Pretend You're Mine(96)
“Great. See you soon.” He walked off and Gloria fanned herself.
“Oh my. What just happened? Did I pass out?” she asked.
Harper giggled. “I think this is Aldo coming around and pulling out all the stops. Prepare to be swept off your feet.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for that. Can’t he just say hello to me once a week for a year or so until I get used to looking at him?”
“I don’t think that’s how he works. You’ll be married in no time.”
Gloria playfully swatted Harper’s arm.
“Miss Harper!”
She turned at the sound of her name and saw Robbie and Henry waving at her as they crossed the street to her. Mrs. Agosta, carrying Ava, was hot on their heels.
“Miss Harper! You did it!” Robbie high-fived her.
“Way to go, Miss Harper,” Henry fist bumped her and then made an exploding noise with a tiny bit of spit.
“Thanks, guys. Are you here for the parade?”
“Yeah, we’re scopin’ out seats so we can see the fire trucks and get lots of candy,” Henry said.
“Congratulations, Harper,” Mrs. Agosta said. “I see you running past the house a couple times a week, and every day you get faster.”
“Yeah you don’t look like you’re going to die anymore,” Robbie added helpfully.
“Oh, good. I’m glad,” Harper laughed.
“Would you like to join us? We’ve got prime parade seats right here,” Gloria offered.
“Oh, boy! Can we?” Henry dropped his kid-size folding camp chair on the sidewalk next to Harper. “This is perfect.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind some very loud, energetic company?” Mrs. Agosta asked Gloria.
“The more the merrier,” Gloria insisted and winked at Harper. “Since we’ve got a good crowd and some fine seat savers here, do you want to help me make some lemonade and iced tea?”
“Can I have my own gallon and can you carry me up the steps?”
“Sure, why not?”
***
The parade was a huge hit. The very last 5k finisher was a 76-year-old veteran carrying the American flag followed by the high school marching band playing “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The action paused long enough at the finish line for Aldo to place the 5k medal around the man’s neck and salute him. The gentleman saluted back and then hugged Aldo, slapping him on the back, and the crowd was on its feet cheering.
Harper saw Gloria swipe away a stray tear as she applauded.
The kids kept Josh entertained, freeing Sophie to run out onto the road to give Ty a kiss when he drove by in the squad car with lights blazing.
“Miss Sophie just kissed that policeman!” Henry shouted with glee.
Charlie, Claire, Mrs. Agosta, Mrs. Moretta, and Gloria’s mom, Sara, set up chairs on the top step of Gloria’s building and enjoyed their iced teas and lemonades.
Harper snapped picture after picture and emailed them all to Luke. She missed him fiercely.
Her phone signaled a new email.
To: harpwild@netlink.com
From: lucas.c.garrison282@us.army.mil
Re: Parade
Keep the pictures coming, baby. I’m looking at every one of them. I miss your beautiful smile.
Love,
Luke
Harper hugged her phone to her chest and sniffled.
“Aw.” Sophie spotted her watery eyes. “Missing him?” she asked, draping an arm around Harper’s shoulders.
She nodded. “Yeah. A lot.”
“What’s wrong with Miss Harper?” Henry asked.
“She misses Mr. Luke,” Sophie told him.
Henry patted her arm. “It’s okay Miss Harper. We’ll take care of you. We’ll take you to the carnival tonight to see the fireworks. That’ll make you feel better!”
“Thanks, buddy. That’s really nice of you,” Harper said, surprising him with a hug. He grinned, showing off a missing front tooth, and hurried back to his prime candy catching spot.
Mrs. Agosta sighed from her perch on the stoop. “I don’t think I can survive a carnival and fireworks after all the excitement today.”
“How about if I took the kids over to the park tonight?” Harper asked. “I’d love to have some extra company for the fireworks.”
“Oh, dear, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“I would love to do it. And think how well they’ll sleep.”
“There’s car seats to worry about and Robbie is allergic to bees ...”
Harper could sense she was wavering. “I’ll have them home fifteen minutes after the fireworks and I won’t let them have any soda after seven.”
“If you’re sure ...”
***
She was knew it would take some creative maneuvering to cram three kids plus a stroller into her Volkswagen, so she invited Claire, Joni, and Gloria to join her. Between two vehicles and four adults, Harper felt reasonably confident they could manage the evening.