The gist of the story was that Timmy’s parents were Revolutionary sympathizers and were great friends of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. The other two boys were from Tory families and had been instructed by their parents not to associate with Timmy’s character ever again.
The three boys had been friends all their lives and they were coming to grips with the fact that their parents’ politics were not merely points of view, but had created pain and loss. Their world was changing and they were helpless to do anything about it.
Timmy’s character, who was the youngest, did not understand why the other boys would be loyal to a king they had never met and who would not come to America to lead them. Timmy’s heartbreak was evident when the boys told him that he would not be allowed into their house again.
Timmy stood forlorn and sad-faced, outside the cardboard Colonial house and sang a new, short song written by Debra about lost friends. The pathos in Timmy’s little boy’s voice was wrenching.
Through Timmy’s character, the story revealed the plight of every child who had ever been placed in a situation where they became the victims of their parents’ political decisions. It was always the children who lived with the results...good or bad.
Just as she’d been in rehearsal, Sarah was deeply moved by Timmy’s obvious passion for his role. He’d always been good, but today he left her breathless. She had witnessed Annie’s rare talent, but this was a surprise. A very happy surprise, she thought. When Timmy finished the last notes and walked off the stage, a hush fell over the audience.
Luke, Lester and Mrs. Beabots applauded loudly. Suddenly, dozens of people rose from their chairs and gave Timmy a standing ovation. Louise Railton put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loud enough to break eardrums. Father Michael clapped so hard his arthritic hands would need a warming balm and bandages, but he didn’t care.
In the wings, Sarah grabbed Timmy by the shoulders, “Go back out there and take a bow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Timmy ran onto the stage and with his very practiced flourish, gave the audience a deep bow. The spectators continued their shouts and applause until Timmy left the stage again.
The rest of the play never sagged. The children had rehearsed their parts perfectly. Not one child forgot his or her lines. The only mishap was when the horse knocked over the picket fence. Sarah felt a flush of pride warm her entire body as she watched child after child execute their roles. There were tears in her eyes when Annie stood beside her and waited for her cue from the band.
Annie took center stage dressed in a white, floor-length dress that had a navy blue tulle overskirt on which Sarah had tacked silver stars and red sequins. In her hair was a crown of white daisies with red, white and blue ribbons falling down her back.
Annie belted out “God Bless America” with a voice as strong as Kate Smith ever hoped to have. Hearing a full-fledged adult voice emanate from a little eight-year-old girl once again prodded the audience out of their chairs and onto their feet with shouts of “Bravo!” and “More!”
Sarah grabbed Mary Catherine and hugged her. “They were wonderful!”
“I saw people texting halfway through the show,” Sarah continued. “It’s my bet that the reporter over there for the Indian Lake newspaper is going to give the children a glowing review.”
The kids congratulated each other, slapping one another on the back. Sarah and Mary Catherine embraced again. “I’m glad it’s over, I’ll tell you,” Mary Catherine said.
“So am I,” Sarah agreed.
The parents rushed toward the stage and called out to their respective children. The band continued playing the theme of the play, which was the song Timmy had sung.
Timmy looked up at Sarah just as Luke walked up. “Miss Sarah, do you think I’ll be famous now?”
Sarah caught Luke’s smiling eyes as he came to stand next to her. “Probably not,” she said to Timmy. “It might take a bit more effort on your part.”
“Aw, shucks. I was hopin’...”
“Timmy, even if you were famous, it wouldn’t last long,” Luke said. “You would have to create a performance that was even greater than what you did here today.”
Timmy’s mouth gaped open. “What? I have to do it again?”
“Uh-huh.”
Timmy looked down at his tricorn hat. “Those guys had to fight really hard to make a democracy for us. So I guess if I have to work hard, it’s okay.”
Luke’s shoulders hitched with an intake of breath. “I’ve never been as proud of you as I am at this minute, Timmy.” Luke knelt down and gathered his son into his arms and hugged him close.
Just then, a middle-aged man wearing black jeans and a black golf shirt, carrying a camera case and an iPad walked up to Annie. “Congratulations, young lady,” he said with a toothy grin. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone as good as you are.”
