Page 91 of Broken Pieces

Chapter Thirty-Five

Raelynn

I can’t keep my leg from shaking as I wait for Brooks at one of the picnic tables at the county fair. I am nervous. I dropped my pie off fifteen minutes ago just in time for the noon deadline. Now I must wait five hours. Winners aren’t announced until five in the afternoon.

“If you keep bouncing your leg like that it will fall off.”

I shoot a glare at Brooks as he sets a plethora of food on the table in front of me. “No one has ever said that.”

He sits next to me and grins. I try to push him away, but he grabs my face and kisses me. “You’re beautiful. I am lucky to have found you.”

I smile at him. I feel lucky to have found him too. “You trying to suck up to me? I see you only got one corn dog. And you ain’t gettin’ it!”

He pouts and it is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. “Baby, we have more food than we need, we can share it.”

“No way, Brooks Anderson. I told you I wanted a corn dog, not all this,” I say as I gesture across the table with my arm. I pick up something that’s fried and sniff it. “What the hell is this?”

He snatches it out of my hand. “That’s a deep-fried Twinkie and it’s mine.”

I crinkle my nose. “Gross. You can have it. And since I am givin’ you one thing to yourself, I get to have one thing.” I go to snatch the corn dog and he smacks my hand.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Well then go walk yourself back over to the damn booth and get another one.”

He smirks at me as his hand lands on my thigh slowly moving up under my dress. “I am sure you would find a reason to share it.”

“Don’t you even think about pulling—” I can’t finish my sentence as he brushes a finger over my panties. A shiver races down my spine.

“You sure about that?” he whispers into my neck, his lips grazing my ear.

“Y’all need to get a room or somethin’. I didn’t come here to watch this.”

We both look across the table as Mac sits down and grabs the corn dog off the plate and takes a huge bite.

“Donald Maclan, you better go buy me another corn dog,” I sternly say.

“Damn woman, what’s up with you?” he asks before taking another bite of the corn dog. “And how the hell do you know my name?”

“I told her dumbass. And she is a nervous wreck over that damn contest,” Brooks says as he stands up from the table. “Come on man, let’s go get her a corn dog and a sedative.”

Mac stands as he shoves the rest of the corn dog into his mouth. “Don’t worry Raelynn, I have no doubt you will win.”

I smile at him as they walk away. I pick at the food in front of me not feeling hungry because of my damn nerves. I honestly don’t even know if I could eat a corn dog.

I look around the fair and watch the families. They all seem so happy. Memories flood my head as I remember being here with my mom. I remember feeling this exact same way. Nervous as hell. The first year I entered was the only year I wasn’t nervous. I wasn’t expecting to win. But my mom encouraged me to enter. It was the first time she didn’t help me bake a pie and I was so proud of myself. I made strawberry rhubarb. I had cut all the ingredients myself. I remember feeling like a real pastry chef. And when they called my name as the winner, you would have thought I won Miss America. That was the day I realized I was meant to be a baker.

Funny how loss changes your life plans.

But I wouldn’t let those bad memories outweigh the good ones today. I loved coming to the fair with my parents and siblings. I was just as happy as the kids that are with their parents today. Riding carnival rides, playing games, and eating all the fried food imaginable.

I smile as I see a little boy no more than five carrying around a giant stuffed dog that is bigger than he is. I wonder if I will bring my kids here when I’m older.

The thought jostles me. I never thought I would have kids, have a family of my own. I always thought if I survived long enough, it would just be any nieces or nephews that Easton or Tacoma brought into the world. Does Brooks want kids? That startles me even more to be thinking that. We just started dating. We just fell in love. It’s not like we are planning our wedding for next month. But the thought irks me.

“Deep in thought again I see?”

I jump this time as Brooks sits next to me, setting three beers on the table. Mac sits back where he was before with three corn dogs.