talking from me, we formally announce th
e festival is ON!” Daniel raised his hand and fist-pumped the air.
A lot of applause followed, most of it from the local women. I didn’t blame them. It was easy to get excited around Daniel. He had that way about him.
As the crowd dispersed to engage in the festival activities, Daniel came down the three steps from the stage and walked toward me.
“Since it’s your first festival, can I show you around?” he asked.
“Sure. I’d love that.” I smiled.
Our first stop was at the food carts, which I didn’t mind. I was starving. Daniel bought me a corn dog. I devoured it in three bites and got another, to his amusement. We washed the corndogs down with freshly squeezed, lavender-infused lemonade, which was one of the best drinks I’d ever tasted. Then we moved on to hot fudge sundaes served with incredibly creamy butter-pecan ice cream all the way from the dairy farm where it was made in Traverse City. The owners were staying at the Park, and I’d already thanked them profusely for making the journey.
After I packed away more food than I’d eaten at one time in many months, Daniel led me over to the animal pens where he had to judge the cutest pigmy goat contest.
“Duty calls,” he said.
“Have fun.”
“I won’t be too long. An hour max.”
I smiled. “A mayor has to do what he has to do.”
He kissed my cheek, then made his way through the crowds to the judging table.
As I looked into the pen and saw the tiny goats jumping around and bleating and doing funny things, I realized Daniel had his work cut out for him. They were all adorable. I spotted Daisy in the pen, trying not to cry over the cutest tiny goat wearing a pair of pajamas and munching on the laces of her boots. Daisy looked up and caught my gaze. I waved at her. I had a sneaky suspicion she might try to adopt that goat later.
While Daniel performed his mayoral duties, I wandered over to the game booths, certain there was some game I could win. I eyed the ball toss into baskets, watching a little girl bounce them right in and out, which seemed too hard. I moved on to the dart game, but I didn’t like to hear balloons popping, so I skipped that one. The rubber ducky fishing pond was too crowded. Which left the ring toss. I paid the guy manning the station for nine rings while eyeing the giant stuffed unicorn that would look totally out of place in my elegant suite at the hotel.
After throwing three rings, I started to think I’d made a big mistake. Another three rings done, and I knew I’d only wasted my money. Right before I was about to toss the last three, a burly man with a mustache leaned toward me.
“There’s a trick to it.”
I glanced at him. “Yeah, I’ve realized that too late, I think.”
He chuckled. “It’s all in the stance and how you hold the ring.”
“Oh yeah?”
He held out his hand for the rings. “What are you looking for?”
I nodded toward the giant rainbow monstrosity. “The unicorn.”
He winked at me, settled his stance at the station, and with three quick flicks of his wrist, he landed all three rings onto one of the red-colored bottles.
I clapped, as did a couple of people who’d been watching.
The man turned with flourish and took a bow.
The attendant grabbed the big unicorn and gave it to him. He turned and handed it off to me.
“Thank you…?” I said to the man.
“Ivan.” He held out his hand.
I shook it. “Thanks, Ivan. I’m Andi Steele. I’m the concierge at the Park Hotel. Are you staying with us?”
“I am.”
“You’re here on vacation?”
“Business.” He smiled.
“Well, if you need anything during your stay, please come and see me at the concierge desk. I can fix you up with tickets to anything, a great tee time, premium reservations at any restaurant on the island, whatever you want.”
“Thank you, Andi. I just may take you up on that.” He tipped his head and was on his way.
With my new unicorn clutched to my chest, I wandered back to the animal pen to watch as Daniel put a tiny medal around the neck of the baby goat with the pajamas. Everyone cheered, and the goat bleated. Daniel walked toward me with a grin.
“Nice unicorn,” he said.
“Thank you. Her name is Sparkles.”
“Where did you win her?”
“Ring toss.” I made a face. “But I may have had a little help.”
“Should I be jealous?”
I shook my head. “No. Just one of the guests.”
“Good.” He swung his arm over my shoulders, and we continued our walk together through the festival.
We stopped to cheer at the pie-eating contest. I spotted Wally from the registry office, who had told me he’d been training for this event all year. One of the old-timers from the docks, Reggie, was also up on the podium, tying a red-checkered bib around his neck. I didn’t recognize the other three contestants.
