“Dennis. How’s it going?”
“Can’t complain. But then, I’m not the one on crutches.” The guy guffawed and Marshall smiled in return, before Helen Mickelson, the director of the community center where Andie attended yoga and self-defense classes, stopped to exchange greetings and offer her sympathy for his injury.
The first minute out of the car set the pattern for the rest of their short walk to the VIP seating. Everyone seemed to want to talk to him. She supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised at it—nor at his reaction. Instead of rebuffing their well-wishes, Marshall showed courtesy to all and even warmth to many.
For some reason—probably because of his enforced isolation the past week and his resistance to accepting her help—she had thought he was some kind of loner who preferred his own company. As he stopped his slow progress to shake hands with a couple of elderly men along the way, she was reminded that Marshall was not only a native son of Haven Point but also a county elected official. He couldn’t have attained his position at such a relatively young age if he had been cold and unapproachable.
Apparently the man contained dimensions she was only now encountering.
As they made their slow way to the VIP spot, a few other mothers she’d met through Chloe’s elementary school and Will’s preschool greeted her and then seemed to do a double take when it became apparent that Marshall and her family had come together.
Only then did it occur to her that people might think they were together together. She really hoped everyone in town didn’t get the idea she was dating the county sheriff.
Their journey of about a hundred feet took three times as long as it should have because so many people wanted to greet him, until Andie had to bite her lip to keep from telling people to just let the poor man sit down already. At this rate, he would be exhausted before they even reached their seats.
Finally they made it to the roped-off VIP area and Will and Chloe were immediately surrounded by the friends they had made in town, particularly Ty and Jazmyn Barrett and Maddie Hayward, all chattering a mile a minute.
“Mom,” Will said in excitement, “Ty says there are sparkly cookies over there at the refreshments and we can have as many as we want!”
“How about you start with one, kiddo,” she said.
Will looked disappointed. “Can I go get one now?”
She needed to get Marshall settled, but she figured with all the adults around, Will and Chloe would be well supervised. Devin Shaw and Cole Barrett stood by the refreshments and Eliza was not far away.
“Sure. Grab a cookie and then come find me.”
“Okay.”
“Can I go, too?” Chloe asked.
She nodded and her daughter handed over her blanket into Andrea’s full arms.
“I can take some of that,” Marshall said.
Where? On top of his head?
“Let’s go find you an empty chair,” she said, ignoring him. “Oh, look, there’s your mom. She must have a spot for us.”
She nodded toward Charlene and Mike Bailey, who both were waving with enthusiasm.
“They’re a little hard to miss,” he murmured.
“Can you make it there on the uneven grass? I’m sure it’s not as easy as the sidewalk.”
“I’m fine.”
He would never say otherwise, she was quite certain. Still carrying the cooler, he made his way over the frozen ground. Before they could reach his family, the mayor of Haven Point waylaid them. “Marsh! And Andie. Hi, you two.”
McKenzie Kilpatrick gave her a quick hug, blankets and all, then gestured to the crutches.
“I heard what happened to you. This doesn’t look like a fun way to spend Christmas.”
“Just about as fun as sticking pine needles in your eyes.”
“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t believe it when Chief Emmett briefed me on what happened. No leads yet on who might have hit you?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s crazy! I’ve told Cade to put all his officers on high alert. I’m just hoping someone isn’t deliberately targeting law enforcement officers in the community.”
“So far it seems an isolated incident, but I’ve asked my deputies to be on alert, as well.”
McKenzie asked more questions about the incident, and while he answered her cordially, Marshall shifted several times and Andie could tell his leg was bothering him.
She loved McKenzie and didn’t want to be rude, but she knew Marshall would never admit he needed to sit down.
“Sorry, do you mind if I carry these things over to our chairs?” she broke in during a gap in the conversation. “My arms are a little overloaded here.”
“Oh yes. Of course. Of course. I’ve got a hundred things to do anyway before the parade starts.”