Page 36 of Bride Games

Eli laughed. “Hopefully, we’ll have time to see most of the park.” He led them past a booth serving deep-fried funnel cakes covered with powdered sugar. Emma glanced toward the line of people at the booth. “Those smell so good. My mouth is watering.”

“Want one now or later?” Eli asked.

“Later. Let’s get to the kid zone. I hope you know where it is.”

Eli held up his phone. “I surveyed the SDC website earlier. I can navigate this entire park since I downloaded the app. It’ll even tell us how long we have to wait for the rides if the lines are long.”

Emma grimaced. “Lucy isn’t the most patient—me neither—for that matter.”

“No worries. There’s a ton of stuff to do. They have live shows, craftsmen, shops, and restaurants.”

“I’m glad one of us is in charge.” Parents pushed strollers, kids raced past them, and elderly people sat in the shade on benches. Teens were on their phones as Emma, Eli, and Lucy strolled past a pavilion and decided to go inside Grandfather’s Mansion.

Soon after stepping inside, Lucy held her arms to her side. “Mommy, I’m walking funny.” Emma giggled as the threesome attempted to walk across the slanted floor. After they explored the ride, they spotted a fudge shop and watched as employees slathered huge amounts of fudge on a big marble slab. Lucy happily accepted multiple samples while Emma told her to not spoil her lunch.

They walked up a hill and across a bridge when Lucy spotted a man holding a steel rod and placing horse shoes in the fire to be softened and shaped. Her eyes widened as she reached for Eli’s hand. “Mr. Hansen, they’re making shoes for the horses. Look!” She pointed until she got Emma’s attention. They stood close, but not too close, to the flickering flame. The blacksmith asked if anyone had any questions. Lucy waved her hand. “I already know what you’re doing. You’re making shoes for horses. Do you make pink ones?”

The small crowd that had gathered to watch laughed. Lucy ducked behind her mom. Emma squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I think that’s a great question, Luce. Well done.”

Eli crouched down, apparently noticing Lucy’s embarrassment. “You asked a fine question. The only way to learn is to ask. I think your bravery deserves a treat. Do you want something to eat or should we find a ride?”

“A ride!” Lucy reached for both Eli and Emma’s hands as the blacksmith waved goodbye to her.

Emma studied a brochure. “I had forgotten how big this park is. I think we should head toward the kid area.”

“I agree.” Eli studied the app on his phone and pointed. “It’s over there.”

An hour later, Lucy had jumped into a sea of plastic balls, shot water guns, and ridden a small roller coaster. Her sweaty hair was stuck to her forehead. She rubbed her belly. “I’m hungry.”

“Me too.” Emma glanced in every direction. “Looks like we have several choices—barbecue, sandwiches, chicken, or?—”

Lucy shouted, “Ice cream.”

“We need something more substantial, Luce. We have to walk all the way back.” Emma led them to a table in the shade while Eli ordered. After they ate, she noticed Lucy’s eyes were half open and whispered to Eli, “Someone’s worn out.”

“That makes two of us. Should we head back?” Eli asked.

“Let’s do one more ride.” Emma stared at the signs. “How about Mystic River Falls?” She threw away their trash and they headed toward the ride, standing in line for twenty minutes before getting on a big round tube with five other people. The seats were soaked. “Uh oh. We may be sorry about this.” Emma chuckled as she held Lucy’s hand. “If you get wet, don’t worry. You’ll dry off while walking.”

“O-tay.”

Sure enough, the ride got on a track in a lazy river only to go past a waterfall that splashed all over them. It crept up a hill and came down with a thud. Everyone screeched and laughed as they got soaked. Lucy and Emma hung onto the center wheel for dear life. Eli’s wet hair dripped down his nose. Emma whispered, “You look sexy.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Thanks. You too but we have a little one with big ears.”

“Don’t I know it.” Emma brushed Lucy’s hair away from her face as their tube made its way back to the platform.

“Again,” Lucy shouted, as Emma shook her head. “That’s enough. Let’s head back, Luce.”

Drenched, their clothes stuck to them but it didn’t matter. As they made their way past hundreds of people, Lucy spotted a life-size cow. A plastic one and pointed. “What’s that?”

Eli gestured to the bucket underneath the cow. “It’s a mechanical cow to be fake milked, I guess.”

“I want to fake milk a cow.” Lucy broke free, sat on a small stool, and instinctively began pulling on the cow’s udder as if she had grown up on a dairy farm. Water came out and streamed into the bucket below. She tugged on several teats while a little boy watched. He jumped in the fray, but instead of squirting the water inside the bucket, he leaned down and squirted it directly into his mouth.

Eli howled. “That’s exactly what I would have done at his age.” Emma noticed Lucy positioning herself to mirror the boy’s actions. “Don’t you dare, Luce. That water’s dirty.”

“No, it’s not.” Lucy gawked at the little boy who seemed to challenge her with his eyes. He bent down and repeated his actions, clearly daring her. Lucy reached for a teat, took aim, and opened her mouth. Before one drop landed on her daughter’s tongue, Emma dragged Lucy away with the promise of a funnel cake.

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