“Busy avoiding him. I guess I can’t blame you, though.” She placed a tray of individually wrapped fudge on a stand, then placed her hands on her hips. “You should go see him. Leave Iain here and spend some time together, just the two of you. Then you can work through your crap better.”
“That’s not a bad idea, actually, but I still don’t have people in place for that, and I just took time off, so I hate to ask Shannon again.”
“Well, don’t let this fester between the two of you.”
Another vendor came over with a question, so I said goodbye to Megan and helped her solve her issues. More and more people found me, needing answers to one thing after another, but fortunately, nothing major came up. I found Harold Claypool, Zach’s stand-in as grand marshal, sitting in the shade near the pavilion.
“Ah, Emalee. How are you, dear? Missing your young man, I bet.”
I simply smiled. “I just wanted to make sure you’re set to go?”
His eyes almost appeared to sparkle. “Go? Oh, you mean for the parade. Yes, yes. Of course. Wanda borrowed a golf cart and decorated it all up.” He leaned forward. “Between me and you, I think she went a little overboard.”
I laughed. “I’m sure it will be perfect. This whole day is about going overboard.”
People were starting to show, so I hurried home to change clothes into my pretty spring dress, then headed over to the parade line-up where people were gathering with their entries.
“Leave it to Sterling Mill to have a derby parade with animals in hats.”
I whirled to the face the familiar voice. “Zach!”
He stood with his hands shoved into the pockets of a wheat-colored pair of pleated trousers. A light pink button-down shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. His grin was wide beneath a straw boater’s hat that had a green ribbon that matched his bow tie printed with horses. He looked so handsome dressed in traditional derby clothes.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m the grand marshal, aren’t I?”
“But I thought you had to work this weekend.” I still stared stupidly at him. Why hadn’t he told me he was coming?
“I’ve made some changes. I’d like to share them with you, maybe after the parade?”
“Um, sure.”
“You look beautiful,” he said, making me feel warm and more than glad I’d decided to change into something dressy.
He looked around, grinning at the menagerie of animals dressed in outrageous hats. Most were dogs, but there were a few cows and horses, a donkey, and even a llama. Chase brought one of his goats, who had already knocked off its hat full of flowers and was chewing it instead. It was comical watching Chase try to wrestle it from the animal.
Hans Zimmerman showed up with his hound dog, who was wearing a coonskin cap. He grinned evilly when Tillie walked by, pushing a baby carriage. She took one look at his dog and gasped. She glared at him, then tossed her head in the air and stormed away.
“Do I want to know what she’s pushing around in there?” Zach asked in a droll tone.
I chuckled. “Probably not.”
“Dad! You came!”
Zach turned just in time to catch Iain in his arms and hugged him tightly. “Surprise! I didn’t want to say anything until I knew everything worked out.”
“Wait until you see Milo and Callie. Gramma is bringing them. I get to walk with them in the parade.”
“I’m right here.” Mama, accompanied by Reid and Lexi, approached. Lexi was holding Callie while Reid loosely held Milo’s leash and had his arm extended for Mama to hold. Milo, dressed in a top hat and tux costume, saw Zach and broke ranks to run to him, prancing around Zach’s feet and trying to place enthusiastic licks on his face as his owner bent down to greet him.
When Milo settled, Zach greeted my mom and placed a kiss on her cheek as she beamed at him in return.When had that happened?While I’d been stewing about both of them, they seemed to have formed a bond. Then he shook Reid’s hand. The three of them chatted like old friends while I stood there irritated and feeling like an outsider.
Zach held his arm out to my mom. “Can I help you to a seat before we start the parade?”
Mama wrapped her hand around his elbow. “Thank you.”
Zach winked at me. “Catch you later, sunshine.”