Luke stood up instantly and approached the man. “Can I help you?”
The man gave Luke a once-over and smiled even more broadly—if that was possible. “You must be Mr. Bosworth. I’m Alan Freeman. I’m from the
Chicago Tribune.
I got called out to this gig at the last minute, but I have to tell you, I’m glad I took the assignment. Your daughter is amazing.”
Wariness filled Luke’s eyes as he took Alan’s hand. “I think so.”
Alan looked over at Annie, who was standing next to Sarah, watching the exchange. “I came out to Indian Lake thinking I was just going to cover the parade and then do a little piece on this fund-raiser you folks have going on here, but I have to say, Annie knocked my socks off. I videoed her performance. She could really have an awesome career ahead of her. How long has she been studying?”
“She hasn’t,” Luke replied tersely.
“You mean that’s—” Alan looked over at Annie, who was now holding Sarah’s hand “—that’s natural talent. No formal training?”
“No training,” Luke said.
Alan took out his business card and handed it to Luke. “I’m going to write a spectacular article about Annie. Trust me. But there’s something else I should mention. Every December there’s a huge talent show in Chicago. It’s underwritten by several universities in town, the papers and dozens of businesses. I’m going to nominate Annie as my choice for the show. All the prizes are scholarships—formal training at ballet, music and acting schools. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids,” Alan said excitedly.
Luke handed Alan his card back. “I didn’t give you permission to write about my daughter. I don’t want her mentioned in your article. And no nominations for talent shows. Understand?”
“Actually, no. But that’s your prerogative.” Alan glanced back at Annie, shrugged and said, “Sorry, kid.”
Alan walked away.
Annie glared at her father. “You won’t let him write about me?”
“You’re too young for all this nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense. It’s what I want. I want to sing. I want to be onstage making people smile when they hear me sing my songs!”
Luke moved toward Annie, but she dropped Sarah’s hand and stepped back several feet. “You don’t want me to do anything because Mom isn’t here. It isn’t fair!”
Annie ran away from them and into the school. Timmy followed after her, yelling her name.
Luke raked his hair with his fingers. “She’s too young for a life like that. And the entertainment world eats those kids up and spits them out when it’s done with them. That’s not the life I want for my daughter.”
Sarah could almost see the pain in Luke’s heart. “I understand, Luke. I do. Right now she has a dozen emotions going on—from the exhilaration of the audience applause to the fact that a major newspaper wanted to write about her performance.”
“And I just invalidated all that for her by sending the journalist away.”
“Pretty much. But you have a real point, Luke. Annie is too sweet and so perfect just the way she is to be swallowed up by that kind of big business. And that’s what it is. They’re capable of eating full-grown adults, body and soul, if they see even a fleck of talent. Annie’s talent is limitless. Honestly, a few years of boring, rigorous, disciplined training might take the bloom off the rose for her.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” he said, and then looked off to the school building where Annie had disappeared.
“Listen, I have to help Aunt Emily and Uncle George in the food tent.”
“I’ll catch up with you later,” he said and walked toward the school.
Sarah hoped Luke and Annie would find a compromise that would be the best for them both.
Sarah continued her rounds of all the booths as the sun set and the lights on the Ferris wheel grew brighter against the darkening sky. The dinner tent was sold out of food before seven-thirty, and yet there were still crowds of people coming by. Word had traveled around town and the lake area that a good time was being had over at St. Mark’s. Luke helped Uncle George break down the food tent. Timmy helped Aunt Emily clean up the garbage. Annie made herself scarce, spending a great deal of her time in Maddie Strong’s booth. Both Sarah and Luke kept the kids in plain sight while they went about their duties and chores.
* * *
t
HE
F
ESTIVAL
WAS
officially over at ten o’clock, and the Ferris wheel was going to make one last pass before closing down. Luke saw Sarah at Isabelle Hawks’s art booth and went over to her.
“I have it on good authority that if we hustle, we can ride this last go around on the Ferris wheel free of charge.”
