Page 70 of Chasing Fireflies

“We just want you to be happy, Maci, and if the bearded bar owner does it for you, then go kiss him when the hand strikes twelve,” I say, smiling.

“I second that,” Leigh says, lifting her glass into the air. She lifts it too high, and half of it spills out onto her hand and the table.

“Dammit, now I’m going to have to beg your boyfriend to fix me another,” she says, sliding out of the booth.

“He isn’t my boyfriend,” Maci counters.

“Small technicality,” Leigh says with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“He isn’t!’ Maci yells to her.

*

I grab my husband and take him out on the dance floor. He twirls me around and wraps me in his arms as we sway to the music from the band.

“Are you having fun?” he asks me.

“Yes.” I glance over to see Maci talking to Banner, and I smile because I’m so glad my friend has chosen to move on with her life. Leigh and Mark dance beside us, and Anne got the chief up to dance, too. The music stops, and I turn to look.

“All right, everyone, the countdown begins!”

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…” we all say together. “Five, four, three, two, one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

Cash grabs my face and kisses me. I’m smiling, so he kisses my teeth before I can close my lips and kiss him back. I laugh when he pulls his lips away.

“I love you, baby. Here’s to a great new year,” he whispers into my ear.

Chapter Twenty-One

Cash

Icicles hanging from the town’s trees start to melt as the snow also disappears. The sun shines bright in the vast blue sky and dries up the wet ground. The cold wind dies down and becomes warmer as winter finally fades to an end. Birds chirp happily from their nests as springtime flowers bloom. The days grow longer and the weather hotter. The boys and I play baseball again, and Sara has put back on her green floppy hat and got her nails dirty from digging in her garden. She and I visit the amusement park more, stuffing ourselves with cotton candy and greasy pizza. My amusement park buddy and Maci hosted another book fair at the library, and Leigh got some more pets adopted. Bear loves naps on the porch and his new home. We go for walks in the field, and he sleeps at the end of our bed.

The wife and I are sitting out on the porch swing sipping on lemonade she made earlier. It’s cold and goes down well. The windows are up throughout the house, releasing baby blue paint fumes. She tosses the ball out into the yard, and Bear jumps up to go fetch it.

“Go get it, boy,” Sara says. Bear grabs it in his mouth and runs back to us, dropping it back down in front of Sara. She picks it up and makes a face. “Eww, Bear, your drool is all over it!” He turns his head to the side, like he is trying to figure out what she’s complaining about. Drool hater tosses it again, and Bear happily takes off. I take a sip of my lemonade and kick off the porch, letting the swing rock. Our dog drops the ball again, and Sara groans. “My arm is tired, boy. Cash, you throw it. It’ll go farther.” I drain the rest of my drink and stand, scooping the ball up before placing my jar onto the porch rail.

“Fetch, Bear,” I say as I lean back and toss the ball across the yard. Bear barks and takes off. “That’ll keep him busy for a minute,” I say, looking down at Sara.

She smiles. “He’s a good dog.”

“He is a good dog,” I agree.

*

I step onto the porch and stretch my legs. Sweat covers my brow from my morning run, and I wipe it before I head inside. I pass by Bear sleeping on the floor, and I hear him jump up and follow me up the stairs as I go to take a shower.

After my shower, I step over Bear and wrap a towel around my waist. After brushing my teeth and walking out to get my uniform on, I see Sara making the bed and humming to herself.

“What are you humming, baby?”

“‘Lying Eyes’ by the Eagles,” she says, throwing the comforter up and smiling at me.

“Good song.”

She nods in agreement, and I get dressed.

I place my ball cap on my head and slide my new wallet into my back pocket.

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