Page 36 of The Pink House

They stopped at a hut with a huge cup of frozen lemonade painted on the side. A large board listing all the available products told Hannah that this stand sold a whole lot more than lemonade.

“Mackenna. Hannah.” Charlie stood behind the counter, a day’s worth of dark scruff on his cheeks. “What can I get you?”

“Hey, Charlie.” Mackenna flashed a bright smile. “How’ve you been?”

“Good.” He slanted a glance at Hannah, then returned his attention to Mackenna. “I don’t know what you ladies are in the mood for, but our piña colada snowballs are extremely popular.”

Mackenna wrinkled her nose. “Frozen lemonade for me.”

Hannah’s thoughts went back to the letter.

Eating a snowball at the Frederick County Fair.

Though this wasn’t the Frederick County Fair, and Brian wasn’t with her, she’d have a snowball in his memory.

“Snowball for me,” Hannah told Charlie.

“What flavor?” Charlie pointed to the list on the board.

“Though I’m tempted to go with cherry—”

“Boring,” Charlie interjected.

“—give me the piña colada,” Hannah finished.

“Good choice. If you don’t like it, I’ll make you another,” he promised.

“Hey,” Mackenna protested. “Last year when I wished I’d gotten lime instead of cherry, you didn’t give me another one.”

Hannah cocked her head. “Last year?”

“Charlie works the Rotary stand every year.” Mackenna appeared puzzled. “Back in high school, we’d always stop by to see him.”

Hannah shook her head and shrugged.

“I guess I’m forgettable.” Charlie chuckled as he handed over their orders. “Where are you two headed?”

Mackenna glanced up at the screams coming from a plummeting roller coaster, then lifted a shoulder. “The rides, I guess.”

“We don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Hannah spoke quickly. “I can take ’em or leave ’em. We can—”

She stopped when she realized her friend was no longer listening. Mackenna’s gaze was firmly focused on a dark-haired man holding the hand of a little girl. “I see someone I know. Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

Hannah wasn’t sure what to think when her friend hurried off at a fast clip, slowing her steps only when she drew close to the duo.

“You’re wondering why she didn’t ask you to go with her.”

Hannah blinked, then refocused on Charlie. While she didn’t want to keep him from his work, she noticed no customers were waiting. “Maybe.”

“Mackenna has a thing for Jace Tanner. He’s the only one who doesn’t know it.”

“Does she?” Hannah dipped the spoon into the top of the snowball and took a bite. The shaved ice, saturated with piña colada flavor, melted in her mouth. “Hey, this is good.”

That easy smile flashed again. “Brian would definitely approve of your choice.”

“Probably.” She wondered if Charlie was thinking of the letter. “Tell me about Jace. I don’t remember him.”

“He’s not from here, but he’s lived here awhile.” Charlie pulled his brows together as if thinking back. “Five, maybe six years ago, he and his wife and their little girl moved here. That’s his daughter with him. His parents bought the Revere Farm Brewery out on the highway.”

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