“I promised Isabelle I’d help put her paintings away,” Sarah said, glancing at her friend with soft pleading in her eyes.
Isabelle winked at Luke. “I’ve got this, Sarah. You deserve some fun after all your hard work.”
Luke held out his hand to Sarah. “I want to thank you for what you did for Annie.”
She looked at his hand, then up at Luke. “You’re welcome. I think. Is she speaking to you yet?”
“Not yet,” Luke replied, reaching his fingers toward hers.
She placed her hand inside his palm. She didn’t know what she expected, but she didn’t expect to experience an odd zing of excitement, nearly a thrill, when they touched. He had big, rough, strong hands that felt as if they could build a skyscraper or move a mountain. They were hands that bathed his children and tucked them in at night. Hands that drew fanciful art designs for her festival and hands that now beckoned her to join him for a simple ride on a Ferris wheel.
Holding Luke’s hand bombarded Sarah with a myriad of emotions. For so long, she had not dared to consider him even a friend. He was too volatile. He was too closed off, too within himself. But that had changed the night of the session with Carla and Jarod. Sarah was drawn to Luke despite the danger and the risk. She knew he’d loved his wife so deeply that not even death had diminished his devotion. But could he love again? Could he love her?
There was no question that Sarah had fallen in love with his children.
Tonight, she felt another shift in her relationship with Luke. There was a sense of calm about him that hadn’t existed before. But Sarah was mystified as to whether he was the one changing or if it was her. Had her new awareness of her feelings for him caused this transformation?
Touching him and walking with him, matching her gait to his, oddly, she felt safe. She suddenly felt protected by this man she’d slowly come to know in his pain and anger and through observing his struggle to demonstrate his deep love for his children.
Luke had been generous with his time and skills in helping with the festival. She respected and admired him for that.
She wasn’t certain what was happening. Was she falling in love with Luke? In the past few days, working side by side with him, joking with him as they put up the entrance gates, she’d realized that when she rose in the morning, the first thoughts in her head were those about Luke. She knew she’d be seeing him every evening at the school to work on the booths. For weeks she’d stolen a thousand glimpses of him as he worked on Mrs. Beabots’s carriage house. This past Wednesday, just before their bereavement session, she’d changed her clothes twice and completely reapplied her makeup, taking extra pains that she normally never would.
Perhaps the answer was right in front of her and she had been so preoccupied with the festival and all her own concerns that she hadn’t realized her growing affection toward Luke was very real.
Sarah nearly felt like Cinderella being asked to step inside a magical pumpkin.
“Can’t beat a free ride,” she said, hoping to divert her thoughts toward what was real, not make-believe.
Luke ushered Sarah onto the ramp and held the carriage steady as she sat. The operator snapped the bar shut, hit the lever and they whisked up to the top of the wheel.
“I love Ferris wheels,” Sarah said with excitement trilling through her.
“Yeah? How come?”
“They move you just a bit off the earth and give a new perspective of the world. It’s not like when you’re in an airplane and not a part of the earth anymore. A Ferris wheel is just a bit off-kilter. A bit abnormal.”
“Like a new dimension,” he interrupted, looking around. “I see the kids down there with Maddie.” He waved to Timmy, who was waving at him. Annie was still mad, and she purposefully didn’t look up, even though Maddie was pointing at him.
In the distance, the annual city fireworks display was being shot off at the fairgrounds. Explosions of sparkling colors filled the sky and rained showers of glitter and dying embers down to earth.
Sarah watched Luke’s face and saw the reflection of the explosions in his eyes.
“Jenny loved fireworks,” he said. “She couldn’t wait till the next holiday or someone’s birthday so she could have an excuse to light sparklers or fountains. She loved anything that glittered in the sky. Our backyard on New Year’s Eve was a pyrotechnics dream. For Christmas every year I’d have to give her a box of fireworks or it wasn’t Christmas. I actually proposed to her on the Fourth of July just so she would have all the fireworks she’d ever want.”
Sarah’s eyes went to the fireworks and she smiled softly. “I would have loved her.”