“I hope so. He hasn’t said a word to me all day.” Maggie fell into an old habit of biting the cuticle of her left thumb. Brett pulled her hand away from her mouth.
“Stop that. You’re not fifteen,” he teased. “Don’t be upset. It’s going to work out. I promise. Trust me. Jamey just needs time.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I was a twelve-year-old boy myself once.” He gave her hand one last squeeze. “I need to make my rounds here. Lots of people to see and greet. I’ll see you after the fireworks.”
Maggie watched him walk away, watched as people stopped him for a handshake or a pat on the back. It was obvious he was well liked and respected in Wyndham Beach, and she felt no small amount of pride in him. He was still that same sweet boy she’d met in homeroom sophomore year. Despite the years and the unexpected turns his life had taken, he was still the Brett she’d known and fallen in love with back then. She had a feeling history might repeat itself.
Sometimes life did move in circles.
Maggie noticed Emma talking to the tall man with the receding hairline and wire-rimmed glasses she recognized from the art center. Owen Harrison had promised to deliver the carousel and had. Someone walked past and handed her a brochure with a picture of the carousel on the front, and Maggie skimmed the text describing the history of the Wyndham Beach amusement. Purchased and brought to Wyndham Beach by Jasper Harrison II in 1905, the horses had been hand carved by one of the two greatest artists of the carousel world, Marcus Illions.
“There are two other Illions carousels I know are still in operation,” Owen was telling Emma when Maggie approached them. “One’s here in Massachusetts, in Springfield, and another in the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. Not sure if others survived.”
“The workmanship is just glorious.” Emma moved closer to the ride.
“Oh, yes. Illions was known for the flamboyance of his creations. He was truly an artist.”
Owen took Emma’s elbow and walked along with her. For as long as Maggie could recall, Emma had shown no real interest in any man who’d shown an interest in her, and there’d been more than a few since Harry’s death. Yet here was Emma being guided along, apparently deeply fascinated with carousel horses. Will wonders never cease?
She thought the shake of her head was unnoticeable. Liddy apparently noticed.
“Yeah, how ’bout that?” Liddy gestured in Emma’s direction. “That man hasn’t taken his eyes off her since we walked over.”
“Nice. She’s been alone for a long time, and between you and me, Harry wasn’t the greatest husband.”
Liddy nodded in agreement. “There were rumors about him and Darlene Fitch, who worked at the bank . . . I don’t believe Emma ever heard them, but still. And the way he treated Chris—no wonder the kid was always sneaking off to the garage to play his guitar.”
“I’d say it worked out pretty well for Chris, though,” Maggie pointed out.
“Emma misses him. She’s alone too much. It would be nice for her to have a distraction,” Liddy said. “Even if it’s only now and then. I heard he”—she nodded toward Owen—“has a town house in London and a place on Florida’s Jupiter Island. Someone in that family invested all that shipping and lumber money really well.”
An announcement came over the PA system that the first ride of the season was about to begin, so the children who were interested needed to line up at the place designated by a huge flock of balloons tied to a stake in the ground. One by one, the children stepped up to the platform and selected their rides. Maggie took her phone from her pocket and snapped pictures of the elegantly draped horses. Natalie stood in line with Daisy, who danced excitedly.
“I want the black horse, Mommy.” Daisy pointed.
Emma turned at the sound of Daisy’s voice. She said something to Owen, who nodded.
“Daisy, would you like to ride that black horse?” Emma held her hand out.
“Yes! Yes, please!”
“Come along and we’ll ride the carousel together.” Emma helped Daisy onto the platform, then lifted her onto the horse. Daisy’s beaming face said more than words could have.
“Nat, take a picture to send to Chris,” Maggie urged.
“Already did.” Natalie held up her phone. “He’s going to love seeing his mom having a good time.”
The carousel filled, the music began, and Owen started the ride. Slowly the carousel turned, the horses on the posts bobbing up and down as the music played. Maggie opened the brochure and read a few lines.
“The horses that move up and down are called jumpers,” she told Natalie. “Daisy’s horse is a prancer, the front legs in the air and the back legs on the ground.”
Daisy’s ride came to an end, and she ran excitedly to her mother to relate the wonderfulness of her experience on the black horse as the next round of riders chose their horses and the music began to play again.
Liddy stepped away to greet a tall dark-haired man accompanied by three children. She ruffled the hair of the oldest child, a boy of about eight, then knelt to speak to the two girls, twins of maybe five or six. Maggie noticed Grace watching, her attention not on the children but on the man. The expression on Grace’s face was unreadable, though Maggie thought she detected a hint of disappointment.
“Who is that with Liddy?” Maggie asked Emma, who’d followed Natalie.
“Oh, that’s Linc Shelby. Remember Emmett Shelby, three classes ahead of us? Linc’s his son. Listen, Maggie, would it be all right if Owen joined us at your house for the cookout?” Emma asked
