33. Aspen

Thirty Three

Aspen

The big day was finally here. The annual Block Party was in full effect, and the weather turned out beautiful. The streets were lined with vendors, tables, and games ready for family fun. In the town square, a huge stage was set up with the first band of the day playing folk music.

I barely slept last night because the excitement and anticipation were killing me. Mrs. Cassidy texted me late, and all she said was to wear a bathing suit.

I wasn’t expecting what I saw when I arrived early this morning to help set up with Boone. He swore he had no idea, but the shit-eating grin on his face told me otherwise. In Boone’s defense, I hadn’t asked him what his mom was preparing, so he was off the hook.

Jill rented a damn dunk tank for me to sit in all day. Her great idea was to collect money from people who wanted to throw a ball and watch me fall in the water. Just add the sharks and my initial fears would’ve come true.

Next to it, the stand was perfectly set up with a long wooden table sitting under the canopy that included the Cassidy Ranch logo. We had a hell of a spread that looked enticing for customers. Penny even made a goal tracker poster in the shape of a thermometer, so we could keep a live tally.

The sun was baking, and I’d been on this hard seat for at least a few hours. Either people had a secret vendetta against me or they just found joy in watching a young woman suffer, because we were bringing in cash.

Boone was our number one customer for this dunk tank right now. No wonder why Jill needed someone young to sit here. Having to climb up after being dunked was testing my stamina. Note to self, I’m very out of shape.

I sat on the hard seat and pushed my hair from my eyes. I decided to wear a one-piece swimsuit because I knew it would be a family function, and thank God I had.

“Get ready, Darling!” Boone shouted, winding up to throw yet another ball at the target. I was questioning why Boone didn’t play baseball. As the thought passed through my mind, the ball found its target and I ended up submerged under the water for the hundredth time today. I came up for air, placing my hands on my hips to gather the strength I needed to climb up again.

“I’m going to make you pay for this!” I yelled, pointing a stern finger at him. He laughed and blew me a kiss.

Jill came up to the glass. “You’re doing great, sweetie! We’re definitely passing our goal for the day! Between the products and the dunk tank, the Library will be in great shape.” A smile formed on my face because this was going to be great for the library and its funding. Penny was here somewhere, but she disappeared not that long ago to recruit people who wanted to join the fun. She was getting way too much enjoyment out of watching her best friend get dunked.

Surprisingly, both of my parents were also here. They stopped by earlier in the morning, and I saw my mom laugh at the tank. They were making their rounds, but promised to come spend some time at the Cassidy Ranch stand.

Boone stood a few feet away, tossing a ball in the air.

“Come on down!” he yelled. “Two dollars a ball or three for five to watch Miss Aspen Westgrove get wet!” He turned around to me, winking in my direction. “All proceeds go to the local library funds!” Boone repeated it over and over, hoping to bring more players over.

Most people gave five dollars for the three balls, because it was easier than having to dig out two singles.

“Here we go again,” I muttered, holding my nose for impact.

Up next was a little boy, I had faith he wasn’t going to hit the target. When all three balls missed, I let out a breath. The little boy was upset, which made me feel like shit for being relieved. He began to cry and turned towards his mom, hugging her legs.

Boone crouched down to the boy, putting a hand on his shoulder. The little boy wiped his tears with the back of his hand and nodded at whatever Boone was saying. With a smile, Boone picked up the little boy and ran towards the tank. They both were laughing as the little boy held out a hand and smacked the target, sending me into the water.

I came up and gasped; the little boy had the biggest smile on his face as he hugged Boone. My heart melted watching him with the little boy was magical. I was right when I said he would make a great father one day.

When the boy and his family walked away, Boone came to the opening of the tank.

“Sorry about that. He wanted to dunk you so bad, I had to do it.” He smirked, leaning up against the edge. Today, he didn’t wear his cowboy hat, instead a backward trucker hat. A new Boone has been unlocked and I couldn’t complain one bit.

“No hard feelings. I would’ve done the same thing.”

“Boone!” Penny yells from a distance. “Get back to work! Quit flirting with your girlfriend and make me some money!” She came up to us and grabbed Boone by the shoulders, pushing him away.

The day got busier as more people started to arrive at the event. It was an all-day affair so people would show up throughout the day. Different events were happening up and down Main Street which called for many different types of people. Right now, at the main stand, there was a lesson on lassoing.

Moments like this were why I knew I needed to stay in Faircloud. I loved the community and the people who genuinely cared about everyone who lived here. I felt secure knowing if I ever needed help, the town would rally behind me.

Looking at our goal board Penny created, I saw we were close and it was only mid-afternoon. I’d been sitting here for hours. I needed a snack and some tea. I couldn’t look at a bottle of water right now.

