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Water guns and balloons. It looked easy enough. There were about eight others lined up. I took the last open spot next to Dan.
“Loser buys Kara’s next snack,” he challenged.
“Done.” I grinned at the indignant huff from behind us. Lord knows where she would hit next, but then again, if she was happy, she could eat from every booth. I’d roll her out if I had to.
Three minutes later, I was pointing at the big stuffed giraffe on the wall. “That one, please.”
“For you, love.”
“Aww. You do know my love of gigi’s!”
“I do.”
She handed me her drink. “Help, please.”
Kara used her free hand to pull a napkin from her pocket and wipe off her food-stained hand. With clean hands, she not only took her drink back, but also the giraffe. She hugged it to her side.
“What’s next?”
“You lead, love, we shall follow.”
“Okay, I’d like to go look at the animal tents. Maybe we can find something that needs a home?”
Dan and I exchanged a look. They used to have puppies and kittens out here as a part of the local adopt-a-pet program. Did they still do that? I shrugged my shoulders. If she wanted a pet, who were we to say no? She was a grown woman. I was here to protect her, not to tell her what she could and couldn’t do.
“Maybe they’ll have a snake exhibit,” Dan teased.
Kara’s steps slowed, her nose wrinkling up.
“Come on, love, there won’t be a snake exhibit out here. Too many kids. But they might have something exotic. Let’s go see.”
I took her hand and led her toward the east side of the grounds. The large brick building had a sign on the outside of it. ‘Petting Zoo, now open.’ If her smile got any wider, her face would break in two.
It’d been an hour and some change since leaving the petting zoo and starting our exploration of the fairgrounds. Kara has been through the Ripley’s Believe It or Not tent, which was creepy as fuck. Even for me. That two-headed pig wigged me out. I’ve seen some weird shit in my life, but that…yeah, no thanks.
She’d ridden on the carousel with Dan twice. Been in line for the tilt-a-whirl but changed her mind. With the amount of food and drink in her, it was a wise choice. She’d since devoured a corndog, a caramel apple, and now we were heading to the long line for her to go pee. Overall, it was a productive use of our time.
“What’s after your nineteenth bathroom break?” Dan teased.
“I want to go to the games over by the entrance walkway. Someone,” she elbowed me softly, “needs to win me one of those colorful betta fish. They have a few purple and blue ones. He’d look cute in my living room. Then, well, I’m getting tired. My feet are barking at me.”
I chuckled. “I could just go buy you one, and we could head home?” I pulled her to me, kissing her neck as I spoke.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“Touché, love. Touché.”
“Win me a fish, then we can go home.”
“Deal, I will win you the biggest fish they have.”
“Good man, now, go away. Oh, hold this for me, please?” Kara pushed the giraffe at me and grinned. “I’m capable enough to stand in line for the bathroom by myself.” She gave me and Dan a look. Giving in, I held up my hands and moved to the picnic tables at the back of the eating area. I leaned a hip against it and watched the line move slowly.
Taking advantage of the moment, I said, “Update,” pressing my finger against my earpiece I wore as I spoke.
“All clear at the south end.”
“I have you all in sight; nothing looks out of order from here.”
