Flawbulous

“I think we have two very different definitions of what
constitutes fun.”

“There it is! Isn’t she a beauty?” asked Elvin in awe.

Kina’s frightened eyes zoomed upward to the top of the Spin Cycle, a ninety-foot roller coaster that zipped into the air, spinning the riders through multiple loops before descending back to earth. “And you want me to get on that thing?” she asked incredulously.

“Heck, yeah! I’ve been waiting to hop on that train since we got here!”

Kina backed away from him. “How about I just stand here and watch? I’ll keep my feet on the ground and offer moral support. I sort of have this thing about staying alive.”

Elvin chuckled. “Kina Anne, you ain’t even lived till you’ve ridden on one of these babies! Come on!”

Kina protested nonstop as Elvin dragged her to the front of the line. Elvin had stayed true to his promise to take her to the fair and had kept a smile on Kina’s face while they trekked through the fairgrounds, tossing rings on bottles and shooting at balloons, trying to win one of the pelicans that Kina had coveted since she was a child. Kina had even allowed herself to be subjected to the humiliation of the “Guess My Weight” game for the chance to win one, but there wasn’t a stuffed pelican in the world big enough to make her happy about going through the Spin Cycle.

“Don’t worry. It’ll be fun,” promised Elvin as Kina was strapped in.

“I think we have two very different definitions of what constitutes fun,” said Kina, her heart pounding as the engine on the ride revved up. The roller coaster then zipped through the air, tossing them across the seat.

“Help me, Jesus!” cried Kina, digging her nails into Elvin’s arm.

Elvin released a hearty laugh. “Open your eyes, Kina! I got you.”

Kina shook her head, keeping her lids tightly shut. “I don’t want you! I want Jesus!” After another minute of stomach flipping and heart dropping, the ordeal finally came to a halt.

Elvin peeled Kina’s fingers off of him. “All right, it’s over. You can breathe now.”

“Oh, God! Oh, God!” panted Kina, clutching her pounding heart as Elvin helped her off the ride.

“Here. Grab my hand.” He lifted her out of the seat. “You know I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you, right?”

Kina exhaled, thrilled to be back on solid ground. “I did feel rather safe . . .” She stopped herself from adding, “In your arms.”

“Taking care of you and Kenny is my pleasure. You’re my family.”

“Thank you.”

“You want something to eat?” asked Elvin as they passed a food stand.

“I’d love a candy apple, but I’m afraid it’ll turn into tossed cookies if I eat it right now.”

Elvin laughed. “One day you’re going to look back on this day and thank me.”

“That day will be a day a long time from now!”

“Sometimes, you’ve got to step out of that comfort zone and try something new. You might be surprised by what you find.” He elbowed her. “Admit it. You know you liked riding on that thing.”

“Okay, it wasn’t terrible,” conceded Kina, sitting down on a nearby bench. “The important thing is that I survived.”

He sat down too. “I think you’ve proven to everybody what a survivor you really are. I admire you, Kina. You won that weight-loss competition and weren’t afraid to compete in front of the whole world. You’ve been doing an outstanding job taking care of your son, and you survived E’Bell. I want to say again how sorry I am that we didn’t believe you about being abused like that.”

“It’s okay. I should’ve spoken up sooner. If I had, maybe E’Bell could’ve gotten some help and would still be alive today. I’d give anything for my son not to have to carry the guilt of killing his father.”

“He shouldn’t feel bad about that. He was protecting his mother. Many people would consider him a hero.”

“I’m one of them.”

Elvin took Kina by the hand. “I want you to know that we didn’t raise him to be that way. I never raised a hand to his mother, and I never would to any woman. Don’t think he got that from me.”

“I know he didn’t. You’re a kind, gentle man. I know you wouldn’t hurt me. I mean, I—I know you wouldn’t hurt any woman in a violent way,” she stammered.

He caressed her hand. “I would never hurt you, either.”

Kina cleared her throat and eased her hand away from him. “You know what? I think I’m ready for that candy apple.”

Elvin sensed she was uncomfortable and patted her on the hand. “Coming right up.”

Kina was relieved when he left. Her heart and mind were racing. She felt something she had no business feeling for her late husband’s father.

“Snap out of it, Kina,” she scolded herself out loud. “He’s literally old enough to be your father! Heck, he’s a grandfather and E’Bell’s dad, and he’s . . .” She sighed. “So sweet and sexy!”

Elvin came back with her candy apple. “I got the biggest one they had.”

She happily received it and ripped the plastic covering off of it. “Thank you. Candy apples are the sole reason I even bother coming to the fair.” She bit into it.

“Yeah, I’m a huge fan of them myself.”

Kina extended it to him. “Have some.”

“You’re making it look so good over there, I think I will.” Their fingers touched as Elvin leaned in to bite the apple. He stared at her intently. “It’s better than I thought it would be.”

They both bit into the apple at the same time, their lips almost brushing against each other.

“Sorry about that,” Kina apologized quickly.

Elvin shook his head. “I’m not.”

Then he pulled Kina in for a kiss. Instead of pushing him away, she found herself kissing him back.

It was better than any pelican and candy apple put together.