The line moved forward and suddenly it was their turn.
Before he could ask about the seating arrangement, Rosie dove into the cart, pulling Lola behind her. Clearly, his daughter was not afraid of heights since she wiggled right up to the opposite window of the gondola. Lola sat next to her. Saint sat between Lola and an empty spot while a group of four—two adults and two older kids—sat across from them talking to each other.
As soon as they started moving, Lola tensed. Their gondola was barely off the ground when her leg started bouncing. She turned her head to whisper to him, “How long does this ride take again?”
“I think like ten to fifteen minutes,” he whispered back.
“Fuck my life,” Lola exclaimed.
Silence from the other side of the gondola.
Lola seemed to realize that she’d said that out loud. Her cheeks reddened. “Sorry,” she said to the family across from them and to Rosie. In her lap, her hands were wringing.
Saint reached over, separated her hands, and interlocked his fingers with hers.
She clamped on immediately, squeezing until his bones creaked.
He rubbed his thumb back and forth in a soothing motion.
Rosie watched with a look of concern and guilt on her face. The poor thing felt bad because she’d been the one who wanted to go on the Ferris wheel. It was her favorite thing to do.
Saint pulled his phone out of his pocket, unlocked it and opened the camera app. “Here.” He passed it to Rosie. “Take pictures of the view to show the family.”
Rosie snatched the phone and bounced in her seat in excitement. The kid loved it when he let her play on his phone.
Once she was occupied, Saint leaned in and whispered in Lola’s ear. “Just close your eyes and imagine we’re in the car or something.”
She must’ve really been nervous, because she didn’t even make a smart-ass comment about how dumb his suggestion was. She slammed her eyes shut and leaned her head on his shoulder almost like she wanted to bury her face in his chest. She began taking deep breaths and letting them out in a practiced way.
They sat like that for the remainder of the ride and while Saint felt bad for Lola he couldn’t deny that he liked being this close to her.
As soon as they started making their final descent Rosie handed him back his phone. Then she put her little hand on Lola’s thigh and patted it.
He could almost hear her little voice saying,There there. It’s okay. I’m here.
Lola’s hand came up and landed on Rosie’s. His daughter turned her hand around and gripped it.
Saint couldn’t contain his smile. Watching the two of them interact was quickly becoming one of his favorite things. Their connection was so organic even though Rosie still hadn’t said a word to Lola.
The gondola came to a stop and Lola popped up like a cork out of a champagne bottle. She was out of there as soon as the door opened. “Well, that was certainly an experience,” she said once they were farther away.
“Are you okay?” Saint asked.
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t look fine. She looked pale and a bit sweaty.
Rosie tugged on the hem of his hoodie and pointed at the building that housed her second favorite place in Navy Pier.
“That’s a good idea, Rosie,” he told her. “I think a cupcake and gelato is exactly what Lola needs to feel better.”
Lola squatted down in front of Rosie. “Thank you for being so sweet and thoughtful, Rosie.”
His daughter let out a blinding smile.
Lola returned it. “Can I give you a hug in thanks?”
Instead of nodding, Rosie launched herself at Lola, who caught her, but also fell on her butt in the process. They both started laughing while squeezing each other.
