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He was still a bit on the fence about winter. Since he’d never lived anywhere that had a significant amount of snow, it was going to be an adjustment.
But given the adjustments he and Amelia had had to make over the past year, this one would be the least significant.
They followed a small meandering line of people around to the field behind the school. Kids’ songs were being played over a sound system, a lively background to the excited screams and chatter of the children already there.
Several large inflatables were positioned around the outside of the field, while the interior held a bunch of carnival-style games. He also spotted popcorn and cotton candy machines, and to the left of the entrance, there were a bunch of barbecues set up.
They were really going all out on this event for the kids. He’d never heard of something similar happening at Amelia’s old school. Of course, he hadn’t always been around or as actively involved in her life as he was now, so it was possible it had.
As they wandered further into the field, a group of children ran past them. Amelia bumped into his leg, her grip tightening on his hand as the kids laughed and yelled.
Blake turned to look down at her. “Want me to carry you, Berry?”
She nodded, then lifted her arms. At almost eight, she was probably too old to be carried, but she was pretty slight, so he had no problem lifting her. Once she was secure in his arms, she hooked her arm around his neck.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked. “Do you want popcorn?”
Amelia nodded. There were a few popcorn stands around the field, so he looked for the one with the fewest people around it, then headed in that direction.
“Hey there.” The teenage girl gave them a friendly smile. “Would you like some popcorn?”
“Yes, please,” Amelia said as Blake set her down.
“What grade are you in?” the girl asked.
“Three.”
“Who’s your teacher?”
“Miss H.”
The teen’s smile grew as she scooped popcorn into a paper bag. “Do you like her?”
“Yep.”
“That’s good.” She held the popcorn out to Amelia. “Her little sister Skylar is my good friend.”
“Hi, Beth!”
Blake shifted to look at the young girl who’d just run up to the popcorn machine. She gave the teen a hug, then stepped back as a young boy came to a stop beside her.
“Do you two want popcorn?”
“Yes!”
“Did you run away from your parents?” she asked.
“Mom said I could come see you,” the little girl said. She had long dark hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, hazel eyes, and was dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt with flowers in the shape of a heart on the front of it.
Blake glanced back in the direction the pair had come from and spotted Charli and her brother Jay approaching them.
“Mom!” the girl called toward them. “Did you want popcorn?”
“I’ll just share yours,” Charli said as she joined her daughter.
Jay’s gaze landed on Blake, then he smiled. “You’re Jackson’s cousin, right?”
“Yep,” he said with a nod. “I’m Blake.”
