Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Ella

The rest of the day was a relatively easy day at the hospital, and I was grateful for that, but I was not going to the fair. At least, that was my intention. When Mercy came into the hospital with Megan and the young girl asked me to go eat funnel cakes with them, how could I say no?

Before I knew it, we were finishing our funnel cakes and I was starting to relax. I hadn't changed from work, but I didn't care. Mercy and I were laughing at one of Megan's silly jokes.

The song changed, and Megan popped up. "Let's go to the dance, Mom and Ella."

"I'm going to head home and let you two enjoy it," I said quickly.

Megan pouted. "Please, Aunt Ella. Please. Mom doesn't like to go dancing without someone. And Daddy is not her husband anymore."

My heart melted a little. It was always interesting to hear how a child described things.

Megan reached for my hand. "Will you?"

We had already ridden all the rides and eaten the famous funnel cake, so I'd done plenty of fair activities. I didn't want to go, but I liked being an aunt, even if it wasn't a real blood connection. "Fine. I'll go." I reached beneath her chin and tickled her.

She giggled and then did a happy hop. "Yay!"

I looked at Mercy, and we grinned at each other. "I love the way children are so happy and they show it," I said.

Mercy pointed at me. "Their happiness is contagious; it's the best thing about having kids."

I grabbed one of Megan's hands, Mercy grabbed the other, and we let her skip between us. She started running, so I braced myself and then lifted her with Mercy. I'd almost faltered before realizing what she was doing.

"One, two, three!" Megan did it again. This time it was harder, and both Mercy and I started laughing.

Mercy said, "Chill out, Megan. You'll pull her arms out of the socket."

"One, two, three!"

We let her do it one more time, then let go of her hands. I was giggling.

Mercy smiled at me. "It is so good to hear you laugh. I haven't heard it in years."

The center of my heart squeezed with happiness. Maybe it had been a good idea to come have some fun with a child.

A female singer started crooning over the speakers as we entered the tent. The floor was packed with people dancing. I'd forgotten how much I loved coming to the fair. Of course, all of my fair memories included Noah.

Megan held her hands out to both of us. "Let's dance. Please."

Unable to resist her, we went onto the dance floor, held hands, and danced in a circle, smiling and giggling. It was liberating.

Another song came on, this one much faster and more upbeat. We all danced, and Mercy and I swung Megan around. I saw people watching out of the corner of my eye, but it didn't bother me. Most of my classmates from high school already knew I was back. I wasn't a town sideshow any longer. At least, I didn't think so.

I hadn't anticipated a tap on my shoulder as the song changed to a slow one. "May I have this dance?" Noah asked.

The guy I had been thinking about all day was right in front of me.

"Oh, jeez. I must look a mess." I took a step back, suddenly conscious of my appearance. I was in my turquoise scrubs, and my hair must be all frizzy from being pulled back and not brushed out. I had worked a whole shift and hadn't applied any makeup.

Noah cocked his eyebrow. "I think you look great. You should've seen yourself laughing and smiling." He put his hand over his heart and shook his head. "The most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

I couldn't look away from him, captivated by that blond wavy hair that was getting longer on top and falling into his forest-green eyes. He was wearing jeans and flip-flops with some kind of tight gray shirt. If I were in a teasing mood, I would tell him that he had the same uniform as usual, just a different colored shirt. Yet I couldn't speak; I felt frozen to the floor.

Megan was suddenly next to me. "It's not nice to refuse a dance." She seized me by the hand as if chastising me.

Noah looked surprised and squatted to her level. "I don't think I know you, young lady."

"Noah, meet my daughter, Megan." Mercy was happy to make the introduction. "Megan, this is one of my old friends, Noah."

Megan dutifully shook Noah's hand. "My mom's divorced. You can ask her to dance."

Noah looked embarrassed for a second.

Mercy waved a hand. "Megan, he's already asked Aunt Ella. Let's go grab some punch."

Megan was instantly distracted. "Okay." She turned to me. "Aunt Ella, I think you should dance with him. He's cute."

Her comment was so blunt that I had to gape at her as Mercy led her away. I heard Noah laughing and met his eyes. That familiar attraction sizzled between us.

Noah reached out to me. "Out of the mouths of babes. She thinks you should dance with me."