to compare the two so far apart. I didn’t get any spilled on me this time, that was a plus.” She let out a sigh. “If I’m completely honest, yours was better.”
“Told you.” He looked proud.
“So you did.”
“Okay, so here’s what we’re going to do for the parade.” He slapped his hands together and rubbed them, crouching a little as he spoke. “Y’all are going to get comfortable right up here on the parade line. Me and a couple of my buddies are going to carry some chairs out here in a minute.”
“We don’t need chairs. We can stand,” she argued.
“Chivalry,” Anna whispered to Vanessa. “Let him do it.” She lifted her chin. “Thank you, Mike. Chairs would be lovely. Right, Vanessa?”
Vanessa smiled. “Thank you. Yes. Very thoughtful.”
“It’s a long parade, and you’ll stay warmer in the chairs because they block the wind from your backside,” Mike said. “I’m telling you, it’s the only way to go. You won’t be the only ones sitting.”
Vanessa and Anna looked at each other and shrugged. “Okay.”
“I’m in the parade, so about—”
“You’re in it?” Vanessa’s eyes widened with realization. “Are you riding that horse and carriage—wait, wagon, I meant horse and wagon, like that first day I was in town?”
“If you thought that wagon was special, hold on to your earmuffs.”
Is he making fun of my earmuffs?
“So, midway through the parade I’ve got to run to the other end and get ready. Y’all stay here after the end of the parade, and I’ll meet back up with you. Okay?”
“Got it,” Anna chimed in.
“Good.” Mike jogged off toward the fire station.
Anna had a sly look on her face. Rather than let her engage on whatever she was about to say about Mike, Vanessa said to her, “You’re going to be amazed when you see his horses. I’d never seen anything so big and powerful. It’s quite impressive.”
A moment later Mike and three other guys were back with chairs on each shoulder. They lined them up to the left of the fire truck doors on the road two rows deep, staggered so everyone would be able to see. “Ladies.” Mike led them to the two end chairs on the second row. “Warmest spot to be unless you planned to watch from a window.”
They sat down, mildly amused by all the effort.
“Where did he go now?” Vanessa turned in her seat.
“There are so many people here. There must be people from nearby towns here for this too.” Anna pointed out a man across the way in camouflage coveralls and a camouflage hat, standing next to two kids in full snowsuits. “Everyone is bundled up for the weather.”
In the distance music from a marching band filled the air.
The crowd pulled in closer. A few whistles followed by hoots and hollers started the excitement. Everyone turned their attention to the parade route.
Kids wearing light-up Christmas-bulb necklaces waved and jumped up and down in anticipation of the floats. NICE LIST pennants waved in the air. Suddenly, Vanessa felt seven years old again.
Mike walked over carrying three cups of steaming hot chocolate with whipped cream and a cherry on top. “This helps keep you warm too.”
Vanessa looked into his smiling eyes. “Thank you. You’ve thought of everything.”
“I’m a real process guy. Can’t help myself.”
What’s not to like about that? But she hadn’t said it out loud, because she was still hung up in his gaze and that smile. “I didn’t know that about you.” Vanessa blinked, weighing the rocking-chair emotions that took over when Mike was around.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
Anna beamed. “That’s the fun part about meeting new people.” She bobbed her head from side to side, then clapped wildly. “I can see the band.”
“Joy to the World” got louder by the step, and almost like the wave at a baseball game, kids raised their hands into the air trying to catch candy being thrown by men in elf costumes riding four-wheelers.
Anna squeezed Vanessa’s wrist. “This is so fun!”
The band moved with precision, lifting and twisting their instruments as they marched closer. In front of the band, a man dressed in a nutcracker suit carrying a candy-cane baton lifted the red and white stick up and down in the air, adding in a happy kick every now and again. The shock of silvery-gray hair shone in contrast to the tall black furry hat.
Vanessa recognized him immediately. “Look!” She pointed him out to Anna.
“Lordy goodness!” Anna stood. “That’s Buck!”
Mike remained seated. “He’s been doing that for as long