“Can you believe we made it all the way to the coast?” Hannah steps down from the wagon’s bench. The back of the wagon overflows with the basket and deflated balloon.
“On the beach?” asks Emma, holding up a lantern to brighten the steps and ground.
Noah enthusiastically questions, “Or in the ocean water? In the dark of night? Where pirates and sea dragons could’ve caught you?”
“Not quite. Didn’t you listen to what I told you over the telephone?”
“It was scratchy and there was lots of clicking on the party line,” replies Emma.
“We flew over orchards and more orchards…and then more orchards. And we landed at our cousin’s place, El Ocaso. Can you imagine that? What a coincidence. What a blessing.” Hannah embraces her children. “Hey, why aren’t you more upset?”
“You two were together, right?” Emma asks.
Hannah nods.
“Once you telephoned us, there was nothing to be upset about.” Emma nods back and raises her shoulders.
“Your relatives greeted us with open arms,” Cal says as he plants his feet back on the ground.
“And so did their pet peacocks.” Hannah beams. “Free-roaming peacocks.”
She hands the children peacock feathers from inside the wagon. “A souvenir for each of you. They invited us back any time we wished.”
“But not by air,” Cal says. “Perhaps by horse and buggy the next time. And I must tell you children your mother convinced me of something up in the balloon.”
Hannah’s eyebrows rise and her lips purse tight. What’s he about to tell them?
“I’m going to let my parrots come and go as they please. Like your chickens and turkeys. Would you like to come over to my house sometime and help me open the aviary?”
Whew! Wow!
“You said it yourself, the other day to Noah. Let them know they have a home, but let them be free. Trust them. Love them.”
“Are you sure?” Emma squints to inspect Cal more closely. “Chickens are one thing. But your parrots are another thing entirely. Don’t they need to be protected?”
“They live in the wild all over the world. And they can do it right here in Orange too.” Cal nods. “But don’t worry, I’ll keep food and water in the aviary for whenever they want it.”
“But the door will be open?” Noah questions Cal’s change of heart. “And it will stay open?’
“That’s the plan.” Cal stands up straight. “And there might be some other plans in our future.” He reaches out and holds Hannah’s hand.
“After that balloon ride, we sorted some things out.”
“I can see that.” Emma adds, “Actually, I saw that. When you went up in the balloon I told Noah you two looked like sweethearts. I guess I was right!” She steps forward and hugs her mother. She signals Noah to copy her. And he does.
Emma puts her hand on top of Hannah’s and Cal’s.
Noah does not.
His big sister jerks her chin at him a few times.
Noah places his hand on top of the other three. He begins to grin. His grin grows.
“What are you cooking up in that tiny brain of yours, Noah?” Emma continues, “It looks like no good.”
The boy gazes up at Cal. “Does this mean we get all the free candy we want? Anytime we want it?”
Cal fluffs Noah’s hair with his free hand. “You bet. From now on, it’s going to be a sweet life. Candy and all.”
* * *
Note to the Reader:
Thanks for reading!
The creative spark for this romantic story occurred during lunch recently at Finney’s Crafthouse in Old Towne Orange. A wall-size enlargement of a photo taken during the city’s first Street Fair in 1910 shows details of booths, plants, fairgoers…and a hot-air balloon ride.
I couldn’t resist the chance to research and then set a second-chance romance story in my favorite small town. It’s changed over the years, that’s for sure. But it’s charm and heart live on.