“Our children will never behave like that,” Carter recited. “And if they do, we’re going to drop them off at HCAEDC and run for our lives.”
A little girl with pigtails and a rubber chicken beak paused mid-skip and vomited what looked like a dinner of cotton candy onto the asphalt. She wiped her mouth on her little sleeve and cheerily skipped on.
“Katie Bell,” Carter and Summer sighed together.
The parade came to a spectacular end as the Blue Moon High School Marching Band playing “Monster Mash” ushered off the last float.
Gia’s little crew marched across the street to the square where the smell of popcorn and fried pickles wafted. The park was done up in Halloween fashion. Orange lights were strung overhead and wrapped around tree trunks, while giant bushels of mums were clustered around park benches. Carved pumpkins entered in the contest were showcased on bales of hay. As she’d learned from the town meeting, the fake spider webs had been vetoed this year given the impossible cleanup they’d posed last year. The two dozen food and craft stands were decked out with orange and black bunting and nearly everyone had donned festive costumes.
Evan dashed off with his friends, ten dollars, and strict instructions to meet her back at the studio in an hour so she could say good-bye before his sleepover. She valiantly tried not to imagine the number of preservatives and energy drinks he was going to enjoy until morning.
She and Summer were waiting in line for French fries when she felt a tingle zip through the space between her shoulder blades. Beckett.
He was talking to Carter who was on Aurora duty, at least until she twirled over to Beckett and wrapped her arms around his legs. Beckett hoisted her up, mindful of the plastic swords strapped to her back.
Gia felt her throat tighten a degree.
“The Pierce men are meant for fatherhood,” Summer said, noting the direction of Gia’s stare.
“Yeah, well, one of those men is going to find out sooner than the others,” Gia teased.
“Only one?” Summer raised a perfectly groomed brow.
“Just what are you getting at, Cryptic Cindy?”
Summer shrugged daintily. “Oh, I just have a feeling. About you. And about Beckett.”
Gia rolled her eyes. “You and the rest of Blue Moon. I hate to disappoint the hopes of an entire town, but I don’t think I’m going to have time for any relationships real or imagined.”
“Business booming?”
“It’s going well, but I ran into a surprise expense and I’m going to have to take something on part-time — and hopefully very flexible — to get us through until the studio is making a bit more.”
Summer’s fingers gripped her arm. “Oh. My. God. Gia!”
“What? Are you okay?” Gia asked, panicked and expecting a medical emergency.
“I’m better than okay!” Summer released her death grip on Gia. “How are your writing skills?”
“Are you two in line?” An impatient Mrs. Nordeman dressed as Scarlet O’Hara in draperies peeked around them at the growing gap in the line.
“Sorry, Mrs. Nordeman,” Summer offered her a bright smile. They stepped forward.
“My writing skills?” Gia asked.
“So today I landed a very large, very enthusiastic advertiser for Thrive,” Summer began.
“Congratulations, Summer! That’s fantastic.”
She waved away her praise. “What this means is I’m looking for a very flexible, very part-time assistant editor. Preferably someone with a background in health and wellness.” She looked pointedly at Gia.
“Are you offering me a job?” Gia squeaked.
“I’m offering if you’re accepting. Oh my God, your education in plants means we could beef up the gardening content, too!” Summer clapped her hands together. “This is too perfect. I’m thinking between ten and fifteen hours a week would do it and we’ll work around your schedule. What do you say?”
Gia felt shell-shocked. “This is the second time in one night you’ve given me an offer I can’t refuse.”
Summer grabbed her in a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she chanted.
“I should be thanking you,” Gia gasped as the oxygen was squeezed out of her by Summer’s surprisingly strong grip. You have no idea what this means to me and my family.”
“Hey, you girls want fries?” the man behind the stand barked.
Mrs. Nordeman grumbled past them in her full skirt to order.
“Sorry, Mrs. Nordeman,” Summer and Gia said.
When they finally returned bearing greasy dishes of fries, Carter demanded to know what all the fuss in line had been about. “What’s with all the jumping and hugging?”
“Don’t tell me you’re that big a fan of French fries,” Beckett said, fishing one out of Gia’s vinegar-sodden dish.
“Gentlemen, and Aurora, say hello to my new assistant editor,” Summer announced, waving expansively at Gia.
“Hello, Mama,” Aurora chirped.
“We’re going to need another desk,” Summer winked at Carter.