Page 39 of Tempted Away

“I can get Carter to help put up the photo booth. He’s going through those balloons like a pro.”

We both chuckle. I’m relieved at the subject change. Carter’s single, so he nabbed the role of court jester because of his alleged juggling skills. So, instead of overseeing an activity area, he gets to walk around, entertaining kids. He thought he escaped set-up duties, but Hannah torpedoed that when she put him in charge of blowing up the balloons.

“I’m sure Quinn will be here in time.”

*****

It’s been crazy hectic. It felt like the kids all arrived at once, but fortunately, the picking of outfits went off without drama, and then they were sent on their way to have their photos taken. Bashing the pinata was only scheduled for later, so Piper, aka Rapunzel, graciously stepped in and took charge of taking the photos.

My job done, I finally got to go outside and was in awe of Hannah and Aidan. They transformed their backyard into a kid’s paradise. Aidan and Nathan were overseeing an obstacle course with a bouncy castle at the end, while Rose had a line of kids waiting to have their faces painted. Ryan and Aspen were off to the side, handing out bean bags and righting stacks of toppled tin cans. Maya was in her element, supervising kids slashing away at canvasses with paintbrushes.

Everything looked under control, so for the rest of the party, I helped Hannah ferry around drinks and snacks and diffuse the little spats that broke out here and there.

Once the last happily exhausted child left, we could relax. The kids had their fun day, which meant we could relax and kick back.

I check my phone for what feels like the hundredth time. I’m beyond mad. Quinn’s still not here, and all my calls and messages have gone unanswered.

“I don’t know how you guys do it. I thought tourists were exhausting. Kids run rings around them,” Carter grumbles, sipping his beer.

There’s a beat of silence and we all burst out laughing.

“I never knew a child could scream so loud,” Ryan laughs, visibly shuddering through his laughter.

“I thought the neighbors were going to call 911,” Hannah’s laughing so hard she’s doubled over, clutching her side.

We’re laughing now, but when it happened, we all dropped what we were doing and ran, thinking that something horrible had befallen one of the children.

“Man, that kid took one look at your funny shoes, and that was it,” Aidan says, wiping tears from his eyes.

“They’re called crakows or poulaines,” Piper supplies helpfully through her giggles.

“That’s so random. How do you know all this shit?”

She shrugs. “Random stuff is kind of my jam.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Carter mutters, a scowl on his face. He took his job very seriously and was beyond offended when the little boy started screaming like he was some kind of deranged clown coming to drag him down a sewer or something.

“It wasn’t the shoes. It was his face.”

I stifle a sigh. Let the battle commence in three, two, one…

Carter doesn’t disappoint. “Is that so, baby Ryan?”

She rolls her eyes. “Just give it rest, Carter. It wasn’t cute then, and it still isn’t cute.”

“It was cute how you followed us around everywhere.”

“I was eight, you clown.”

His trademark cocky smirk is playing on his lips, his eyes shining with challenge, while hers shine with annoyance. He loves the verbal battles they have. Rose, not so much.

“Jester, baby Ryan. Get your facts straight.”

“Well your face looked like a clown.”

“That’s all on you. You painted it.

All of us drew the line at having our faces painted except Carter. He didn’t stop bugging Rose until she gave in with a scowl.

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