I climbed down the back and grabbed the towel Boone set aside for me. Moving under the canopy, I plopped down in the lawn chair set up behind the table. Savoring the shade, I closed my eyes and exhaled. I needed to reapply my sunscreen.

“I can’t believe how well we are doing!” Penny squealed from the seat next to me. She sat with her big framed sunglasses covering her eyes.

“I know!” I said back. “Honestly, I’m pretty sure Boone donated a decent chunk just to see me get dunked.”

Penny laughed. “That man is walking around trying to get anyone he can to come and spend money here. He’s amazing.”

Boone was passionate about everything he did. There was no task he wouldn’t give one hundred percent. The whole Cassidy family had proven to be selfless and kind over the last few months.

Speaking of family, in the distance, I watched mine get closer to our table. I was glad they came to see me.

“Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Westgrove,” Penny said, standing up to greet them. I remained seated, this was the first time I’d seen them face to face since our fight.

“Hi, honey!” My mom sang, smiling.

I stood up and waved at my parents.

“I’m glad you two could make it,” I said, trying to put on my best, “everything is okay” face. My dad didn’t say a word to me; he nodded and turned to Penny.

“I’ll take a pack of the meat sticks, a jar of muffin mix, some of that honey,” he said, pointing to the jars on the table. “And a carton of eggs.”

Penny was adding everything up in the register while I helped to bag everything. Seeing my dad buy things was a shock, because coming to see me was one thing, but spending money was another.

Handing my bag to my dad, he finally spoke to me, “Can I steal you for a second?”

Looking at Penny, she shooed me away and began talking to my mom. I nodded and walked around the table with him.

In silence, we headed over to the bench facing the busy street. There was no way I was going to speak first, so I waited for him.

“I want to say I’m sorry for how I reacted,” he began, and I let him continue. “There’s a lot about your mother and me that you may not know. I want the best for my children, and the best was always what I envisioned for me, not you. I’m sorry for not giving you the chance to explain yourself or stick up for what you want. I’m also sorry for being so quick to judge Boone.”

Looking down at the towel wrapped around me, I picked at the fabric. “I appreciate you saying that. I’m sorry too. I should’ve listened to you and tried to understand where you’re coming from.”

“Nothing that happened was your fault. It was my stubbornness to admit defeat. Having Parker so young, your mom and I were forced to stay in Faircloud. It wasn’t what we wanted and I wanted you or Parker to live the life we had envisioned. Your mom and I didn’t have the best experiences in this town and we wanted you two to have a better life than we could provide.”

“Dad, my life was amazing because I grew up here and that’s why I want to stay. I can’t picture myself anywhere else besides here.” I placed my hand on his forearm. My dad sighed and looked down at my touch.

“I see that now.” He placed his hand over mine. “I also see that Cassidy boy running around the streets trying to recruit people to help support you and your friend trying to raise money. Maybe he isn’t so bad after all.”

Smiling, I leaned my head on my dad’s shoulder. I felt like crying, and my nose started to sting, but I held back. Hearing my dad speak with such emotion was something I’d never experienced as a kid. It was always, “Get up, you’re fine” or different ways to teach me to be “strong.” Never did I question he loved me, because I always knew he did.

“He’s pretty great,” I confessed as I looked around to find Boone. I saw him coming down the main street, Rhodes, Logan, Mac, and even Theo with him.

“I approve, for now,” my dad said, messing my hair. Sitting up, I hugged him and then made my way back to the tank. The talk I had with him was short, but it made an impact. He was a man of few words so anything I could get, I took.

Boone and I crossed paths before I could get back to my post. He scooped me up in a hug, my feet dangling as he spun me around.

“Boone!” I laughed, my head tipping back as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I hope you’re ready,” he muttered in my ear. All our friends stood in line with three balls each to fire at the target. Taking a deep breath, I was lowered from Boone’s grasp.

One by one, they each threw a ball. Rhodes hit the target each time, Logan was successful twice, and I think Mac was too focused on trying to impress Penny because he missed all of them.

Theo, well, she placed all three balls in Boone’s hands and went straight for the kill, slapping the target with her hands while she yelled, “I’m pregnant! Let me have this win!”

By the end of the day, I was beat. My body ached, and I’m pretty sure I was waterlogged. I looked like a damn prune from all the water exposure.

Jill, Boone, and Penny sent me home to rest and take a refreshing shower, which I was eternally grateful for. My parents hung around for the entire day, laughing with Boone and his mom. It was nice to see them all getting along. Even Parker stopped by to join in the fun of dunking his little sister. The day was a success and not only because we passed the goal we set.