“My money’s on Tuck.” Daniel pointed toward a petite man with Coke-bottle glasses and a bowtie.
“No way he can eat that much. He’s too little.”
“What do you wager?”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked.
He gave me a look that made me blush. “Dinner and dessert.”
Ginny’s brother Eric and his wife Nicole sidled up next to us just as I was leaning in for a taste of that dessert.
“Hey, Andi, Daniel,” Eric said. “Having fun?”
I nodded. “It’s more fun than I thought it would be. I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
“They didn’t have any festivals in California?” Nicole asked.
There was a snide tone in her voice, but I ignored it because she was actually talking to me. Since I arrived on the island, she’d been hostile and standoffish, even after I practically saved her life. Ginny said Nicole worried I’d try to steal Eric away from her. Which was ridiculous. The last thing I wanted was an affair with any married man. The second to last thing was Eric Park.
“I’m sure there were tons of festivals in Cali, but I never had a chance to go to any. The firm kept me too busy.” It was true—I’d really never much time for anything didn’t involve the law firm. Although the hotel kept me occupied being concierge, too, I’d had time to do some things for myself for a change. Including dating Daniel Evans.
“And now you’re busy having fun.” Daniel nudged me in the side, just as the pie-eating contest started with a literal bang from the starter’s gun.
Fifteen minutes and fifty pies later, most of them eaten by Daniel’s ringer, Tuck, we walked over to the main flower tent to check out the flower arrangements and place our votes. There were ten arrangements to view inside the tent, five in the professional category and five in the amateur.
I spotted two elderly women I had nicknamed Blue and Sunglasses—their real names were Nora Gray and Kris Houston—milling about near the amateur flower-arranging table. I’d heard they’d entered this year and were actually plant experts of a sort. All contestants were given two hours to put together a stunning arrangement. Out of the five professionals, either June or Brittany was expected to win.
As we looked over the arrangements, I didn’t ask Daniel who he was voting for. It wouldn’t have been a fair question. Brittany was from the mainland, and June was our favorite here on the island, so I left him to his secret vote.
June’s arrangement was a gorgeous, elegant design. White lilies were shaped into a circle, their stems twisted and braided together, set in a glass bowl, with mosses and lichen and beautiful pink tulips. She must have changed her mind about using daffodils. Regardless, the arrangement would’ve looked at home on any table in Beverly Hills. I swiveled my head around to ask her about the daffodils, but she was already talking with someone else.
Next to June’s was Brittany’s arrangement. It overpowered June’s in height and color. There were dozens of red roses swooped upwards into a moon shape. Under them was a base of tiny whit
e flowers, and other flowers and fan-type plants curled around the perimeter of the base. It was a pretty composition, but it lacked simplicity and grace. I didn’t like it nearly as much as June’s.
But some people always thought bigger was better, and there were a lot of folks fluttering around Brittany’s arrangement, praising this and that.
All the designers stood behind their creations. When I caught June’s gaze, I gave her a big smile and two thumbs-up.
“Your design is gorgeous,” I said.
“Thank you, Andi.” She glanced worriedly over at Brittany, who was smiling and laughing with a few people.
I leaned in close to her over the table. “It’s no contest, in my opinion.”
She beamed at that. “I’m so glad you think so.”
Then a bark of laughter drew my attention. I looked over to see Brittany lean/stumble over to the right. She grabbed hold of the table the arrangements were on to steady herself instead of landing on the ground in a heap.
June reached for her arm. “Are you okay?”
Brittany pulled away from June and shouted, “I’m fine!” She grabbed the bottle of water on her table and chugged down most of the contents.
As I watched her dribble water down her chin, I thought she almost seemed drunk.
When she was done with the water, she plopped the bottle down on the table with such force the table wobbled. Then it wobbled even more as she tried to stop the table from moving. My belly flipped over when I saw what was going to happen. June must’ve seen it, too, because she reached to steady Brittany…
Just as Brittany fell over onto the table and knocked her arrangement onto the ground.
The entire pavilion went silent. People open-mouth gaped at the explosion of roses all around the table.
