Page 62 of Daddy's Pride

After an hour, my parents relieve us so we can enjoy the festival. Harris drags me to get our faces painted in rainbow camouflage. We answer questions, talk to reporters, and thank all the stall owners and people who are here to help us make the day a success.

The day zips past in a blur of congratulations, back slaps, and thank yous. Through it all, Harris is by my side. I couldn’t have done this without him, and we show our devotion to each other by holding hands and kissing whenever we get the chance.

The last activity of the day is a Pride-themed fancy-dress competition judged by the band. The crowd claps and cheers as everyone who’s entered struts their stuff on a temporary stage. Harris and I watch with our arms looped around each other’s backs.

Harris rests his head on my shoulder. “It’s been an amazing day, Daddy.”

“It has.” I kiss his hair.

“I’m exhausted. Can we leave clean-up until tomorrow?”

“Definitely.”

“Weren’t all our contestants amazing? I don’t know how we’re going to choose a winner. Huddle, girls,” Pippa Pizazz, the band’s lead singer, says. She’s taller than me and is wearing head-to-toe sequins.

She and the rest of the band huddle on the stage and whisper—loudly—as they make their not-so-secret deliberations. Pippa is holding a microphone after all. All their comments are positive. The crowd cheers and roars their approval after each one. Finally, they break apart.

“All right, we’ve made our decision. It was hard, but we were up to the task.” She announces third, second, and first place, each to a huge round of applause. “I believe the winner gets to stay in the honeymoon suite. Isn’t that right, Miles?”

I laugh. “We don’t have a honeymoon suite.”

“Shame. You should work on that, honey. Why don’t you come up here and tell everyone what the grand prize is.”

I wave and shake my head.

“Oh, don’t give me that. Come on up here and bring that cute redhead with you.”

The rest of the band stamp their feet and clap their hands to entice us onto the stage. The crowd follow their lead.

“We’ve got to go up,” Harris says.

Holding hands, we join the band and the winners on the stage.

“The winners get hampers full of goodies donated by all the businesses that have helped us make today possible,” I say.

“First prize gets a bigger hamper,” Harris adds.

The crowd laughs.

“And what do we get?” Pippa gestures to the band.

“Our undying gratitude?” I say.

The crowd cackles.

“Could I get a hug too?”

Harris and I take turns hugging all the band members. They give great hugs.

“That brings the festivities to a close. Unless you sweethearts want to say a few final words?” Pippa gives me the microphone.

“Thank you.”

She puts her hands on her hips. “Is that it? You can do better than that.”

I chuckle. “Seriously. Thank you. Not just for helping us celebrate the opening of the activity centre but also for being generous with your time and money.” I search the crowd until I see Dad. “Do we have a total amount raised?”

“Just short of two grand,” he replies.